To keep abreast of the action you’ll need the following gear: a shortwave radio with single sideband (SSB), a decent antenna, a means of decoding RTTY, and WLO, a station from Mobile, AL that transmits information to ships at sea. Pirate activity is not something of the past it exists today and is a threat conducted by ragtag armed ragamuffin groups. Has your interest been piqued? When avast mateys as I spin ya’ a yarn on how to find out where these sea-faring scoundrels lurk from the Caribbean all the way to the South China sea! Who knows what dangers lurk behind that dial? Trusty AOR AR-3000 receiver and SignaLink™. Yes, pirate activity but not radio pirates real honest-to-goodness modern day pirates looking to loot, plunder and prey upon commercial ships making an honest living or other leisure watercraft just out having fun. The information can take the form of weather broadcasts, hazards to navigation, information on ships lost at sea, and pirate activity. RTTY remains on HF (3 – 30 MHz), albeit mostly encrypted, but there are some stalwarts of this mode that transmit important and interesting information for ships at sea. While major broadcasters continue to move to the Internet and dwindle in number, there nonetheless remains plenty of utility intrigue to be had you just need to know where to look, and be comfortable with other modes of communication such as RTTY (Radioteletype). (All photos taken by author–click to enlarge)Īhoy! After spinning a radio dial for over a half-century, shortwave listening still provides a source of adventure and interesting intercepts.

Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post:

Suspected pirates surrender to crew members of the CGC Boutwell.

Wlo rtty