Happy National Radio Day - 2019!

How ironic is it that my last post, from April, was about radio!  That post was to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day - which is primarily about broadcasting (the ham radio variety).  Today is about the receiving king - listening to programming broadcast over the airwaves!

To quote from last year's post:

National Radio Day is a time for communities across the country to celebrate radio. The goal is to strengthen the radio ecosystem, highlighting all kinds of radio, but especially stations that focus on local service. We want to ensure that amazing noncommercial stations are included in the national conversation.

Given that physical radios - as well as old school over the air broadcasts - are starting to fade away (the scary trend in Europe is to abolish the FM service) it's all the more important to support your local radio station!
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So celebrate by tuning in!  My plan is to fire up the shortwave radio (old school) :D

Radio Humperdoo 6930 Khz USB North American Shortwave Pirate Radio

Received this neat eQSL from Radio Humperdoo - broadcasting "under the influence" for a reception report I sent them over the weekend.  It's a Halloween inspired theme (and from the email message, a new design for them). 

It's that time of year again, which mean more Halloween themed pirate broadcasts :D

Thanks Radio Humperdoo!

Radio GaGa North American Shortwave Pirate Radio eQSL

It's been a couple of years since I've posted a pirate radio eQSL!  I was testing out a new web based SDR located in Milford, PA, and tuned into Radio GaGa's show on 6925 KHz USB this weekend. I couldn't resist sending in a reception report :D

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a reply within 24 hours!  They put on a great show, which included Neil Young, Eric Clapton, CCR, The Who, and David Bowie to list a partial playlist.

Thanks Radio GaGa!

2017 World Radio Day

Today is World Radio Day!  While I associate this with Shortwave Radio (and Ham Radio) - celebrate with any radio - including AM/FM!

Here's the link to the official World Radio Day page - that includes a map with links to local events.

Radio Spaceshuttle International Finland Shortwave Pirate Radio 6305 khz (via SDR) eQSL

What an incredible surprise arrived in my email yesterday - not one, but two separate eQSL's from Radio Spaceshuttle International!  The surprise wasn't the confirmation itself because I've listened to Radio Spaceshuttle broadcasts numerous times - and have had email correspondence (verifications) back and forth with Dick Spaceshuttle - but an actual eQSL! 

Not only was this was totally unexpected... but that particular broadcast had relayed a Hobart Radio International Program - and it was separately confirmed by Hobart Radio (thanks for that one Rob!) with their eQSL!

Many thanks Dick Spacewalker!

Skyline Radio Germany shortwave pirate radio 6229 khz (via SDR) QSL Card

 

This fantastic QSL Card arrived this morning from Skyline Radio Germany!  It's a rare thing around here to get back to back QSL Cards in the mail (yesterday one arrived from Xenon Transmitting Company - XTC).  This one was a complete surprise because when I submitted a reception report an automated email reply came back that said we'd hear back when the data was confirmed.  Somehow that made me assume an eQSL was coming.  So this was a double surprise (the confirmed reception, and the Card itself)!

I tuned in to their broadcast, from Germany, on 6229 kHz, via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.

Thanks Jan!

XTC - Xenon Transmitting Company - British shortwave pirate radio QSL Card

This fantastic QSL Card arrived in today's mail from XTC - Xenon Transmitting Company!  I tuned in to their broadcast last month - and received an eQSL after submitting a reception report.  This old school - real - QSL Card was an excellent surprise (together with an information sheet/brief history of the station and some stickers)!

Thanks again Matt!!

Radio Alice Netherlands shortwave pirate radio 3905 khz (via SDR) eQSL

I received this fantastic eQSL from Radio Alice this morning! It was actually a pair (the second in the form of an awesome old school record label).  I tuned in to their broadcast from the Netherlands on 3905 kHz, via the SDR at Twente.  They were playing some great post-Beatles music on that particular show, including John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" and Paul McCartney's "Mrs. Vanderbilt" :D

Many thanks Herman!

Hobart Radio International (relayed by Radio Spaceshuttle) shortwave pirate radio 6304 khz eQSL

I received this great eQSL last night from Hobart Radio International.  The Hobart "DX Extra" program was relayed via Radio Spaceshuttle.  I tuned in on 6304 kHz via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  It was actually an older episode of DX Extra (from the Summer) - but even so, always worth a listen!

Many thanks Rob!

Wild West FM German shortwave pirate radio 6281 khz (via SDR) eQSL

This fantastic eQSL arrived this morning from Wild West FM!  I tuned in to their broadcast from Germany on 6281 kHz via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  Propagation conditions were tough and made this an especially difficult catch.  Programming was mostly music (country western).

Many thanks Wild West FM!

Radio Monique Netherlands shortwave pirate radio 6285 khz (via SDR) eQSL

I received this great eQSL from Radio Monique this morning - following their test on 6285 kHz.  The test was more of a tribute to David Bowie since the programming consisted of Bowie songs, and the announcer mentioned his death on Sunday.  In a coincidence, when I tuned in to their broadcast back in September, one of the song's played was "Rebel, Rebel!"

Thanks Radio Monique for tribute to David Bowie!

The Crystal Ship North American shortwave pirate radio 7530 khz eQSL

This great eQSL arrived last night from The Crystal Ship!  I've tuned in to TCS many times since last summer, but this reception on 7530 kHz, on my Sangean ATS 909 receiver, was very different.  I was during daylight hours and it used only the radio's telescopic antenna (instead of the long wire antenna).  They had a very powerful signal, coupled with great atmospheric conditions!  In the email, John Poet mentioned that they were using a different relay station for this broadcast (which may go a long way to explaining the awesome reception)!

Many thanks John!

Baltic Sea Radio Finnish shortwave pirate radio 6980 khz LSB (via SDR) eQSL

This fantastic eQSL arrived this morning from Baltic Sea Radio! I tuned in to their broadcast, from Finland, on 6980 kHz LSB via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  They were playing some great rock classics, including Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."

Many thanks DJ Sailor!

Radio Anthony Polish shortwave pirate radio 6265 khz USB (via SDR) eQSL

This excellent eQSL arrived this morning from Radio Anthony.  I also received an eQSL from Radio Anthony last summer.  This time I heard his broadcast, from Poland, on 6265 kHz Upper Side Band (the other broadcasts had all been in AM) via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  Among the songs played was the Hall & Oats classic "Out of Touch" and Haddaway's "What is Love" - fun stuff!

Many thanks Anthony!

Pirate Radio Boston North American shortwave pirate radio 6925 khz Holiday Special eQSL

This great Holiday Special eQSL arrived last night from Pirate Radio Boston!  I tuned in to their holiday special on 6925 kHz on my Sangean ATS 909 receiver.  Not only was it a morning broadcast, but the signal was so strong that I heard the show using just the Sangean's telescopic whip antenna - not the long wire antenna!  The show itself consisted of some great holiday classics, "Run, Rudolph Run," Holly, Jolly Christmas," and caroling music!

Many thanks Charlie Loudenboomer - for both the eQSL and excellent holiday show!

Radio Komintern Russian shortwave pirate radio 6990 khz (via SDR) eQSL

This great eQSL arrived from Radio Komintern today!  I tuned in to their broadcast, from the city Rossosh, in the Voronezh region of Eastern Russia, on 6990 kHz via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  Programming consisted of various selections of Russian music.

Many thanks Sergei

XTC - Xenon Transmitting Company - British shortwave pirate radio 6230 khz (via SDR) eQSL

This fantastic eQSL from XTC - Xenon Transmitting Company - was the 3rd of three that arrived today!  I tuned in to their broadcast from England on 6230 kHz, via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands.  In addition to the great album rock from (mostly) the 1970's - played on actual vinyl records - they gave shout outs to listeners.  I really enjoyed the music and the show.

Many thanks Matt!

Radio Goofy Netherlands shortwave pirate radio 6296 khz (via SDR) eQSL

This great eQSL from Radio Goofy was the second of 3 that I received today.  In fact, Radio Goofy also sent an audio file of one of their shows!  That was really neat because I'm normally the one sending audio clips as part of reception reports!  I've tuned in to Radio Goofy's broadcasts from the Netherlands, via the SDR at Twente, a few times over the last 6 months

Many thanks Jan - for the eQSL and the audio!

Mike Radio Netherlands shortwave pirate radio 6240 khz (via SDR) eQSL

This great eQSL from Mike Radio was the first of 3 that arrived today.  What makes this one special is the programming consisted of music + shout outs to listeners.  And Mike gave a shout out to me, including reading most of my email report, over the air!  I tuned in to his broadcast from the Netherlands, on 6240 kHz via the SDR at Twente.

Many thanks Mike!

Radio Jingle Bells German shortwave pirate radio 6261 khz (via SDR) Holiday eQSL

The first eQSL of 2016 arrived this morning from Radio Jingle Bells - for their Christmas Eve show.  I tuned in to their broadcast, from Germany, on 6261 kHz via the SDR at Twente in the Netherlands. In a twist from John Lennon - they played some old holiday inspired music from Paul McCartney!

Many thanks Jingle Bells Radio!