Pirate Radio Stations

Once you’ve got your shortwave radio up and running, how do you choose from the hundreds of different transmissions floating around in the shortwave range?

Many shortwave listeners (SWLers) choose to use their equipment to tune into the pirate radio scene. What is pirate radio, exactly? In modern parlance, pirate radio refers to a station that’s received illegally across a country’s border, a station that broadcasts certain heterodox content, or a station that breaches traditional transmission regulations (i.e. by operating without a license or failing to transmit a station identification during broadcast).

The term ‘pirate radio’ was first coined in Denmark, in 1958, in reference to a radio broadcast transmitted to the country, without permission, from a vessel anchored in international waters. The station, named Radio Mercur, was soon dubbed “pirate radio” by Danish newspapers. The concept of pirate radio quickly began to refer to more than just transmissions from offshore radio stations.

 Today, the term typically describes broadcasts, often by amateur shortwave enthusiasts, with unconventional or risk-taking content. Also known as free radio, bootleg or clandestine stations, the newest wave of SWL radio stations now operates online, shirking traditional copyright fees and attracting small, loyal groups of listeners.

June 6th, 2008 by Tech Girl | Posted in Uncategorized | (0)