Free Radio Weekly #1406

Free Radio Weekly #1406, Saturday, March 4, 2023
Covering free radio activity from February 25 - March 3, 2023

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 1406 - March 4 - Larry
FRW 1407 - March 11 - Dave
FRW 1408 - March 18 - Harold
FRW 1409 - March 25 - Larry
FRW 1410 - April 1 - Harold
FRW 1411 - April 8 - Dave
FRW 1412 - April 15 - Larry
FRW 1413 - April 22 - Dave
FRW 1414 - April 29 - Harold


== Contributors ==

Harold Frodge
5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642-3156
Drake R8B + 185' RW
GMC Car Radio for FMBC logs

William Hassig
williamhassig@yahoo.com

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

Dan Srebnick
dan@islenet.com

Mark Taylor
Wisconsin
markokpik@gmail.com

Larry Will
Mount Airy, Maryland
radio@zappahead.net
Icom IC-R75 and various wires


== North American shortwave ==

** 6YCAT

2/26, 1356-1442*, 6925am. A carrier appeared at 1356 and was gone at 1442. All cat-related songs. Kit Kat, the host, seems to have eaten his side-kick, Chester, on the air. KK was not upset by Chester’s demise. 9000 Hz covered the signal. (35443, Hunsicker, PA)

** Ball Smacker Radio

2/25, 0203, 4030am. On Traverse City MI sdr with fair S9+20 signal, Ballsmacker ID with bowling ball sound, parallel 6960 on Brookfield WI sdr, at 0213 old song "Alley oop", at 0220 song "knock on wood", at 0236 Woody Guthrie "this land is your land", at 0339 Ballsmacker ID, SSTV/FAX, goodbye announcement, piano IS then off. (Hassig-IL)

2/25, 0203, 6960am. Program of “wood” themed songs with “wood” in titles (“Norwegian wood”), somewhere in a word in the title (“Hollywood nights”) in the lyrics, or in the band name (“Fleetwood Mac”). IDs ever few songs with periodic offers for e QSLs to their Protonmail email box and bowling ball strike sound effects, about 0339 SSTV, ID w/ eQSL offer for theme of the show, "Wildfire" IS, 0342 off. Fair to good. //4030 which started out poor and improved to fair. (Taylor – Wi)

2/25, 0208, 6960am. On Brookfield WI sdr with fair S9 to S9+10 signal, Ballsmacker ID with bowling ball sound, parallel 4030 on Traverse City MI sdr, at 0213 old song "Alley oop", at 0220 song "Knock on wood", at 0236 Woody Guthrie "this land is your land", at 0339 Ballsmacker ID, SSTV/FAX, goodbye announcement, piano IS, then off. (Hassig-IL)

** Captain Morgan Shortwave

3/2, 0155-0218*, 6950am. Program in progress at 0155. ID at 0158 by an OM. There seemed to be modulation problems. Faint and mostly unusable. Also technical glitches—carrier gone and back and buzzing—from 0214 on. (Hunsicker, PA)

** Cloud Splitter Radio

2/25, 0011-0041*, 6938usb. Broadcast in progress. Polka show. I haven’t heard this many polkas in one place since I was growing up in Allentown, PA. IDs at 0022 and 0041. 3000 Hz sounded best (?). (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

2/25, 0023, 6938usb. Program of polkas, with several IDs and cloudsplitterradio@gmail.com with QSL offer, 0042 off. 0127 Back with more polkas, IDs and off. (Just before this broadcast, someone in the HF Underground chat noted that there hasn’t been any polka pirates. …) Fair. (Taylor – Wi)

2/25, 0054-0150*, 6938usb. The broadcast resumes with more polkas 13 minutes later (0054). 3000 Hz fit well. ID and email address at 0150 by YL. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

2/25, 0135, 6938usb. On Barrington Hills IL sdr with weak S5 to S7 signal, hear polka music, at 0138 switched to Traverse City MI with fair S9 to S9+10 signal. (Hassig-IL)

** Irish Rose Radio

2/26, 0027-0047*, 6945usb. The broadcast was in progress at 0027. According to Zeeky, a tune-up for a Saint Patty’s Day show. Old rock. Z ranting at those who prod him. But an odd noise / image into the IF waterfall that I could not make into a usable image. 2800 Hz was good. (25453, Hunsicker, PA)

** KNOB

3/1, 0031-0112, 6925usb. Broadcast started at 0031 over a nasty band of noise. Skit involving the KRUT DJ investigating the recording industry. Another skit followed, but the noise was increasing, and the signal was unusable. Maybe it was gone at 0112, although it might have been lost in the noise. (35342 at best, Hunsicker, PA)

** Live Radio

2/26, 0025, 6945usb. On Brookfield WI sdr with S9 signal, song: "stairway to heaven" and other tunes by Led Zepplin. (Hassig-IL)

** Metal Dawg

3/1, 0151-0202*, 6925usb. The program seemed to start at 0151 with Rap music. The local noise was daunting. SSTV in Scottie 2 at 0156 and 0200. Both were the same, except the second included an ID. 3000 Hz seemed to cover the signal. (25343, Hunsicker, PA)

** Mystery Science Radio

3/3, 0000-0031*, 6935usb. Program begins with light pop music, followed by morning prayers and a polka parody of Yellow Submarine. Jack Perkins gave an ID at 0017. Then a long serial for “Radio Ace.” 3400 Hz sounded good. A bit of distortion. (45453, Hunsicker, PA)

3/3, 0019, 6935usb. Mystery Science Radio with 60s pop/psych music. Mystery Science Radio ID at 0022 and into a comedy skit with guys that work at radio station CHIT. ID with contact email, mystery science radio at yahoo dot com at 0030 and off at 0031. s7/s9, good/very good. (Will-MD)

** Outhouse Radio

2/26, 0107-0239*, 6950usb. Program began with White Room. It Ain’t Me, Ramblin’ Man, Wild Thing, Spirit in the Sky, and closed with some pirate songs. 2800 Hz sounded best. (35353, Hunsicker, PA)

2/26, 0110, 6950usb. “White Room” – Cream, ID, “Born to be Wild” – Steppenwolf into a long set of era music. Fair. (Taylor – Wi)

2/26, 0158, 6950usb. On Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7-S9 signal, at 0203 Outhouse Radio ID then pirate tunes, at 0227 SSTV/FAX then oldies tune "Shaboom (life could be a dream)", at 0233 "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum", at 0240 SSTV/FAX. (Hassig-IL)

** Pigs Knuckles

3/2, 2239-2249*, 6925usb. Program in progress at 2239. Old country tunes. ID at 2239. 2800 Hz. (35443, Hunsicker, PA)

** Radio Free Whatever

2/25, 2344, 6925usb. On Brookfield WI sdr with S7 to S9 signal, pop music, RFW ID, more soft pop music. (Hassig-IL)

2/26, 0022, 6955usb. DJ Dickweed with a program of well chosen Indie rock with many breaks between to talk and ID, either a prepared ID or a talk break between every song. Fair to good. (Taylor – Wi)

2/26, 0027-0141*, 6955usb. Program in progress at 0027. Some up and down bumps in the power; once to +40 dB and then settled on +20. (25443, Hunsicker, PA)

** Radio Jamba International

2/26, 0207, 6925usb. ID into a program of music by Devo with periodic IDs. Signal was barely audible and came up to fair about 0220; enough to hear s/off w/ ID at 0228. Music was particularly poor, although the IDs were much clearer. (Taylor – Wi)

** Radio Mushroom

2/26, 0111-0132*, 6935usb. Regular IDs and a mix of music- rock, Jazz, and R&B. 3000 Hz was best. (45554, Hunsicker, PA)

2/28, 2343-2344+, 6935usb. Pop ditty at tune-in to “Radio Mushroom is on he air...”. SIO=333= w/hiss QRM (Frodge-MI)

** Sycko Radio

2/24, 0116, 6925usb then 4185usb. Playing a variety of music including oldies (“Sugar, Sugar”), mashups (“And th3 music was loud” – D33blue Shane), and hard rock (“Blood Red Skies” – Judas Priest). Sycko had some technical problems and ducked out to check on the backup generator. Said he was using 20 - 22 watts. Still going on 4185 USB when I last checked at 0445. “Sycko radio is rockin’.” Good. (Taylor – Wi)

** Thunder Chicken Radio

3/1, 0013-0039*, 6960usb. The broadcast was in progress at 0013. Played some Jethro Tull tunes. Sent an image the Thunder Chicken in the waterfall at 0017, but it was very faint, so I have not included it. 2800 Hz fit best. Fading toward sign-off. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

3/2, 2358, 6950usb. Some music, then weird sounds. 2359, blues piano music, Nobody by Tom Waits. More Tom Waits music from a live show, then SSTV at 0015. Thunder Chicken Radio ID at 0017, and off. s9, good/very good. (Will-MD)

** Unid

2/24, 0811-0908, 3873.8/3873.077/38974.98/3874.95am. Nice signal, but never heard anything that I thought was an ID. Nasty QRM that became too much for my brain and I bailed at 0908. Lots of old rock: Sixteen Candles, Teenagers in Love, Rock Around the Clock, then some headbanger stuff. Some of the noise was 3873.468 and I notched it, but listening was still unpleasant. 6000 Hz seemed right. (43342, Hunsicker, PA)

2/25, 1233-1343, 6930usb. Program in progress at 1233. Very faint music that was unusable. The signal was 8 dB above the noise. Started at 2600 Hz and tightened the bandwidth to 2400 to try to limit the noise, but NG. (15341, Hunsicker, PA)

2/25, 2108-2112+, 6930usb. Kraftwerk ditties. SIO=353+ Still werking @2235 recheck; now SIO=3+54 (Frodge-MI)

2/25, 2307-2311+, 6936.83usb. Pop music at QRN level, but useless due to strong splash from UNID on 6930 (Frodge-MI)

2/25, 2311-2314, 6925usb. Lite pop music; SIO=353 (Frodge-MI)

2/26, 0027-0045*, 6950usb. Program in progress at 0027. Baiting persons called on the phone. BC stopped mid-sketch. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

2/26, 1606, 6950usb. Faint music, just above the noise threshold. Fair. (Will-MD)

2/26, 1612-1620+, 6950usb. Stevie Ray Vaughn concert tunes. SIO=3+54 (Frodge-MI)

2/26, 1912-1935+, 9360fm. Rock music; pirate?; 1912-1935+, 2/26; Very brief ID at 1925:40 “? Radio”. Nothing listed in Aoki/EiBi; S7 w/whistle & popping QRM. Still there @2112 with talk, but FM now distorted. (Frodge-MI)

2/26, 2113-2119+, 6925.3am. Music at QRN level; 2113-2119+, 2/26 (Frodge-MI)

2/26, 2211-2219+, 6950usb. Etherial music w/crowd noise. SIO=2+54- (Frodge-MI)

2/27, 0059-0103:45*, 6925usb. Fart contest coverage; off w/o ID; SIO=2+53 w/lotsa QRN (Frodge-MI)

2/27, 0105-0120+, 6950usb. Instr’l tunes inclding Hava Nagila. No ID offered. IO=354- w/lotsa QRN (Frodge-MI)

3/1, 0045-0057+, 6925usb. Karl Gruber on embarrassing situations; Monty Python bit about arguing; How to be a gynecologist and blow a flute; more Monty Python. 0154:54 abandoned the entertaining part of the program for some hard rock. SIO=333- w/hiss burst QRM (Frodge-MI)

3/3, 1550-1524, 6265am. Eclectic selection of music heard: Jerry Rafferty (Baker Street), German, songs about women in French (Natalie), unid lang (Anita), Beatles (She’s Leaving Home), Lichtenstein Polka, Pinball Wizard, Genesis (Land of Confusion); strauong and good audio (Srebnick via NL remote)

** Voice of KAOS

2/25, 0145-0202*, 6935usb. The program started and ended with the theme song. Special attention to North Korea, Ukraine, and California. 3000 Hz was about right. Email address at 0151. (35454, Hunsicker, PA)

2/25, 0145, 6935usb. On Traverse City sdr with S9 to S9+10 signal, song: "I fought the law and the law won", talk about war in Ukraine, at 0202 "Get Smart" theme then off. (Hassig-IL)

2/25, 0155, 6935usb. Man defending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 2 short songs, talking about lack of water in California, ID, polka, ID, announced they are going off the air, theme like song, 0202 off. (Taylor – Wi)

** WAPE

2/26, 1605, 6925am. George of the Jungle theme. WAPE jingle, then off. Very good signal, s9/s15. (Will-MD)

** Wild Irish Rose Radio

2/25, 2336, 6950usb. On Barrington Hills IL sdr with fair-poor S5 to S9 signal, heavy metal tunes, DJ ranting about various things, more heavy metal, at 2350 song: "hell's bells". (Hassig-IL)

** WMPQ

2/26, 0004, 6925usb. On Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7-S9 signal, at 0005 SSTV/FAX, heavy metal tune "hell's bells" (2nd pirate to play this tune, Wild Irish Rose played it several min ago on 6950usb). (Hassig-IL)

** Zeeky

2/26, 0034-0043, 6945usb. Rock music; Zeeky ranting with echo @0040; SIO=334; covered by trill, tone & hash bursts (Frodge-MI)


== South American shortwave

** Radio Antares (Brazil)

2/25, 0636-0643+, 7399.9am. Male ancr spoke after each pop tune; occ’ly rising to QRN level. Only heard in USB in the recent past (Frodge-MI)


~~~~

Regards, Lw