The world of Radio Northsea International on your PC
Bulova the inventers of Accutron, the electronic tuning fork watch.
Some of the jingles on this page are supplied with the kind permission of Norman Barrington.
A radio station that was dogged with problems right from the start, Radio Northsea International is one of the stars in the history of off shore radio. Surrounded by rumours of spying, and later with strong connections to Libya, RNI is a conspiracy theory dream. Why was it the only station ever to be jammed by the British government, one of the few things that never happened to Caroline. Well you won’t find the answers here.
For us, RNI was simply a great, very professional station. It only broadcast for 4 short years, but is remembered by a generation of music lovers.
For us, RNI was simply a great, very professional station. It only broadcast for 4 short years, but is remembered by a generation of music lovers.
English Service DJ’s on RNI
Originally Silvretta, and built in Slikkerveer in the Netherlands in 1948, the 630-tonne vessel was 8.85 metres wide, 3.25 metres deep and 53 metres long. In 1969 Mebo Telecommunications purchased Silvretta,
fitted her out as a floating radio station, and renamed her Mebo II. Since Angela was too big to tender Mebo II off The Netherlands coast, RNI used a smaller vessel, called Trip Tender, the same vessel as Radio London (when she was called Offshore 1.) The psychedelically-painted Mebo II carried a MW transmitter at 105 kilowatts (more than twice the 50 kW TXs used by Radio London and Radio Caroline), though in practice it was operated at 60 kW or less.
From From February 1971 until the end of August 1974 Radio North Sea International was a regular and reliable broadcaster from international waters, four miles from Holland. The main MW transmissions continued at about 50 kW on 1367 kHz, shortwave using 10 kW on 6205 kHz and VHF FM on 100 MHz. Dutch programs, which were mostly taped on land, were extended eventually to 20:00 Central European Time (CET). Programs in English extended at the weekends from 03:00 until 06:00, when Dutch language programming began. The second 10 kW AM TX was tested on medium wave 773 kHz, and for a period as RNI 2, a second stream on 1562 kHz, in addition to the main stream on 1367 kHz, and intended to assure advertisers that, if need arose, Mebo II could continue transmissions on another frequency. The main English language closed at midnight on 30/31 August 1974, and the Dutch transmissions ceased on 31 August 1974 at 20:00.
On 23 January 1970, Mebo II began broadcasts from the Dutch coast, in English and German. When regular broadcasting began on 11 February 1970 it was more popular in the United Kingdom than the Netherlands. On 23 March 1970 Mebo II sailed to the East coast of England, arriving at 09:00 on 24 March 1970 and anchoring in international waters, five miles from Clacton.
The Labour government in Britain began jamming Mebo II's MW signal at 20:30 on 15 April 1970. RNI responded with pro-Conservative party political messages for the general election on 18 June 1970. On 13 May 1970, RNI responded to complaints about interference by changing its MW channel to 1230 kHz (244 metres).
On 13 June 1970, five days prior to election day, Radio North Sea International changed its name to Radio Caroline International, and launched a propaganda campaign in support of the Conservative party. The name change and political campaign were supported by Radio Caroline's founder Ronan O'Rahilly.
The Labour government in Britain began jamming Mebo II's MW signal at 20:30 on 15 April 1970. RNI responded with pro-
On 13 June 1970, five days prior to election day, Radio North Sea International changed its name to Radio Caroline International, and launched a propaganda campaign in support of the Conservative party. The name change and political campaign were supported by Radio Caroline's founder Ronan O'Rahilly.
RNI ceased broadcasting at less than 24 hours' notice at midday on 24 September 1970, in exchange for a payment of one million Dutch Guilders (about £100,000) from Radio Veronica. Mebo II remained at anchor in international waters off Scheveningen in the Netherlands.
