How can you not like this chap. I am an American but I got to use the word chap. Anyway he says them pirates "but not me" oh no not Ray. Then he knows all the details like he might have been there! No he said not him no way never a pirate. Great stories. Thank you radio workshop for your stories.
In the Netherlands in these days was FM (vhf) very populair whit pirate stations.. Am (medium wave) was seldom used, Only Radio Veronica, Caroline and a few other sea based stations used medium wave. The land based pirats always used VHF fm (Band 2 in the uk) Police radio was on the lower side of the band here, All below 88 mhz. The pirate stations usuually used frequenty's above 100 mhz. power ranges from 1 watt to 500 watt stations were almost dayly in the air.
Ray, I just love to sit with a cup of coffee on a rainy day and list to two or three of your videos. Thanks so much for bring the old days alive one more time
Never ever think that your radio stories are boring it out other hands and other people who are interested in radio to understand what it was like in the past and I hope you do keep some of the talks up even when you do retire
Another great video and a wonderful story. You remind me of Jean Shepard who used to tell such amazing stories about his youth when I was young, on WOR on 710 out of New York.
We used to take an am only transistor with us when we were camping and roaming the hills. Finding the right spot to set it up was half the fun. Left a little, maybe right a little. The fades and noise on AM are part of the experience. We've got to keep this technology alive.
Ray back in my CB days here in the States. There was this guy who had a bit of fun for several weeks. I heard that he grabbed his portable tape player and began playing music over the air waves of one of the higher channels on the CB band. I stumbled across this by accident one day. There I sat listening to this music and this guy comes on and says "You are listening to Redneck Radio. Loud and Proud". This went on for several weeks back then and was funny to know about. Had to share Ray
Hi Ray...Another excellent video and of course it brought back so many happy memories of my past here in Eastbourne.I have just returned from a visit to The Netherlands where I visited some old Pirate stations from the 1980's.Most of them like myself now hold an amateur radio licence.☺ 73 Ian.G7HFS/PA3IKH.
I love your stories, that from the woods reminds me of a Pirate station overhere (The Netherlands) during the eighties. They did it on the Shortwave, and back in the day it was very dangerous to pirate overthere (maybe due the coldwar?), but the police had a high priority to catch them as fast as they can, and the fines were much higher than pirating on AM/FM. They had a monthly program and was on tapes also, but they never used the same place. About the Medium Wave, we have a different situation I believe. We do have 2 types of licenses that anyone can ask for (1 or 100 watt). So it's easy to start a Medium Wave station, the license isn't that expensive, but since you're legal you have to pay for the music rights and those are very high.So pirating is still alive overhere
Hi Ray, I love hearing about the ingenuity of your covert stations oh I mean those pirates LOL : ) Great harmless fun and educational at the same time. A very interesting and amusing story as always. Take care 73
Hello Radio Workshop (Ray), I enjoyed the story and have enjoyed watching some of your other videos. I realise it was early in the morning when you recorded this but I wanted to mention your comment at 6:30 ' I mean, not me, the pirate guys' then you proceed with an in-depth 'we', 'we', 'we' story. You've just handed the GPO (if they still existed) the smoking gun!
Thanks for sharing this interesting story. Your recollection is quite vivid and your story telling is an awesome gift. I would have loved to have been a part of the whole scheme in the day.Thank you for sharing your gift. Obviously, that is just one gift of the many gifts that you have.
Well, thank you for taking the time to get back to me. I have had the same problem. I have missed posts that have been sent to my TH-cam channel for a year or more before I find them. No apologies necessary Ray. I look forward to more videos from you. God bless.
Hi Ray, do you remember from 1979 "radio changeover day"? BBC medium wave local radio stations changed frequency. Here in Bristol on that day a pirate station caused loads of confusion as people were tuning around to find Radio Bristol's new frequency. The pirate station said that it was transmitting from Kingswood in Bristol which was not true. However, this resulted in the Police looking for aerials in Kingswood when the station was actually located miles away in Clifton. Oh happy days. The pirate station was nothing to do with me.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. I might have some amateur radio stories, I'll give it some thought. Cheers, Ray.
Hi Ray, just watching this interesting video again here. I remember hearing about Home, Light and Third on AM radio over there back in the 1960's. What were the formats of those stations? Here in Australia, we didn't get FM until 1974, though there were FM tests here in the late 1950's, but this was discontinued due to lack of interest. We then moved some of our TV channels to Band 2, right across the FM band. Of course, in 1974, we had to move all the Band 2 TV channels off the FM band to allow FM radio to start up properly. Anyway, all the best. Robert.
From what I recall, Home later became BBC Radio 1. Is that correct? Also, did any of the Home, Light or Third stations play popular music? From what I have heard, many listeners over there used to listen to Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg.
Hi Ray, From memory, I think BBC Radio 2 was easy listening music format in the 1970's, though today they have a more classic hits format. I had a friend send me some recordings years ago on tape of some of the BBC radio stations. What are the formats of BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5? I am guessing that 4 is classical music and 5 is news and sport, though I may be wrong there. All the best. Robert.
Some parrallelles to what young people try to do with computers today, also illegal for unknown reasons, but fun. But Those radio things was much more interesting and i think i learned milion times more useful things from it then i ever will from my computers...
Hi Ray, thanks for sharing another great video. Here in Australia, both MW and FM are still very active, though LW here is only used by weather beacons. DAB exists here, but most people listen to the FM band if they listen to radio at all. I have always enjoyed DX'ing on the MW and FM bands for distant signals during favourable conditions. Incidentally, years ago, some Sydney MW radio station DJ's discussed the idea of setting up a pirate radio station outside of the heads in Sydney Harbour. However, this never came to be. All the best. Robert.
Hi Robert, thanks for commenting, all interesting stuff. So FM is used rather than DAB... that's interesting. OK on long wave. Not many countries use long wave. Anyway, thanks again and all the best, Ray.
Believe it or not, after several years of testing DAB in New Zealand, it was recently switched off due to lack of listeners. Both MW and FM are well used in New Zealand as well.
As far I remember, the FM transmitter was more difficult to build. At least in Soviet Union, where I lived and managed my pirate radio station, getting transistors that could amplify so high frequency was a problem and FM modulation module was much more complex that just AM modulator. From 80ties there was transistors to handle more high frequencies. I assume, that your transmitters where built using tubes? I wonder, how did you got that high voltage from car battery? Mine where built using transistors and powered bunch of 4.5V batteries connected consecutively. So, powering last pair of transistors with 50-60V was making enough output power.
Veiko Herne Hi, yes mine were built using valves. High voltage from car battery using a vibrator or rotary transformer... sometimes, a transistor inverter. Cheers, Ray.
Another Good Interesting Story Ray - Great Fun in those days. When using the transmitter in the Pram did you use Prams Jingles? -- Radio London used Pams lol.
Thanks for replying Ray. I look forward to your next video.Very interesting stuff radio. I do a bit of Ham Radio, but only have the Foundation licence, but have made contacts as far as Russia.I am based in Towcester by the way, near Northampton. 73.
Radio Workshop Oh brilliant! Same as me really, 2m and 70cm locally and some friends are on 11m so I chat to those too. With the antennas I have DX can be difficult. I’m near Dartford so I chat to those Kent lot on the 19 sometimes too. Anyway, I look forward to your next video, I watch them while messing around with my own collection of vintage radios trying to get them working again haha.
Love your videos. When you say that the police were on am but in the middle of the fm band, what do you mean specifically? I remember getting the police in the middle of the fm dial in the 90s
Hey, thanks for the stories! Did you ever try listening the 1.6 MHz to 1.8 MHz band on weekends, in the evening? There are some very strong stations from Holland and Greece there.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Yes, I often listen around 1.6Mc/s. Cheers, Ray.
Not for no reason did we all... er I mean they all use the HF end of MW. Folks would flit from last night's Fab 208 back to Radio 1, maybe looking for RNI on the way & hear something they liked. We, I mean they, had an AOR format rather than yet another top 40 station. With the legendary tower block aerial, got many a phone call from your neck of the woods using just a few Watts from North London (rig wouldn't load properly) just people listening on trannies. Trick to not getting busted was not causing QRM & letting others be prioritized with irresponsible broadcasting. FM was way too complicated to build a potentially expendible rig & like you say, no one was listening anyways. Incidently, GPO had no right to confiscate equipment, but most of us never knew at the time. Always a pleasure, Ray.
Like yourself I always thought, 'back in the day' it was Dalton, but according to files in the National Archive his surname was Dolton ie two 'o's no 'a'. To be precise Ronald Henry Dolton, who at the time of most of the events recounted in these videos was a Reginal Assistant Executive Engineer for The Post Office (Corporation), one of the successors, , to The General Post Office (GPO aka Gippo) which became defunct in October 1969.
WE ran two station,s on the island (I.O.W) Radio Kathy and Free Island Radio, Not me of course as it's illegal, but they where fun, Arial up between two trees and the TX in a bush with the inverter whistling away while the 807 was glowing nicely , and having to change the tape over, all good clean fun.
I knew a couple of characters of ill repute who brazenly pirated from their home, late 1980's. Bang in the middle of a major Yorkshire city, no attempt to conceal it. It took the authorities a few days to shut them down. Hardly surprising given that there was a lot of swearing between the (really awful!) music tracks. Nearer to anarchists than pirates. They had another attempt a couple of weeks later when I guess they were threatened with much greater punishment.
Here's a question for you: Do you think the licensing system for radio broadcasting is now outdated, with technology superseding the law? With the internet, you need no licence to broadcast.
Radio Workshop I propose that broadcasting licenses be abolished, because the technology has eclipsed the legislation. The German poet, playwright and songwriter, Bertholdt Brecht said that it would be great if everyone had their own radio transmitter. Now I can see what he meant.
How can you not like this chap. I am an American but I got to use the word chap. Anyway he says them pirates "but not me" oh no not Ray. Then he knows all the details like he might have been there! No he said not him no way never a pirate. Great stories. Thank you radio workshop for your stories.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
I love to listen to Ray's stories. He's the authentic voice of land-based pirates in that era, and every word rings true!
In the Netherlands in these days was FM (vhf) very populair whit pirate stations.. Am (medium wave) was seldom used, Only Radio Veronica, Caroline and a few other sea based stations used medium wave. The land based pirats always used VHF fm (Band 2 in the uk) Police radio was on the lower side of the band here, All below 88 mhz. The pirate stations usuually used frequenty's above 100 mhz. power ranges from 1 watt to 500 watt stations were almost dayly in the air.
Ray, I just love to sit with a cup of coffee on a rainy day and list to two or three of your videos. Thanks so much for bring the old days alive one more time
Thanks, that’s really nice. It makes it all worthwhile. Cheers, Ray.
Brilliant, I've been watching your video's all weekend.
You`re a good story teller, there, Ray. Thanks
Thanks!
Excellent!
Love the stories!
Never ever think that your radio stories are boring it out other hands and other people who are interested in radio to understand what it was like in the past and I hope you do keep some of the talks up even when you do retire
Thanks, David. More radio stories coming soon. Cheers, Ray.
Another great story. The Empire out witted again
Thanks for the awesome stories!
I've been watching for 2 hours already and about to click another.
Glad you're liking them. Cheers, Ray.
Another wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed watching this one.
Thanks for that, it's nice to get feedback. Cheers, Ray.
Thanks Ray, another gem. Looking forward to the next episode. Keep looking over your shoulder.lol.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
I am 35, and those stories are amazing, we learn a lot from the past! thank you man
Luigi Gallerani thanks!
Another great video and a wonderful story. You remind me of Jean Shepard who used to tell such amazing stories about his youth when I was young, on WOR on 710 out of New York.
We used to take an am only transistor with us when we were camping and roaming the hills. Finding the right spot to set it up was half the fun. Left a little, maybe right a little. The fades and noise on AM are part of the experience. We've got to keep this technology alive.
Yes, we must keep this technology alive. You’re quite right! Great to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
Absolutely splendid!!
Roc Pile thanks!
Ray back in my CB days here in the States. There was this guy who had a bit of fun for several weeks. I heard that he grabbed his portable tape player and began playing music over the air waves of one of the higher channels on the CB band. I stumbled across this by accident one day. There I sat listening to this music and this guy comes on and says "You are listening to Redneck Radio. Loud and Proud". This went on for several weeks back then and was funny to know about. Had to share Ray
Happy days, indeed!
Love these old stories Ray. Happy days indeed.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
luv these stories thanks Lived in Ipswich in the early sixties (USAF) We always listened to pirate radio
Happy days! Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
Hi Ray...Another excellent video and of course it brought back so many happy memories of my past here in Eastbourne.I have just returned from a visit to The Netherlands where I visited some old Pirate stations from the 1980's.Most of them like myself now hold an amateur radio licence.☺
73 Ian.G7HFS/PA3IKH.
Hi Ian, there have always been loads of pirate in the Netherlands. I'm not sure why! Cheers, Ray.
I love your stories, that from the woods reminds me of a Pirate station overhere (The Netherlands) during the eighties. They did it on the Shortwave, and back in the day it was very dangerous to pirate overthere (maybe due the coldwar?), but the police had a high priority to catch them as fast as they can, and the fines were much higher than pirating on AM/FM. They had a monthly program and was on tapes also, but they never used the same place. About the Medium Wave, we have a different situation I believe. We do have 2 types of licenses that anyone can ask for (1 or 100 watt). So it's easy to start a Medium Wave station, the license isn't that expensive, but since you're legal you have to pay for the music rights and those are very high.So pirating is still alive overhere
Really enjoy these tales Ray hope there's more to come.
Loved your tales from yesteryear, keep em coming. Thanks for sharing!
More coming soon! Cheers, Ray.
Looking forward to watching it Ray, 73s Lee.
Hi Ray, I love hearing about the ingenuity of your covert stations oh I mean those pirates LOL : ) Great harmless fun and educational at the same time. A very interesting and amusing story as always. Take care 73
Glad you like the stories. Keep watching! Cheers, Ray.
Hello Radio Workshop (Ray), I enjoyed the story and have enjoyed watching some of your other videos. I realise it was early in the morning when you recorded this but I wanted to mention your comment at 6:30 ' I mean, not me, the pirate guys' then you proceed with an in-depth 'we', 'we', 'we' story. You've just handed the GPO (if they still existed) the smoking gun!
The expression, 'tongue in cheek' comes to mind. :-)
Thanks for sharing this interesting story. Your recollection is quite vivid and your story telling is an awesome gift. I would have loved to have been a part of the whole scheme in the day.Thank you for sharing your gift. Obviously, that is just one gift of the many gifts that you have.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
Well, thank you for taking the time to get back to me. I have had the same problem. I have missed posts that have been sent to my TH-cam channel for a year or more before I find them. No apologies necessary Ray. I look forward to more videos from you. God bless.
Thanks Andy, more videos coming soon.
Thank is great news Ray.
A great story! Sounds like a trip down memory lane for me ;)
Happy days!
Another great video - Cheers from Cape Town de ZS1CDG
ZS1CDG - Electronics and Amateur Radio thanks!
Hi Ray, do you remember from 1979 "radio changeover day"? BBC medium wave local radio stations changed frequency. Here in Bristol on that day a pirate station caused loads of confusion as people were tuning around to find Radio Bristol's new frequency. The pirate station said that it was transmitting from Kingswood in Bristol which was not true. However, this resulted in the Police looking for aerials in Kingswood when the station was actually located miles away in Clifton. Oh happy days. The pirate station was nothing to do with me.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
Ray I love your stories! Do you have any regular amateur radio stories?
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. I might have some amateur radio stories, I'll give it some thought. Cheers, Ray.
Ok Ray I look forward to it :)
Hi Ray, just watching this interesting video again here. I remember hearing about Home, Light and Third on AM radio over there back in the 1960's. What were the formats of those stations? Here in Australia, we didn't get FM until 1974, though there were FM tests here in the late 1950's, but this was discontinued due to lack of interest. We then moved some of our TV channels to Band 2, right across the FM band. Of course, in 1974, we had to move all the Band 2 TV channels off the FM band to allow FM radio to start up properly. Anyway, all the best. Robert.
RGC198 hi Robert, they were all AM stations run by the BBC. Our FM began in the mid fifties.
From what I recall, Home later became BBC Radio 1. Is that correct? Also, did any of the Home, Light or Third stations play popular music? From what I have heard, many listeners over there used to listen to Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg.
@@g4nsj We started FM here in Australia during the 1950's, then we scrapped it in the early 1960's only to restart it again in 1974.
RGC198 the Home Service became BBC Radio 4. The Light Programme became Radio 2. The Third Programme became Radio 3. Radio 1 was a new venture.
Hi Ray, From memory, I think BBC Radio 2 was easy listening music format in the 1970's, though today they have a more classic hits format. I had a friend send me some recordings years ago on tape of some of the BBC radio stations. What are the formats of BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5? I am guessing that 4 is classical music and 5 is news and sport, though I may be wrong there. All the best. Robert.
Some parrallelles to what young people try to do with computers today, also illegal for unknown reasons, but fun.
But Those radio things was much more interesting and i think i learned milion times more useful things from it then i ever will from my computers...
Sheep Ewe I agree!
thanks. great story. please tell more... dan t palm springs ca USA
Hi Ray, thanks for sharing another great video. Here in Australia, both MW and FM are still very active, though LW here is only used by weather beacons. DAB exists here, but most people listen to the FM band if they listen to radio at all. I have always enjoyed DX'ing on the MW and FM bands for distant signals during favourable conditions. Incidentally, years ago, some Sydney MW radio station DJ's discussed the idea of setting up a pirate radio station outside of the heads in Sydney Harbour. However, this never came to be. All the best. Robert.
Hi Robert, thanks for commenting, all interesting stuff. So FM is used rather than DAB... that's interesting. OK on long wave. Not many countries use long wave. Anyway, thanks again and all the best, Ray.
Believe it or not, after several years of testing DAB in New Zealand, it was recently switched off due to lack of listeners. Both MW and FM are well used in New Zealand as well.
As far I remember, the FM transmitter was more difficult to build. At least in Soviet Union, where I lived and managed my pirate radio station, getting transistors that could amplify so high frequency was a problem and FM modulation module was much more complex that just AM modulator. From 80ties there was transistors to handle more high frequencies. I assume, that your transmitters where built using tubes? I wonder, how did you got that high voltage from car battery? Mine where built using transistors and powered bunch of 4.5V batteries connected consecutively. So, powering last pair of transistors with 50-60V was making enough output power.
Veiko Herne Hi, yes mine were built using valves. High voltage from car battery using a vibrator or rotary transformer... sometimes, a transistor inverter. Cheers, Ray.
Veiko Herne What stuff were you broadcasting?
Pirate Radio in the Soviet Union?!
Wow. Veiko Herne...from one pirate to another, you get BIG RESPECT from me!
\m/ ^_^
Veiko Herne We used rotary converters (rotary transformers) to get HT for the valves.
Chris Henniker music, mainly.
I think you may have found a new niche there Ray. Keep them stories coming!
Regards from sunny Hayling ;o)
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.
Another great installment, much appreciated...
Glad you enjoyed it.
+Radio Workshop Who doesn't enjoy a good yarn?
Already looking forward to the next one :)
:-)
Another Good Interesting Story Ray - Great Fun in those days. When using the transmitter in the Pram did you use Prams Jingles? -- Radio London used Pams lol.
Hi Frank, pram jingles... of course! I think a few stations resorted to prams. Cheers, Ray.
Thanks for replying Ray. I look forward to your next video.Very interesting stuff radio. I do a bit of Ham Radio, but only have the Foundation licence, but have made contacts as far as Russia.I am based in Towcester by the way, near Northampton. 73.
Fantastic, did you or do you ever use CB radio or was it just breadcasting?
I did and still do for local chats.
Radio Workshop Oh brilliant! Same as me really, 2m and 70cm locally and some friends are on 11m so I chat to those too. With the antennas I have DX can be difficult. I’m near Dartford so I chat to those Kent lot on the 19 sometimes too. Anyway, I look forward to your next video, I watch them while messing around with my own collection of vintage radios trying to get them working again haha.
Love your videos. When you say that the police were on am but in the middle of the fm band, what do you mean specifically?
I remember getting the police in the middle of the fm dial in the 90s
They used amplitude modulation on the frequencies normally used for FM stations.
@@steeviebops haha, thanks. In the 10 months since I asked I have come to understand
that's a beautiful radio
Olá! Aqui do Brasil acompanhando você!
Hello from the UK!
Hey, thanks for the stories! Did you ever try listening the 1.6 MHz to 1.8 MHz band on weekends, in the evening? There are some very strong stations from Holland and Greece there.
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Yes, I often listen around 1.6Mc/s. Cheers, Ray.
I've about150 transistor radios, mostly multi band
Excellent!
Not for no reason did we all... er I mean they all use the HF end of MW. Folks would flit from last night's Fab 208 back to Radio 1, maybe looking for RNI on the way & hear something they liked. We, I mean they, had an AOR format rather than yet another top 40 station. With the legendary tower block aerial, got many a phone call from your neck of the woods using just a few Watts from North London (rig wouldn't load properly) just people listening on trannies. Trick to not getting busted was not causing QRM & letting others be prioritized with irresponsible broadcasting. FM was way too complicated to build a potentially expendible rig & like you say, no one was listening anyways. Incidently, GPO had no right to confiscate equipment, but most of us never knew at the time. Always a pleasure, Ray.
Hi Robert, it's nice to hear from you. You've made some interesting points, especially about confiscated gear. Glad you like the video. Cheers, Ray.
Thanks for posting does Mr Dalton mean anything with you ?
Oh yes! Mr Dalton, the big chief! 😃
Like yourself I always thought, 'back in the day' it was Dalton, but according to files in the National Archive his surname was Dolton ie two 'o's no 'a'. To be precise Ronald Henry Dolton, who at the time of most of the events recounted in these videos was a Reginal Assistant Executive Engineer for The Post Office (Corporation), one of the successors, , to The General Post Office (GPO aka Gippo) which became defunct in October 1969.
Happy days!
WE ran two station,s on the island (I.O.W) Radio Kathy and Free Island Radio, Not me of course as it's illegal, but they where fun, Arial up between two trees and the TX in a bush with the inverter whistling away while the 807 was glowing nicely , and having to change the tape over, all good clean fun.
Hi Graham, great fun! I heard many stations in those days... I wonder whether I heard any from the island? Cheers, Ray.
Hi Graham I still have a letter from Free Island Radio dated October 1978
Well done for keeping it, I also have lots of letter's from our listener's I probably have yours, we had a lot of phone calls as well.
I knew a couple of characters of ill repute who brazenly pirated from their home, late 1980's. Bang in the middle of a major Yorkshire city, no attempt to conceal it. It took the authorities a few days to shut them down. Hardly surprising given that there was a lot of swearing between the (really awful!) music tracks. Nearer to anarchists than pirates. They had another attempt a couple of weeks later when I guess they were threatened with much greater punishment.
Not good to swear etc. Asking for trouble! lol
Here's a question for you: Do you think the licensing system for radio broadcasting is now outdated, with technology superseding the law? With the internet, you need no licence to broadcast.
Chris Henniker totally outdated, yes.
Radio Workshop I propose that broadcasting licenses be abolished, because the technology has eclipsed the legislation. The German poet, playwright and songwriter, Bertholdt Brecht said that it would be great if everyone had their own radio transmitter. Now I can see what he meant.
HAPPY DAYS
Ray Police around 100mhz a lot of burping and farting noises Good times lol
Hi, sorry I've not replied before. It seems that I've been missing posts from people so I do apologise. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Ray.