Another Pirate Station in San Francisco

[MR5229]

Has anyone noticed a new pirate station on 102.5 FM in San Francisco?  I think it started recently and it's possibly broadcasting from Twin Peaks, just like Pirate Cat had previously.  I suspect because the pirate's signal is really powerful.  It makes it all the way to the East Bay and drowns out/interferes with the legal 102.5's.  The pirate plays some sort of Spanish format (not sure exactly which one specifically).  The sound quality is horrible, so that's a giveaway that it's a pirate.  It's pretty annoying because I'm one of the people that listen to 102.5 KDON and KSFM in the Bay Area.  I know that 102.5 from Salinas/Sacramento are not within the protected contours of the East Bay, but this still annoys me, as reason stated above.  My reasoning about the signal being from Twin Peaks is as follows...

1. The signal doesn't make it to San Bruno, as I was there yesterday.  That indicates the signal is shielded by San Bruno Mountain.

2. When driving on the S-Curve of the East Span of the Bay Bridge, the legal 102.5's return briefly, as Yerba Buena Island provides shielding from San Francisco.  At the point where Twins Peaks is visible again, the pirate's signal overwhelms the legal 102.5's.

3. I live on a hill that is shaped in a way that is shielded from Berkeley and Oakland, so I know it's not a Oakland/Berkeley pirate station.


I wonder if the FCC knows or even cares about this pirate station.  From what I've read on these boards, the FCC is notoriously slow in investigating and shutting down pirates.

[Edward4u]

I found the pirate station on 102.5 in San Francisco on Saturday.  Very strong signal.

Also heard another low power pirate on 88.1 in the Marina but it was captured by the religious station in the valley as I drove to Pacific Heights.

There used to another pirate on 93.7 for a long time but has been missing recently.

A few days ago there was another pirate on 107.3 but it also is now gone.

I guess the FCC is cracking down on these guys after the closure of Pirate Cat.

[DavidKaye]

I guess the FCC is cracking down on these guys after the closure of Pirate Cat.

Pirate Cat doesn't appear to be totally shut down.  It's on from time to time with a weak signal in SF, but it is there. 

[rapking]

I LOVE PIRATE STATIONS !!!!!! AMERICAN RUNS ON PIRATE STATIONS !!!!!!!

[rickradio]

AMERICA RUNS ON PIRATE STATIONS !!!!!!!

Hey, it's your prerogative to love pirate stations, but how does America (no "n") run on pirate stations?  I don't get that one.

[SFStatic]

These are merely unlawful stations. A real pirate station broadcasts from a ship offshore, like Radio Caroline did in the 60's. Had a buddy that was on Caroline, and got deported from England. Arrr!

[mikecroaro]

Hi Folks:

Listened to the station today.  I enjoyed it.  It's sort of a "Cumbia" format from what I can tell.  Reminds me of KLOK 1170 from a few years ago.

Mike

[Starbucks]

AMERICA RUNS ON PIRATE STATIONS !!!!!!!

Hey, it's your prerogative to love pirate stations, but how does America (no "n") run on pirate stations?  I don't get that one.

He actually thinks it's our nation's economy. The scary part is...one day he might be right.

[Scroby]

Is 104.1 a pirate station? I was driving in the Berkeley/Oakland area and I turned to 104.1 and there was uncensored rap playing. I was happy to hear it but surprised at the same time.

[weav]

Is 104.1 a pirate station? I was driving in the Berkeley/Oakland area and I turned to 104.1 and there was uncensored rap playing. I was happy to hear it but surprised at the same time.

Ah yup.   Sounds like Dunifer's "Free Radio Berkeley"