Free Radio Weekly #1393

Free Radio Weekly #1393, Saturday, December 3, 2022
Covering free radio activity from November 26 - December 2, 2022

The Free Radio Weekly (FRW) is an internet newsletter devoted to the hobby of listening to free radio "pirate" broadcasters in the shortwave radio bands. The FRW is produced by the free radio community and distributed to those who contribute.

The weekly deadline is Saturdays at 0000 UTC (Friday night in North America). Please send your logs to all the editors, as our editing schedule is subject to last minute changes. Thank you for your inpoots!


== FRW editors ==

Harold Frodge (99crawdads@gmail.com)
Dave Turnick (caodwolf@gmail.com)
Larry Will (radio@zappahead.net)

FRW 1393 - December 3 - Larry
FRW 1394 - December 10 - Dave
FRW 1395 - December 17 - Harold
FRW 1396 - December 24 - Larry
FRW 1397 - December 31 - Dave
FRW 1398 - January 7 - Harord
FRW 1399 - January 14 - Larry


== Contributors ==

Harold Frodge
5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156
Drake R8B + 185' RW

William Hassig
williamhassig@yahoo.com

Glenn Hauser
P O Box 1684
Enid OK 73702
wghauser@yahoo.com
NRD-545 with ALA-330S, IC-R75, PL-880, random wires

Ron Hunsicker
1238 Cleveland Avenue
Wyomissing, PA 19610-2102
ronhunsi at ptd dot net

Mark Taylor
Madison, Wisconsin
markokpik@gmail.com

Larry Will
Mount Airy, Maryland
Icom IC-R75 and various wires

Ken Zichi
Port Hope, Michigan


== Commentary ==

Lads and Lassies,

The 28 November 2022, 2115 UTC, WDOG broadcast on 6955 was an interesting show because WDOG, as have other stations, sent images that appeared in the Elad’s IF waterfall. The images were reversed and inverted in my waterfall. A dollar sign and a simple image of US currency. Due to the narrow transmission bandwidth, the currency images were truncated at both ends. Since this was a recording, I was able to play with the display of the images and, while making the IF window wider helped my understanding of the nature of the images (if the displayed IF window is narrow, the image is narrower and undecipherable), there was no cure for the truncation because this was limited by the transmission bandwidth (3200 or thereabouts). I widened my bandwidth to 6000 Hz, but that did not affect the truncation in any way. Upside down and reversed can be fixed with any of many word processing programs, but the real question is why does what the operator (presumably) sees as right-side-up and not backwards appear in my waterfall as flipped around both the X and Y axes?

Ron Hunsicker


== North American shortwave ==

** Ballsmacker Radio

11/25, 0205, 4030am. Songs with “Thank you” theme by Sam & Dave, Sly & the Family Stone, Jonny Cash and others with ID and characteristic bowling strike sound effect every few songs. Fair signal, however very strong QRN made listening difficult. (Taylor – WI)

11/26, 0212, 4030am. On Traverse city MI sdr with good S9 to S9+20 signal, Johnny Cash "thanks a lot", at 0215 Ballsmacker ID and bowling ball sound, variety of songs with the word "thank" in them, I am amazed at the number of songs with the thank you theme, nice program, thanks for the broadcast. (Hassig-IL)

** Bell Ringer Radio

11/26, 2043-2113*, 6925usb. Interesting progression of SSTV modes as the OM tried to find something that worked in the conditions. Started in Scottie 2; switched to Martin 2, which decoded as compared to Scottie 2; and then found that Scottie DX worked pretty well in the conditions, which were lousy. Music comprised of small bells playing, perhaps repetitively. Voice ID at 2057 and other times. (35332, Hunsicker, PA)

** Black Swan Radio International

11/26, 2148-2200, 6925usb. BC started with techno music. ID by OM at 2156. 3600 Hz fit nicely. (45454, Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2157, 6925usb. Contemporary dance music, ID sequence incl. "Black Swan Radio International. Good Afternoon.", more dance music. Fair, although significant QRN. (Taylor – WI)

11/28, 2115-2200*, 6935usb. IDs at 2123 and 2159. Soft pop (imagine that concept—it’s my own definition) music. 3400 Hz was best. (45555, Hunsicker, PA)

** DB Cooper Radio

11/25, 0011, 6950.620am. On Traverse City MI sdr with fair/poor S9 to S9+10 signal, slightly distorted audio, old CBS news article about DB Cooper, unid music, at 0016 utc switched to Champaign IL sdr with weak S3 signal, at 0018 switched to Peoria IL sdr with weak S7 signal then stn left air. (Hassig-IL)

** Fly High Radio

11/19, 1056-0117*, 6930usb. [I was wandering through some old recordings and found one that I didn’t see here or on the HFU: Fly High Radio.] Techno music including vocals. SSTV in Scottie 2 at 1108 and 1116. The first follows. The second only showed “DUSTY OHMS.” 25342 when it was not unusable. SSTV transmissions were much stronger than the music. 4000 Hz seemed to describe the music envelope. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

** Ion Radio

11/28, 2115-2211*, 6925am. Music with an ID and email address at shutdown. (33442 due to noise on adjacent channels, Hunsicker, PA)

12/1, 2039, 6925am. Ion Radio with music, High In the Morning by Tom Petty. ID, India Oscar November, Ion Radio, and gmail address at 2041. The End by The Doors at 2042. Ghost Song by The Doors at 2054. Ghost Riders In the Sky by The Outlaws at 2058. Green Grass and High Tides Forever by the Outlaws at 2104. ID at 2113. Time by Pink Floyd at 2114. Welcome To the Machine by Pink Floyd at 2121. More Pink Floyd, and then off at 2136. Very good, s9/s15 with occasional deep fades. (Will-MD)

** Mushroom Head Radio

11/25, 2149, 6925usb. On Champaign IL sdr with fair/weak S3 signal, hear instrumental rock music, at 2200 utc switched to Peoria IL sdr with fair S5 to S7 signal, ID as Mushroom Head Radio. (Hassig-IL)

** Radio Free Whatever

11/26, 2202-2204, 6950usb. Broadcast starts with the RFW anthem, then Dick Weed chatted and lamented that his mixer was screwed-up and could only be off or at full reverb. He was disappointed. (Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2230, 6950usb. DJ Dickweed talking w/ ID into usual well chosen music ... 2237 "New body rumba" - LCD Soundsystem, produced IDs, "Burning" - Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, DJDW w/ last songs other talk, ID and into more music. Good. At 2326 noted someone was relaying RFW on // 6925U also with a good signal. (Taylor – WI)

11/26, 2338-2341+, 6950usb. Lite pop ditty; “...the best music you never heard...Radio Free Whatever.” ID not by DJ Dick Weed. SIO=3+54 (Frodge-MI)

11/27, 0018, 6925usb. On Traverse City sdr with good S9+10 signal, said "Radio Free Whatever replay" then unid rock tune, at 0028 male then female saying several times "Black Swan international relay station. Good night." then off air. (Hassig-IL)

11/27, 2240-2244+, 6950usb. Rock music!!!! 2243+ “SW new rock alternative, RFW”, ID not by DJ Dick Weed. SIO=3+53 (Frodge-MI)

11/26, 2350-0015+, 6925usb. Radio Free Whatever with his usual ‘voice’ thing, and Indie pop/garage mx like “Shapeshifter” (The Regrettes) and ID at 0010 and into “Nauseous” (Annie DeRusso), etc. 3+54+44 RSPdx +SDRuno +randomwire (IQ Recorded) (Zichi MI2)

** Radio Northstar International

11/25, 2349, 6930usb. On Traverse City Mi sdr with fair S9 to S9+10 signal, people talking with one of them possibly on the phone, game show, at 0003 interval signal I've heard B4 but cant place, time pips, at 0007 Glen Miller big band tune from circa WW2. (Hassig-IL)

** Unid

11/25, 0735, 4025usb. unID pirate with S9 of hard rock. 4+ MHz is a secondary pirate band to 7- MHz, but I seldom hear one, and this is way late out of prime time. Zero recent reports of anything anywhen on 4025 in HF Underground (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

11/25, 2243, 6925usb. Series of songs about friends with some partially intelligible talk about protecting freedom and “radio friends.” Fair. (Taylor – WI)

11/26, 0040, 6920usb. Vamping music very repetitive, with occasional words; 0053 maybe ID unreadable in brief pause, S5/S8 still past 0058. Several more logs as unID: [www]hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,105959.0.html Seems I was getting better signal than most, reversal of usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

11/26, 2027-2102, 6931am. A small carrier spike with occasional, faint music. (unusable, Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2104-2200, 6974.9am. Maybe the South American pirate? The carrier appeared at 2104 with faint music. Occasionally “just usable,” but mostly “unusable.” (Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2128-2211*, 6880am. Unidentified (It had the hallmarks of Ion Radio) Carrier appeared at 2128 and the broadcast stopped abruptly at 2211, with a small “pop.” Never an ID. Bandwidth was 12,000 Hz. An all-Disco broadcast. (45443, Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2315, 6974.9am. Contemp. Instrumental music (not Iding w/ Shazam). Break & signal drop at 2319. Back 2323 with similar music. Fair with significant QRN. (Taylor – WI)

11/26, 2341-2356+, 6930usb. Jazzy pop, rock & bluesy ditties; 2353 Low Rider. No ID offered. SIO=3+53+ (Frodge-MI)

11/27, 2042-2050+, 6940am. Music at QRN level; almost fair peaks. Just music--a very popular, but unoriginal pirate format. (Frodge-MI)

11/27, 2217-2225+, 6880am. Pop ditties including Men At Work, Land Down Under & like ilk; the ever-popular music & no ID format. Mainly at QRN level with SIO=3+53- peaks. (Frodge-MI)

11/27, 2225-2240+, 6925usb. Pop Xmas ditties w/very skippy audio; 2231 switched to instr’l rock then back to Xmas w/no skipping. Another music & no ID pirate. SIO=3+53 (Frodge-MI)

11/29, 0041-0114*, 6935usb. 70’s rock was beat heard at 3400 Hz. Eight Miles High, Mr. Tambourine Man, Bus Stop, On the Carousel, Bad Moon on the Rise, Cotton Fields, and Dancin’ in the Moonlight. Never heard anything like an ID. (35343 to unusable, Hunsicker, PA)

11/29, 2120-2124+, 6925am. Lite music at QRN level; talk but uncopyable. (Frodge-MI)

11/30, 0000-0007, 4185usb. Rock music; weird ticking sound 0004:30-:48 then SSTV to 0006:45 & more music. Another microphonically challenged op. SIO=3+53+ (Frodge-MI)

12/1, 0035-0045+, 4185usb. Folksy ditties; No ID offered. SIO=453 peaks down to just over QRN (Frodge-MI)

** WDOG

11/26, 0100, 6930usb. (WKND/WDOG) On Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7 to S9 signal, dance music, WDOG ID then howling, at 0111 utc SSTV/FAX, at 0113 heavy metal, dog howling, then off. (Hassig-IL)

11/28, 2136-2249*, 6955usb. All the music was about money. The operator sent images that appeared in the Elad’s IF waterfall. The images were reversed and inverted in my waterfall. A dollar sign and a simple image of US currency. The OM announced the end of the BC at 2159 and then some Indian Subcontinent music played. (55443, Hunsicker, PA)

11/28, 2227-2231+, 6955usb. Rock music!!!!! “WDOG SW”. SIO=3+33 w/hiss QRM (Frodge-MI)

** WFAT

12/2, 2139-2146+, 6925usb. Oldies; “This is WFKT the fat one”, repeated after each tune; Poppa Ooma Mau Mau. SIO=353+ (Frodge-MI)

** Wolverine Radio

11/27, 0058, 6950usb. "Testing 1,2,3 Can anybody hear me?" IS, 0059 "House Rent Party Day" - Louis Prima & Wingy Manone, "Swingin' at the Hickory House" - Wingy Manone and his Orchestra, "Baby let's play house" - Arthur Gunter, ID, "When your house is not a home" - Patsy Cline. Into a program of “house” themed songs, 0053 “echo” ID, SSTV (3 story house in the woods in winter with “Wolverine Radio”) – Exceptional decode here. Very good signal. (Taylor – WI)

11/27, 0101, 6950usb. On Traverse City MI sdr with good S9+10 to S9+20 signal, swing tune from 1930's, house themed program of songs with the word "house" in them, at 0123 signal faded to poor S7 to S9, tried other sdr's in usa and Canada and even Ireland and they were either worse or the same, at 0150 sounds like Tom Waites under the noise, 0154 echo ID then SSTV/FAX then off. (Hassig-IL)

** WWWW

11/25, 0209, 4185usb. Initially just audible, however came up to segued music by ELO, CCR, Pepper Coyote and Saint Motel before a pause about 0227. 0229 two clear IDs and off. Fair once audible. (Taylor – WI)

11/26, 2052-2335, 6929usb. In for the long haul! 70’s rock and pop. SSTV in Robot36 at 2149, 2154, and 2225. The first showed “WWWW,” the second the same with a cartoon character underneath, and the third included two dogs fighting. Sounded best at 3200 Hz. (35353, Hunsicker, PA)

11/26, 2212, 6929usb. "I wanna rock" - Twisted sister, "Tomorrow comes today" - Gorillaz, " "Won't be fooled again" - The Who, … 2 indistinct SSTVs, but enough to pick out “WWWW” … 2304 "Boys are back in town" (live version), "Down Under" - Men at Work, "Free ride". Fair. (Taylor – WI)

11/27, 0020-0040, 6930usb. WWWW (again, the ID is pronounced Whiskey Whiskey, Whisky, Whiskey”) by an OM. Pop/rock like (Heart) “Magic Man”, etc. Flirting with the noise level, 2+5332+ 0020-0040 by which time it was pretty much in the mud. RSPdx +SDRuno +randomwire (IQ Recorded) (Zichi MI2)

11/27, 0035, 6930usb. On Traverse City sdr with weak S7 to S9 signal, song "magic man" then said "whiskey whiskey whiskey whiskey leaving the air" then off. (Hassig-IL)

** Zeeky

11/26, 2356-0002, 6925usb. Usual RFW rock music; DJ Dick Weed ID’d & said being relayed by ”Zeke or friends of Zeke”. Said he can’t go down to 4185. SIO=3+53 (Frodge-MI)


== FM ==

** Michigan

11/27, 12:25-12:37+PM, 87.9fm. Midland MI, LPFM relay; Xmas & religiditties, “Thanks for listening, time is 12:30” +++ 12:05-12:50*PM, 11/30; Santa Claus & Jesus ditties. Effective DX for this is about 3 mi. from the apparent source area. (Frodge-MI)


~~~~

Regards, Lw