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Bellingham Bluegrass Pirate @ 98.7 MHz (Revived Thread)

R

RF101

I thought I was DXing the Class A1 on Salt Spring Island BC on 98.7.. .. but every night I been hearing a bluegrass music "loop"..No IDs.

I live about 30 miles south of Bellingham. Further research brought me to a RadioDiscussions thread active back in 2008.

The pirate seems to have come back..

Oh yes, the reason why some Seattle stations reach into Bellingham is in part due to reflections (diffractions) off the many islands and hills of the area..
 
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Dan Sys said:
It never left the air broadcasting intermittently for over a decade now, I am about 25 miles north of Bellingham in Aldergrove, B.C. Huge signal up here.
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I've also heard it over the years - also old timely country/folk music. Last time I heard it a few weeks ago, they were playing a concert of mountain musicians from Renfro Valley Kentucky, I think There was a brief announcement just before the hour with someone talking on a cheap mic from his home studio. But it was so brief I didn't recall any call letters being ID'd or what the organization (or individual) was he mentioned that was behind it. Seemed to presume anyone listening would know. He did say it was a rare live announcement at the time. Signal dropped out quickly driving south on I-5 as you get into the hills.

Obviously amateur enthusiasts, providing an outlet for something you just won't hear anywhere else. Is it a licensed low power station, or a translator freq, situated out by Lake Whatcom?

One poster here a few years ago had suggested the FCC consider dedicating a small portion of FM spectrum for low power and unlicensed operators, with a maximum power that would be enforced. Otherwise, let 'em have at it in the former space used for TV channel 6. I think that's a brilliant idea. But I fear there are too many vested interests in American broadcasting to every allow anyone to recommend, much less implement, something where they won't personally benefit financially.
 
If they did that, I'd consider doing "pirate radio." It doesn't cost much for a low powered transmitter, plus you can get a computer to run your logs/programming. Now if you want bigger antennas, that might be a bit out of a hobbyist's budget. :D
 
ZooMan7777 said:
If they did that, I'd consider doing "pirate radio." It doesn't cost much for a low powered transmitter, plus you can get a computer to run your logs/programming. Now if you want bigger antennas, that might be a bit out of a hobbyist's budget. :D
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The first big expense will be music and artist/label licensing. The rights agencies would be all over that new source of revenue.
 
ZooMan7777 said:
If they did that, I'd consider doing "pirate radio." It doesn't cost much for a low powered transmitter, plus you can get a computer to run your logs/programming. Now if you want bigger antennas, that might be a bit out of a hobbyist's budget. :D
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the chinese transmitters on ebay/amazon are so spectrally dirty, i wouldnt touch them.. not even out here where i am where theres.. nothing out here to interfere with
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
the chinese transmitters on ebay/amazon are so spectrally dirty, i wouldnt touch them.. not even out here where i am where theres.. nothing out here to interfere with
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That is very true. They are crap, sound is awful. (may donate to RE-PC ) BW 1 watt sounds better. Bext 30 watt sounds really good. Broadcasting on 87.9 Boomer X Radio... XFM . Pyle Pro mixer Orban 8100 A, Bext @ .5 watt into a j-pole gets about 3 blocks 6 on a good day. Total cost including 50 watt china transmitter and BW 1 watt and antenna $1100? Ebay. Accessories add ons and computer sold separately. Automation software RadioDj. It's free! Doubt if anyone hears it, but it's a fun hobby.
 
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Did a bunch of errands around town last night, and as far as I can tell, this pirate is prety darned powerful and pretty high up in elevation. My guess is that they are transmitting from somewhere N to NE of downtown B'ham. Could be from the hills west of Ferndale, but likely no further west than that. Possibly from one of the big bluffs N of Lake Whatcom- Aldergrove BC is line of sight from those. Also could be on Alabama Hill.

There is a comment here that this pirate was heard 30 miles SOUTH of Bellingham, which is tough to believe- 30 miles NORTH I could understand. Must be a pretty clean signal, though, as it was not interfering with the 98.9 translator in town (K-BAY.)
 
Bellingham is sheltered by mountains to the south but the water path to the southwest coupled with reflections off mountains like Mt Constitution make for some strange DX situations..
 

Radio987

Hello Radio Fans, We are on the air from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily with a musical program devoted to old time and traditional music with a scattering of Celtic, Cajun, Western Swing, blues, folk, etc. We are always ready to answer your questions about the artists or the songs you hear on our radio
sites.google.com sites.google.com
 
it was on the air today but obviously at much lower power... Yes, tonight's signal easily reached the Peace Arch.. Pretty gutsy.
 
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On te web page they specifically call out Bellingham and Ferndale. Leading me to beleove what I said earlier- on a high hill either west of Ferndale or N or NE of Bellingham. As RF101 said, maybe bouncing off Lumni or Orcas Island to reach the Skagit Valley. Mono and vertically polarized, covering more ground than the LPFMs up here.
 
That darned bluegrass pirate has become like a frequency modulating folk hero around Bellingham. Which kinda happens when you let a pirate radio station run unchecked for decades. It's growth and visibility corresponding neatly with the rise in big bearded dudes in plaid lumberjack shirts spotted around downtown Bellingham.

But it's operations haven't been THAT consistent over the years. They were off the air for some periods. Return to the air for a while. Then off again.

But for pity's sake, we have KMRE and KZAX-LP. Both starved for programming sometimes. Both with web streams. You'd think instead of risking the farm, they'd go above ground and put the bluegrass on a place where more squirrelly listeners won't worry if the FCC is spying on their radios listening to an illegal radio station pirate or whatever he's called. (And Bellingham is Shangri-la for conspiracy nuts.)

I mean seriously, I can't imagine Saga who for years resisted any attempt at putting an LPFM, translator or anything remotely like it on 92.9 MHz as far south as Renton is exactly thrilled with this twangy whatever just .2 MHz down from it's already fuzzy enough 98.9 Bellingham translator. And I'm sure by now, somebody's probably complained. It just makes more sense to put the music where it's badly needed.
 
Bongwater said:
That darned bluegrass pirate has become like a frequency modulating folk hero around Bellingham. Which kinda happens when you let a pirate radio station run unchecked for decades. It's growth and visibility corresponding neatly with the rise in big bearded dudes in plaid lumberjack shirts spotted around downtown Bellingham.

But it's operations haven't been THAT consistent over the years. They were off the air for some periods. Return to the air for a while. Then off again.

But for pity's sake, we have KMRE and KZAX-LP. Both starved for programming sometimes. Both with web streams. You'd think instead of risking the farm, they'd go above ground and put the bluegrass on a place where more squirrelly listeners won't worry if the FCC is spying on their radios listening to an illegal radio station pirate or whatever he's called. (And Bellingham is Shangri-la for conspiracy nuts.)

I mean seriously, I can't imagine Saga who for years resisted any attempt at putting an LPFM, translator or anything remotely like it on 92.9 MHz as far south as Renton is exactly thrilled with this twangy whatever just .2 MHz down from it's already fuzzy enough 98.9 Bellingham translator. And I'm sure by now, somebody's probably complained. It just makes more sense to put the music where it's badly needed.
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And there's KOYS-LP too. Given the crowded border area dial it's amazing Bellingham has any LPFMs.
 
KOYS-LP (94.1 MHz) is Hispanic Religion and probably not likely to take up outsiders. Particularly of the banjo and fiddle playing ilk.

KARI/KVRI Blaine also have translators at 95.7 and 105.3 respectively.
 
I'm not in Bellingham presently so I can't honestly say what's going on over there. Last I heard it, it was running Radio Vida
 


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