I think the fundamental differences between unauthorised Offshore Radio and landbased authorised radio, are these 1 The "feel" from the studio from the ship through the ether to our ears, you don't have that excitement on legal stations. 2 No adverts paid for by government agencies, like the police, the Inland Revenue, The Benefits Agency or whoever else wants to "enlighten you". 3 At least the dj has SOME choice in the music output of his programme. 4 Long before all these fly on the wall things started on TV, I'm a celebrity and all that stuff, offshore radio had that, people were enthralled by the happenings on board, the daily life on a radio ship, and off course the music. 5 Even the Irish pirates didn't have the "certain appeal" that offshore radio had, they were warm and comfortable in a nice studio, unlike their offshore counterparts, who were battling more than just the elements. 6 Short Wave Pirates have certainly played their part in the history of British and Irish broadcating. I listened to loads of stations on Short Wave, especially when Caroline sank in 1980, that was the only "free" radio available, and to a certain extent the only "free" voices now. There you go fellow anoraks, radio enthusiasts, listeners, dx ers, or radio fanatics, there's my 50p worth. LA and 73s