The idea to put up a Belgium Shortwave Pirate radio goes back to 1990.
I (crazy mike) was all the time thinking
about how it would be setting up an own free radio
station on shortwave but due
to the fact that I didn’t had any friends who wanted to share the
same idea, I
dropped my intentions.
Bitten by the radio virus I still wanted to
realise something which had to deal with radio.
This is the period I started messing around
with small (FM) transmitter kits you could find
very easily in special
electronic shops.
Three months later I stopped my weekend
transmissions and got me a brand new 5 watt TX.
The reception area got bigger and I even think that there were
some people listening to the programs.
My major problem was my parents.
They started asking questions after people out
of the neighborhood had told them they’ve had
heard my voice on the radio.
Finally we found another location for the
studio, antenna and
TX and by the end we were even using 60 watts on the
FM-band.
In that time I also worked as
a DJ for some other local radio stations until the end of 1995.
We contacted other pirates on SW to get more information and we also
bought a transmitter,
(January 1998) .
But the hardest part was yet to come :
building up a studio for
recording the programs,
and finding a local spot in Belgium from where to
transmit.
The studio was built up very
quick.
As the X-TREME studio setup
was rather poor, the 1st program might have
sounded a bit strange After a
couple of weeks we purchased 2 turntables and an equalizer.
Program nr 2 was recorded very quick after the transmission of the first one and even tape
3 is ready.
The first
idea was to produce some program tapes every month and have them broadcasted by
other Free Radio Stations in Europe.
It is
thanks to a good relationship in England that our first program (22 feb.1998)was
broadcasted on 5.808 Khz by the facilities of Ozone Radio in Ireland.
As a reply to this program, we received 5
lettersall together from 4 different
countries.
This isn’t too bad for us
because the program was supposed to be broadcasted two weeks earlier
on 5830 KHz.
So finally nobody was informed the date that our first PX went on the air
and nobody knew it
was going to happen on 5808 instead of 5830 KHz.
A few month later our second program (April 1998)
was broadcasted by the facilities
of Radio Cochiguaz
(South America).
As a reply to this program, we received 6 letters all together from 3 different
countries.
First idea
was to transmit in 76 Mb but now we are strongly thinking about going
on to 51 Mb. Or 42 Mb.
Two major improvements by
using 51 or 42 Mb are that we can broadcast on Sunday by
daylight and that the length of antenna can be reduced.
PX on
76 Mb will be done by relays so we hope to be there as well.
The broadcasts from Belgium with our own Tx are planned for the beginning of summer1998.
And yes it
happened , the first of Augustus .
With 20 watts of output, but whit a lot of
regrets their was no music, because of
modulation problems with the Tx..
2 mounts
later there was another test transmission , this time with music , and a "great” output power of 3 watt.
But our technician found the problem very quickly ,and the problem was solved in no
time .
Many things have happened in the mean time
We purchased a 100 watt VFO-transmitter which will be used on a mobile base and which will deliver 40 watts.
Year 2001 due to financial and private problems
there was no activity
, sorry
In2002 we found a place for our antenna and
our technician is working hard to get us on the air with at least
100 watts of TX power before the end of this year.
Our aim is to put out one hour programs every month and if possible on 76 meterband
But our technician has moved to another place , and al our plans fell in to the water (again) .
Year 2003 our new website is born . And also a few tests are done, with a faint success.
Year 2004 there are a few programs recorded , and we are looking for
friendly stations
to do a
relay for us.
Until our antenna and TX will be installed.
But unfortunately this tape has never left Belgium.
Why ? Because our “voice of xtremeradio” “crazy mike” promises a lot on a hot summer day
(in Dutch : “er zijn voeten aan veegt”).
Now april 2005 everything is ready for this summer (or earlier if possible )
It is our pleasure to announce that a new transmitter, antenna and studio are ready for use .
Our transmitter-engineer is completely cured after his illness .
(very important because who else can deliver us the so necessary power on the antenna ;-))
and is also the leading force behind X-Treme, because of Crazy Mike’s lack of time due to ……… women
And also good news : a 100 watt x-tal transmitter is ready to be used.
March 2006 still no sound of Xtreme , why?
The same reason like last year, (see 2005)
The latest
news about X-TREME will show up on
our own website as well as in our programs.
You can also get it by e-mail xtremeradio@freemail.nl
The complete X-TREMEteam finally wishes to pass it’s kind regards to :
-all listenersSee (hear) you soon on Shortwave.
Best 73's
The X-TREME Team
PS : Fight for Free Radio.
We do not longer use the po box address , sorry for that.
Contact only bye-mail : xtremeradio@freemail.nl
Orwebsite: http://www.xtremeradio.tk