Category Archives: Pirate Radio

Reminder: Global Pirate Radio (This) Weekend March 31-April 1

Harri Kujala, organizer of the Global Pirate Weekend, has 17 stations scheduled to be on the air this weekend (March 31-April 1, 2012). Check out full details on Harri’s blog and schedules announced as they become available.

Global Pirate Weekend is an event that gives pirates from all over the world a chance to test their broadcasts on the HF spectrum (not limited to, but mostly between 15-22 MHz).

This will be a great opportunity for radio listeners to log pirate radio stations from across the globe. Good music and variety are a given!

Global Pirate Radio Weekend March 31-April 1

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Harri Kujala, organizer of the Global Pirate Weekend, has changed the dates from the March 24-25 to the weekend of March 31-April 1, 2012. More details will follow on Harri’s blog and schedules announced as they become available.

Global Pirate Weekend, by the way, is an event that gives pirates from all over the world a chance to test their broadcasts on the HF spectrum (not limited to, but mostly between 15-22 MHz).

This will be a great opportunity for radio listeners to log pirate radio stations from across the globe. Good music and variety are a given!

Thanks to UK Dxer for the tip. Again, check Harri’s blog for updates!

Remembering radio enthusiast Jay Smilkstein

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I’ve only attended the Winter SWLFest for four years thus far, yet the friends I’ve made there have become like family. It shouldn’t be a surprise, really; we’re all passionate about radio and things related to radio and broadcasting. It’s an event where we can be who we are–no need to explain to these compatriots why you like tuning in shortwave stations, while the internet seems (at least to everyone else) to be so much easier.

Jay had a strong interest in AM DXing, tube gear, amplifiers and, I learned this year, IF filter design.

Jay Smilkstein, 1961-2012.

Our friend Jay was, I believe, at the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum. While Jay had some social hang-ups and behaviors that made some uncomfortable, fortunately, at the SWLFest, there were a number of folks who went out of their way to take Jay under a wing, assist him with personal interactions, and generally welcome him back each year.

I’m pretty sure that he considered the SWLFest, and many he’d interacted with over the airwaves, his radio family, too.

Jay passed away suddenly from a heart attack two days ago, on Monday, March 12th, 2012.

As my friend, David, phrased it: Long may you ride the radio waves you loved so much.

London pirate radio documentary offers insight

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This documentary certainly touches on the motivation behind most pirate radio stations. I should note that while many FM pirate stations are dissapearing with the advent of online sources, shortwave pirates seem to be going strong and they use many of the same remote transmitter tactics that appear in this short film.

If you have trouble watching the embedded video above, please click here for the documentary video page.

Christmas tunes via pirate radio

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Last night–Christmas Eve–I recorded a few minutes of pirate radio station, Wolverine Radio on 6,925 kHz USB. Their signal was very strong here into the shack. Wolverine played a selection of several rockin’ Christmas songs.

Merry Christmas and enjoy!

If media player does not appear above, please click here to listen via Archive.org.

FYI: Receiver – Alinco DX-R8T, Recorder – Zoom H1 recorded in-line, Antenna – 40 meter vertical delta loop.

11 GB+ of digital pirate radio recordings

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(Source: TextFiles.com via Radio Survivor)

Since the 1990s, a fellow named Sealord has been recording pirate radio broadcasts coming across shortwave bands. Without authorization, license, or any sort of oversight, all manner of folks have been broadcasting illegal but probably not overly immoral shows out into the air. This collection, which is over 11 gigabytes and counting, has hours and hours of radio broadcasts, crackling with the sound of distant voices shouting over static and electromagnetic corruption. With names like XYZ Digital Pirate, Wolverine Radio, Whispery ID, Thinking Man Radio, The Voice of the Last DJ…. you’re talking some strange and mysterious personalities out there.

Not only is this collection worth checking out, but the whole of archive.org is an amazing collection of similar digital archives. I have listened to some of Sealord’s collection in the past but never recognized the extent of the total anthology. What an amazing service to us in the radio community who believe in the importance of preserving the sounds of the shortwaves.

On that note, I humbly ask that if you ever record shortwave audio, please consider uploading the uncompressed file to archive.org so that your recording can be shared and properly archived. I’ve certainly uploaded many hours of shortwave radio recordings on behalf of SWLing.com (though, nowhere near 11GB and counting!).

Chase some pirates this weekend!

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Start your search for pirate radio stations in the watering hole at 6,925 kHz and tune up to 7,000 kHz.

As I sit here in front of my radios this Friday evening, I notice the news on National Geographic that we have one of the largest sun spots to face us since 2005. This sunspot is the size of Jupiter! It’s all a little too coincidental on 11-11-11.

It can only mean one thing…

Turn on your radio and tune in some pirates!

For those of you new to pirate radio, most–but not all–activity can be found between 6,925 – 7,000 kHz (i.e. just below the 40 meter ham radio band). Pirates are not professional broadcasters, thus work a day job during the week. That’s why you’re most likely to hear pirates Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Pirate signals are often faint–though perhaps old Sol may help a bit, depending on other conditions. For what it’s worth, I just heard a pirate on my tiny Degen DE321 portable (that review out tomorrow). Very good sign, indeed. Just in case, consider reading our post on using SSB to help dig pirate signals out of the static.

What are you waiting for? Go chase some pirates!