Pirate Radio Stations

Paramjot Jutla

PIRATE RADIO STATIONS

History of Pirate Radio

There is nothing new in the idea of radio stations, which play commercials. People have been enjoying them since the 1930's or before through reception of services from the continent, in particular Radio Luxembourg. Popular entertainment and music programmes were presented in a formal but fashionable way by many of the personalities of the time.

There was the pirate radio era in the mid-sixties, which finished the demand of a new generation to the joys of popular music programming presented by young people. This new style of radio was friendly and informal. At the peak of the ‘pirates', 16 million people a day tuned into Radio Caroline and Radio London. The Government recognised the need to provide a substitute when it closed them down with new laws - but it avoided a commercially charged route and told the BBC to start a new station known as Radio One.

Independent Local Radio was not what the London based, TV advertising industry expected or wanted. The local radio at the time expected national pop based commercial stations, on which advertising could be brought in the same way as television, with very large audiences. Their opinion seemed to be that local radio was bound to be awkward and had no chance of attracting listeners in large numbers from Radio One. The vast number of listeners ignored the station but it was to be a big hit.

Pirate Radio Set-up

City tower blocks ...

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Pirate Radio Set-up

City tower blocks have been an ideal for good coverage and a wide reception and are mostly favoured by commercial pirates. A further advantage is that there are usually electric sockets in the lift or heating rooms on the roof. A 40-watt rig on a 15-story tower block should cover a 15 miles radius if there are no blocking objects.

Attach the antenna securely, with bolts or strong tape, then attach the bottom of the wood to a pole. The cable can be bolted onto the antenna, or attached with strong car battery clips. The clips are recommended for fast dismantling and developing antennas, mark clearly which goes where. The cable should not be longer than necessary, you lose power with every extra foot, and should be good quality and well insulated.

When the antenna is up securely, lead the cable back and plug or screw in to the back of your transmitter. Now plug the TX to the cassette deck keeping the two as far as possible apart if possible blocked by something solid, like a wall, to avoid interference. Keep the audio lead well away from the power leads. Interference between leads can often cause loss of power and unwanted signals on the wrong frequency.

Plug in the cassette deck and the TX to your plug board and switch on. If you have that facility just switch on the exciter stage of the TX first for testing. Go on the other end of the roof with your radio receiver and tune in. Then adjust the vibration on your TX, in relation of other channels, to get the best sound.

There are some disadvantages to set-up your own pirate radio station, these are the main points to consider are: -

They cause interference to the broadcasts of legal radio stations depriving them of audience and the public of the ability to listen to the station of their choice.

They steal frequencies and space on the radio spectrum and their use of poor transmitting equipment makes interference a certain result of their activities.

Unauthorised use of premises as transmitter sites leads to criminal damage and theft- a burden carried by the owners or residents of the premises used.