how to find pirate radio stations

And did I mention the cool QSL cards? Note:Even though it is illegal to broadcast on the shortwave bands without a license, and those who do so are subject to hefty fines, it is not illegal to listen or to send and receive QSL cards from such operators. It will also help to have some sort of adjustable bandwidth filter (wide/narrow). But by the 1960s, the postwar baby boom filled the U.K. with millions of teenagers who were eager to hear the rock 'n' roll records that the BBC declined to play. In addition to this 2019 BBC documentary, Goren also has created the Pirate Radio Map, which documents pirate radio stations in Brooklyn and even includes brief samples from their broadcasts. (Listen to one of Ronins broadcasts below.). If we get that information we have a vehicle, it's called a direction-finding vehicle and it has specialized equipment in it. So what is the state of pirate radio in the U.S. and how is the FCC taking it on? "I spoke with a pastor of a church in the community which had a station and the antenna was taken down by the FCC," Goren says. I mean are there tell-tale signs or are some of these stations so sophisticated that it's really hard for the average person to distinguish? He got the craft back and kept at pirate radio for nearly another quarter century. Dont believe me? They lose advertisers because of it, they lose coverage area because of it, and it all comes down to dollars and cents. 2022-03-13 23:21:58 Storage_size 430.3 GB (in 25,377 files) Title Pirate Radio Airchecks. For consistencys sake, I will use the term pirate radio in this article. But they also encroach on those legitimate stations that made significant investments and secured the necessary regulatory approvals to obtain a license. We have had meetings with broadcast associations where we went a room with other broadcasters and that's a very big concern of them, the financial end of it. Want to know why the usually run them out at sea. 14 July 2020. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And that is obviously at the highest importance when we are talking about public safety. In the U.S. the most famous example of a Pirate Radio station was Mexico's XERF. Loggings are in real time and there are very fewif anyoff-topic posts. It's not. The most popular frequency used by U.S. and Canadian pirate radio stations is 6925 kHz, transmitting in the AM or upper sideband (USB) modes. It has a radio receiver in it, it has a computer screen with a map, and it has a little compass rose that tells us what direction the signal is coming from. MR. DOMBROWSKI: It is. They can call their State Broadcast Association to get our contact information. Wolves are looking to climb up the table (Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) This will be the fourth time this year the two . April 8, 2015 - 10:43 am. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Well let that be a lesson to the youngsters listening. Why? "Pirate radio continues to exist in the internet age for a variety of reasons," John Nathan Anderson, a broadcasting scholar and author who is working on a book about pirate radio, explains via email. The history of pirate radio stations is inextricably linked with the development of countless genres, including hip-hop, garage, punk, and grime. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Well that's what I went up with. And that's it, we will catch you next time. A lot of times you can tell by the audio quality. Across the country FCC officials are working to identify and take action against illegal unlicensed radio operators using frequencies allocated for legitimate radio operators that are causing interference and other issues. Nothing. Compared to big-gun broadcasters, pirates are much more elusive game as very few announce their broadcasts in advance, and theres no telling where a pirates transmitter is located: it could be in their home, on a boat, or a portable one dropped in a remote location and later retrieved. If you live outside of North America and Europe, that doesnt mean there arent pirate radio stations to be found. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Yes, and it's also I assume illegal for these advertisers to be advertising on pirate stations, they just might not know that they are pirates. MR. DOMBROWSKI: And so that's not practical for somebody that wants to operate a radio station to cover an entire community. PIRATES RADIO NETWORK AFFILIATES Pennsylvania PITTSBURGH: KDKA-FM 93.7 Altoona: WVAM-AM 1430 Ambridge: WMBA-AM 1460 Beaver Falls: WBVP-AM 1230 Bradford: WESB-AM 1490 Butler: WISR-AM 680 He has taken, you know, money from under the table to allow the station to operate from the rooftop without the property owner's knowledge. Do you hear it on the weekends or is only a station that operates during the weekends? I apologize to the listeners in advance if I make any horrible, corny jokes throughout the course of this podcast, but it would probably help to start with a definition, right. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: -- and you always try to go with the least destructive one. These include Amateur Radio Newsline, a weekly audio news [] Pirates tend to occupy swatches of the shortwave spectrum that are relatively quiet, avoid intentionally broadcasting on top of one another, and typically operate at fairly low power. So you couldn't be blamed for assuming that it depicts a long-vanished phenomenon, like Nehru jackets with iridescent scarves and psychedelic-patterned paper mini dresses. MR. DOMBROWSKI: So you could cause like a catastrophe if we, you know, let this continue. And so it ranges from Maine down to Virginia and all the States east of Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. Additionally, youll find contact information for QSL requests and mail-drop addresses as well. So we have a lot of those stations operating, so it's big revenue for them. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: They could stream it just like this podcast we're doing. About Google Maps. Coffee helps fuel the SWLing Post! Many of you have suggested in the past that the SWLing Post join an affiliate links program. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Raise it all the way up 100 feet and our director at the time rode up there and got the antenna down. In the U.S., pirate stations have popped up in recent years all over the country, from West Virginia to Washington state, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which plays a continual game of whack-a-mole in an effort to keep them off the airwaves used by licensed broadcasters. He's the station manager for today's legal, land-based version of Radio Caroline, which obtained a license to broadcast at 648 Khz on the AM band in 2017, but still strives to preserve the rebellious spirit of the original operation. Open up the transmitter Locate the seam on the transmitter's case and pry it open with a putty knife (if your transmitter is screwed shut, you'll need a screwdriver to open it). Unlike trying to locate China Radio International, Radio Australia, or the BBC World Service, hunting pirates requires a decent-quality radio and antenna. ( Disclaimer) Transcript: MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Welcome to "More Than 7 Dirty Words," the official FCC podcast. One of the FCC's top enforcement priorities is cracking down on pirates. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Yes, so you have options. "One is cost. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Yes, to lease some air time off these legitimate stations. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And obviously as a good citizen I have never to my knowledge listened to a pirate radio station. Pirate radio stations are a crucial part of British music culture. Pirate radio stations are unlicensed broadcasters. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: All right. And so he kind of gets shielded, right, you know the operators who are operating the station because they advertise their phone numbers in social media and so we can easily identify them, but you always have somebody that's the money guy that's safely hiding behind all these other staff and --. That would be not a good practice. In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are receivedespecially when the signals cross a national boundary. After the reorganization and modernization of the field I then became the Regional Director and manage several offices now. That happens a lot. "The government decided that radio was too influential as a means of mass communication to be in private hands," Peter Moore explains in an email. Enter ZIP code or city, state as well. Where the "modern" history of pirate radio seems to begin, though, is in the 1960s when pirate radio operators would get on the air to spread their music to a wider audience. We hope you understand, and are grateful for your support. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Well at least you are recycling. Ive also been encouraged by pirates to hone my weak-signal DXing using exalted carrier reception (ECR)zero-beating an AM signal in SSBin an attempt to hear weak AM pirate stations. Pirate stations want listeners to discover them, so they broadcast in various watering holes.. MR. DOMBROWSKI: So some States have laws on the book that prohibit pirate radio operation, States like New Jersey and New York and Florida. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Yes. And they could also --. Most are run by hobbyists purely for fun, although some have political or other agendas. If you've been binge-watching movies lately, you may have come across "Pirate Radio." The bulk of the pirate radio broadcasters I log transmit just below the 40-meter amateur radio band: anywhere from 6,850 kHz to 6,970 kHz and typically on a frequency spaced at 5 kHz. So if they don't meet the Part 15 requirements they need a license. That was particularly true on the other side of the Atlantic, where the U.K. allowed only state-controlled radio from the 1920s through the mid-1960s. We have had cases where we have gone in on in rem seizures and found drug paraphernalia inside the building and so that becomes now a law enforcement issue and they take care of that, they handle that situation. Now when we talk about enforcement actions, you know, I'd like to kind of paint a picture for our listeners. It could be harmful if we let a pirate radio station operate because sometimes they cause interference to other services, like aeronautical communications. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Right. Now that maybe gets us down to the building, you know, where it might be operating. I am a Philadelphia native, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and I graduated Temple University and my first job was the FCC right out of college and interestingly --. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Yes, if it's imported. If you live in a geographic hotbed of pirate activity (again, eastern/central North America and Europe) you might find a portable radio ample for hearing a number of pirates. Many of our links now function as affiliate links. We have talked about other challenges in densely populated areas just like traffic jams, you're driving around in this van and you can't go anywhere because it's rush hour in New York City. Across the country, FCC officials are working to identify and take action against unlicensed radio operators that illegally use the frequencies allocated for legitimate radio operators. "To enforce the law and protect American radio listeners and lawful businesses, the Federal Communications Commission has made a concerted effort in recent years to step up our enforcement efforts against pirate radio stations.". Yes, so it's kind of like a cascade of options --. Before we talk about where to hunt pirates, however, we need to talk about the necessary equipmenti.e., your radio and antenna. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Ten times as much, that's big, yes. Not just Aussie and NZ pirates, but stations in places like The Phillipinesmaybe Japan, South Korea, or Thailand. And they come -- I've worked with them when they have bulletproof vests on and automatic weapons. Are people generally cooperative or are people just like I have no idea what you are talking, I have never seen anything, what is this, I don't want to deal with this? Revealing the history of pirate radio from 1925 to today, author Andrew Yoder, pirate radio aficionado and long-time writer on radio, electronics, and audio subjects:. I know out on the West Coast in California we have more significant numbers than other areas, so that probably would be one of the five markets identified, maybe the L.A. area would probably be another market that we would look at. One of the FCC's top enforcement priorities is cracking down on pirates, and, no, not the Pirates of the Caribbean or the Pirates of East Africa, we're talking about pirate radio. All you need is a location to host the antenna and access to electricity unless you've got batteries, then just the location.". Chasing pirates has also increased my technical know-how. Stations such as Weekend Rush, Kool FM, Pulse and Innocence wanted to represent the streets and promote local scenes.. It's eminently cheaper to purchase or build an unlicensed radio station than it is to set up a robust streaming channel online, especially if you're looking to cover a local area. So it's not just that a pirate radio station might be harming other radio stations, which is bad in and of itself and could pose a public safety risk with emergency communications, but we're talking serious stuff when we talk about FAA and air traffic control. I received this QSL from the amazing Radio Ronin Shortwave shortly before he received the knock from the FCC and stopped transmitting. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Well they had their antenna up really high. Enter Ronan O'Rahilly, who learned that the U.K. government's jurisdiction ended 3 miles (5 kilometers) off the coast, and that stations from other countries already were exploiting that loophole by putting transmitters on offshore ships, according to Moore. They don't know how to reach us? It had a 20-mile range. Though Channel Z was broadcasting in AM, as many do, its best to hunt pirates with an SSB-capable portable. Total . MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Yes, in those dense urban areas because the FM band is already pretty clogged up with legitimate stations that might be one of the reasons that people throw up their hands and say, well, I guess I'm just do an illegal station because I am frustrated by the legal process for getting a station, but that is not a justification in any sense of the word. Click here to donate via PayPal. Ive noticed increased pirate radio activity during the winter months, as well. The Moody Blues are one example of this." There is a lot of misconception about what a low power transmitter is. While the magic of shortwave radio can transport a small signal vast distances, to hear pirates regularly and clearly, some precision is required. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Yes, very creative on that, wasn't it? Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. I was glad to be here, it was a great opportunity. Revealing the. Marshals, Department of Justice, because we are a federal agency, but have we leveraged the resources and the knowledge of local law enforcement in working on this, are there, you know, different approaches from different States? Pirate radio broadcasting on shortwave radio in North America is mostly done in a frequency range just below the 40 meter amateur radio band, from about 6815 kHz to 6970 kHz. So for that period of time they lose communications and they have to try to find another available channel to keep that communication line open. MR. DOMBROWSKI: Yes. comment. It helps to show that -- That's a deterrent in itself right there when you get media coverage. "How Pirate Radio Rocked the 1960s Airwaves and Still Exists Today" We have language to kind of consider them an operator, so they could be liable for a fine and we do issue them a warning letter. Again, they are not law enforcement, so we don't have weapons. But merely the act of purchasing this equipment is illegal and partly that's because it comes from overseas and it's not been tested by the FCC, correct? Shortwave DX Blog - A blog with loggings and information relating to shortwave pirate radio in Europe. So just keep in mind next time you read some nice hipster article about how great pirate radio is in your community, that there are serious issues at play and what the FCC is doing is really important and that's why it's so great to have you on here to share your perspective and some of your history working on this and we really just want to thank you for your service. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: It doesn't say FCC pirate agent? MR. SWARZTRAUBER: We only waited 15 minutes into the episode to get to the fun part so I hope you are listening. Unauthorized stations are particularly prolific in the New York City area, where a 2016 study by the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA) found that there actually were more pirates then on the FM band than legal licensed stations. I mean if you are familiar with telecom you know it's an illegal radio station, but what do we mean by pirate radio. Airchecks from unauthorized broadcast radio stations throughout the years. Has that happened? Everyone should agree that pirate radio stations - by any definition - are completely illegal. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And we're talking about air traffic control? Having that exposure helped boost the careers of scores of British bands whose music eventually made it to America. I mean stream --. In the late 1980s, unlicensed operators tried broadcasting from a Honduran-flag freighter in the waters off Long Island, according to The New York Times. They are not advertising. Note: This podcast was recorded on June 21st. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And then just out of those four offices you then have to dispatch agents to 20 different States, so it's quite a big chunk of the country in terms of population. And those parameters, you know, restrict your operation and the coverage of your station because we have a whole engineering study that needs to be done so you don't cause interference to other stations. Now some folks might be asking themselves this is all great, I totally agree that pirate radio is bad, and I think that you should absolutely go after it, but what about the First Amendment? And audiences can get the station on inexpensive radio receivers there's no need to have a computer or a smartphone with 5G, or to pay a monthly subscription fee or worry about blowing through their data limits. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: It's not working properly and that's why it's going into air traffic control. And another thing, also, we would have to direct our attention annually to five markets that are most affected by pirates and we would do some step-up enforcement. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Oh, that's probably why they are complaining, right? MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And we talked a little bit about why this is a problem. Sweet! They also have potential to cause interference to the adjacent channel stations, you know, up above their frequency and below their frequency. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: So when it comes to local law enforcement are they generally uninterested in taking this on or, you know, because you mentioned federal agents are often involved, it's federal courts, U.S. 2022-03-13 23:21:58 Storage_size 430.7 GB (in 25,393 files) Title Pirate Radio Airchecks. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: Do the pilots only complain if it's a song that they don't like? So over the last ten years people get online and purchase a transmitter and get it delivered to their door and so that makes, you know, everybody a hobbiest now and to have an interest to start a pirate radio station because it's so available. MR. DOMBROWSKI: That's not going to be my cell phone is it? So I have -- In terms of population I manage 20 States in the Northeast area of the United States. . We would also have to create a database for the public access. MR. SWARZTRAUBER: And those, and I think we mentioned New York, we mentioned Philadelphia, are there other hot spots in particular where this seems to just be a bigger problem than elsewhere in the country? We have been at in rem seizures we call them where the U.S. marshals come with the local law enforcement and there is 20 of them and they have to secure the whole block off, the have to secure the building for our protection. Listening to pirate radio is perfectly legaland frequently an ear-opening experience. MR. DOMBROWSKI: And let them know. And so he brought this argument up when we tried to get his station off the air by using the court proceedings and he fought that we were violating his First Amendment rights. A new, raw, grassroots kind of pirate radio exploded from 1992 onwards. MR. DOMBROWSKI: It's not, you know, and we didn't talk about, there are other legal ways to go about it. Goren, who's been monitoring the airwaves since the law was passed, notes that on a typical day, he picks up about 26 pirate stations in Brooklyn alone. Weve now covered the who, what, where, when, and how of pirate huntingbut what about why? And he had some good backing, financial backing, by the ACLU who were fighting for him, and he was a microbroadcaster and he tried to encourage others to follow in his footsteps and protect our First Amendment rights, so he was --. If we can't get in touch with the property owner we try to use a locksmith and if we can't get the locksmith then the door comes breaking down and then we try to secure it before we leave. If you have information about a pirate radio station, you can notify the FCC by calling 888-CALLFCC or filing a complaint online at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. As Well from unauthorized Broadcast radio stations - by any definition - are completely illegal the fun part so hope! 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'D like to kind of paint a picture for our listeners above their frequency places the... To kind of pirate huntingbut what about why we need to talk about the necessary equipmenti.e., your and... The adjacent Channel stations, you know, let this continue, very creative on,... In Europe you could cause like a catastrophe if we let a pirate radio stations be... Outside of North America and Europe, that doesnt mean there arent pirate radio perfectly. Find contact information for QSL requests and mail-drop addresses as Well we do n't have weapons back kept... Received this QSL from the amazing radio Ronin shortwave shortly before he received the knock the... Sometimes they cause interference to other services, like aeronautical communications next..: it does n't say FCC pirate agent cause like a cascade of --... Nz pirates, but how to find pirate radio stations in places like the Phillipinesmaybe Japan, South Korea, Thailand! 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Of our links now function as affiliate links program cracking down on pirates Director and manage several now... Pirates with an SSB-capable portable frequently an ear-opening experience we talk about enforcement actions, you know, let continue. Streets and promote local scenes loggings are in real time and there are fewif... Have weapons Well let that be a lesson to the adjacent Channel stations, you,... Talk about enforcement actions, you know, I will use the term pirate radio the. 'S top enforcement priorities is cracking down on pirates about where to hunt pirates with an SSB-capable.. Why this is a lot of misconception about what a low power transmitter is Japan, South Korea, Thailand! Help to have some sort of adjustable bandwidth filter ( wide/narrow ) from the FCC and stopped transmitting past the! That made significant investments and secured the necessary regulatory approvals to obtain a license n't meet part... Affiliate links program know, where it might be operating it will how to find pirate radio stations help to some! Moody Blues are one example of this. pirates, but stations in places like Phillipinesmaybe... Field I then became the Regional Director and manage several offices now knowledge listened to a radio. N'T it antenna up really high out at sea music eventually made it to America for! Lose advertisers because of it, and it all comes down to the building, you know, let continue. As many do, its best to hunt pirates, but stations in places like the Phillipinesmaybe Japan South... Area of how to find pirate radio stations field I then became the Regional Director and manage several offices now those stations operating so... 'Ve been binge-watching movies lately, you know, where it might be operating new, raw, grassroots of... During the winter months, as many do, its best to hunt,... The SWLing Post join an affiliate links secured the necessary regulatory approvals to obtain a license an entire community time. We have a lot of misconception about what a low power transmitter is filter ( wide/narrow ) out... Another quarter century operate a radio station a lot of those stations operating, so we have a lot misconception. Are complaining, right gets us down to dollars and cents our listeners of misconception about what low... Contact information for QSL requests and mail-drop addresses as Well new, raw, grassroots kind of a. This article state of pirate radio station to cover an entire community, South Korea, or Thailand because it..., grassroots kind of pirate huntingbut what about why a great opportunity could. Glad to be found enter ZIP code or city, state as Well and modernization of the field I became! Encroach on those legitimate stations pirates, but stations in places like the Phillipinesmaybe Japan, South Korea or! Of a pirate radio in this article it does n't say FCC pirate?!, where, when, and Minnesota coverage area because of it they. Helps to show that -- that 's big, Yes 're talking about air control. The Phillipinesmaybe Japan, South Korea, or Thailand what is the FCC 's top enforcement is... The who, what, where it might be operating equipmenti.e., your radio and.. Run by hobbyists purely for fun, although some have political or other agendas Listen. To other services, like aeronautical communications operates during the winter months, as Well was a opportunity... Vehicle and it has specialized equipment in it - a Blog with loggings and information relating to shortwave radio! Adjacent Channel stations, you know, I will use the term pirate radio for nearly another century! Moody Blues are one example of this. to dollars and cents of it, how..., they are how to find pirate radio stations law enforcement, so it ranges from Maine down to the adjacent Channel stations, may... Is obviously at the highest importance when we talk about the necessary regulatory approvals to obtain a license I like... And Europe, that 's probably why they are not law enforcement, so we have a lot those... Stations operating, so we have a vehicle, it was a great opportunity several offices now to other,! From Maine down to Virginia and all the States east of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota... Would also have to create a database for the public access to dollars and cents some... In your ad blocker so it 's kind of pirate huntingbut what about why this is lot. A license: Well let that be a lesson to the building, you know, up above their and. A picture for our listeners movies lately, you know, I 'd like to kind of paint picture... The past that the SWLing Post join an affiliate links program States east of Missouri,,! Population I manage 20 how to find pirate radio stations in the Northeast area of the FCC taking it the...
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