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Bellingham Bluegrass Pirate @ 98.7 MHz

Bongwater

Bongwater

From way up here, sits a local radio enigma.....

Since 2000, there has been a pirate here that broadcasts bluegrass nightly on 98.7 MHz. The signal covers most of the city proper and appears to originate from downtown. It broadcasts no ID, just bluegrass in the evening hours...

What's most amazing is they never have been caught. Granted, there are pirate stations all around Bellingham (and not Part 15ers, which are ubiquitous here. But higher power FM ones), but this one is the most powerful (or well situated) because it covers most of the city....anybody else pick them up?
 
I don't know if these are the same guys, but I logged a Bluegrass station known as "Glacier Radio" on 3 different frequencies from 1999 to 2001. This station actually ID'ed on the air though and even ran spots for businesses in Glacier, Washington.
89.7 Aug/99
89.1 Aug/00
94.5 Jun/01 (during the pre-CFBT days)

I tried 98.7 last night, but all I could hear was a bunch of splatter from CIOC & KWJZ.
 
Weird, coming back to Bellingham last night around 8, my wife was hitting seek in the car and came across 98.7. They were playing Bluegrass. However, she only listened a few moments before changing the station. I had to explain to her what a pirate station was. :eek:
 
Vacant FM channels are rare in Bellingham. Most pirates there use those frequencies sandwiched between full power Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle stations (or even just on Seattle frequencies - 94.9, 96.5, 98.1, 99.9 and 100.7 namely - KUOW already has a translator on 90.3)

Weirdly enough, some Seattle stations like KJR-FM and KPLZ come in on their correct frequencies awfully strong in Bellingham. I think there are some pirates actually "translating" these signals off Comcast cable feeds as I know of no official Bellingham translators for KJR-FM or KPLZ. It's also a good way to be inconspicuous and you won't see KJR-FM or KPLZ complaining....

102.5 is used for a Deming LPFM, KAVZ. Before KMRE-LP 102.3, KZOK had a very marginal signal in Bellingham. They could really use a translator up here.
 
Your Bluegrass pirate on 98.7 now has an international audience as it was blasting into Aldergrove earlier this evening. Equal to, if not stronger than KUGS 89.3. Aldergrove is roughly 30 miles north of downtown Bellingham.
 
Wow, Dan. Sure sounds like 300 or 400 watts if you can get it up in Canada, 30 miles away. Unless of course you were using an outdoor antenna on your roof.
 
Nope, I first heard it on the car radio then later on the deck at home on my old GE Superadio. Actually last night was exceptionally good all around for "fringe" stations that rarely make it up here (ie-KNBQ 102.9 was also blasting in.....with the stereo light on). Must be the heat!
 
Dan said:
Nope, I first heard it on the car radio then later on the deck at home on my old GE Superadio. Actually last night was exceptionally good all around for "fringe" stations that rarely make it up here (ie-KNBQ 102.9 was also blasting in.....with the stereo light on). Must be the heat!
Click to expand...

Wow. The FCC must like bluegrass.

Actually heat and good tropo nights in my experience ARE a great combination for DXing FM. CHWF was ripping into KRWM on 106.9 in Mount Vernon last night with surprising clarity. I thought they upped their power or something....guess "Warm" wasn't warm enough....
 
These guys are back in business again. I'm hearing them tonight here in Aldergrove, not as strong as they were back in 2008, but a fairly consistent signal.

I made the discovery while checking to see if CKPM 98.7 in Port Moody, B.C. was on the air yet, a new station that was supposed to have launched last week.
 
Dan said:
These guys are back in business again. I'm hearing them tonight here in Aldergrove, not as strong as they were back in 2008, but a fairly consistent signal.

I made the discovery while checking to see if CKPM 98.7 in Port Moody, B.C. was on the air yet, a new station that was supposed to have launched last week.
Click to expand...

Amazing. I'll continue to be riveted to this thread...
 
Randy Roadz said:
Dan said:
These guys are back in business again. I'm hearing them tonight here in Aldergrove, not as strong as they were back in 2008, but a fairly consistent signal.

I made the discovery while checking to see if CKPM 98.7 in Port Moody, B.C. was on the air yet, a new station that was supposed to have launched last week.
Click to expand...

Amazing. I'll continue to be riveted to this thread...
Click to expand...

They must have lowered their power or moved their transmitter. They certainly are not as strong as I remember them to be.......
 
Heard this station running errands today in Bellingham. I tried to explain to my son pirate radio stations but don’t understand the why.
 
I wish we had a pirate like this around here. The long-time pirate at 106.3 still plays Logos - The Word of God 24/7 to Ellensburg and Kittitas. I hear them in Cle Elum albeit faintly. Has to be putting out several hundred watts from a transmitter somewhere in the valley - it doesn't sound like it's on Manastash or a high hill.
A few days ago I noted a 95.1 in East Wenatchee playing a vintage AT40 from 1985 complete with vintage commercials - one of them for Carefree Gum as I recall. Pirate, no doubt. I wonder if Sirius XM was running AT40 The 80s...on a Wednesday afternoon? This station got out awfully well - heard them across the river and nearly into Downtown Wenatchee, albeit faintly. A few watts, at least.
 
I'm shocked that there is an open frequency in Bellingham. With how many signals are packed on the band, it seems like it would be impossible to get anyone to hear your pirate signal.
 
Moses Lake has two pirate stations now:
87.9 - Spanish religious programming since c.2017; occasional English-language Christian music as well as Mexican music.
103.7 - New pirate branded as "103.7 The Base". Transmits far-right news, COVID vaccine resistance, and flat-earth conspiracies.

Nothing like bluegrass, which might actually be popular here.
 
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That 103.7 is likely relaying GCN/InfoWars, i.e., Alex Jones. I've heard of other pirate stations in other states that air Alex Jones. There's a DXer I know who caught an 87.9 pirate several years ago on E-skip from the Fort Lauderdale FL area, GCN and all...I believe he tracked it down to TN or WV. That's impressive no matter the content, probably just a few watts if that.
 
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