Free Radio Weekly #1449

Free Radio Weekly #1449, Saturday, December 30, 2023
Covering free radio activity from December 23-29, 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)
Ron Hunsicker (frwrjh@ptd.net)
Dave Turnick (caodwolf@gmail.com)
Larry Will (radio@zappahead.net)

FRW 1449 - December 30 - Larry
FRW 1450 - January 6 - Dave
FRW 1451 - January 13 - Ron
FRW 1452 - January 20 - Larry


== Contributors ==

Rich D'Angelo
2216 Burkey Drive
Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A.
Equipment: Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4

William Hassig
williamhassig@yahoo.com

Ron Hunsicker
Wyomissing PA
frwrjh@ptd.net

Mark Taylor
Cambridge WI
markokpik@gmail.com

Glenn Hauser
P O Box 1684
Enid OK 73702
wghauser@yahoo.com
P- or E-QSLs welcomed
NRD-545 with 100-foot E/W longwire
R-75 with E/W Wellbrook loop or interior N/S shortwire

Larry Will
Mount Airy, MD
Icom IC-R75 and G5RV


== North American shortwave ==

** Ballsmacker Radio

4032 USB Ballsmacker Radio (relay), 0303, 12.23.23. ID, 'Have a Holly Jolly Christmas' - Burl Ives, (recording 0303), 'Merry Christmas' - Ed Sheenan & Elton John, 'Silent Night' - Frank Sanatra, 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' - Darlene Love, 'Home for the Holidays (1959 Version)' - Perry Como, SSTV (poor decode here), ID and eQSL offer, "Wildfire", 0320 off & signal drops. 6960 AM – usual frequency – was not audible here. Fair to poor in noisy conditions. (Taylor – WI)

** Black Coal Radio

6950 am, 12-23-23, 2228 on Brookfield WI sdr with weak S7-S9 signal, fast jazz "sleighride" then slow jazz "silent night" at noise level. (Hassig-IL)

** Cloudsplitter Radio

6938 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) Cloudsplitter Radio, 2206-2249 Dec 21, a nice program of Christmas music with several Andy Williams tunes and a woman with a station ID as “Merry Christmas … Cloudsplitter Radio”. Fair signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

12/25, 2002-2200 and beyond, 6938usb. Via a recording, the program began with Joy to the World. Traditional Christmas tunes. 2800 Hz. (35454, Hunsicker, PA)

** Crapola Radio

6905 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) Crapola Radio, 2207-2252* Dec 24, IDing as The Brian Brothers Shortwave Pirate Radio Network on 6,905 kHz … coast-to-coast playing several Christmas tunes (“Here Comes Santa Claus”, Silver Bells, Frosty the Snowman”) mixed with parody advertisements. The Professor talking to Miss Scarlet about listeners on this Christmas Show. Joined by Santa who also said hello to many listeners. Closed with Star Spangled Banner and JFK quote “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Good signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

** Damn Skippy Radio

6955 usb, 12-24-23, 0132 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with good S9-S9+10 signal, various nice jazz tunes, at 0215 somebody said "Skippy". (Hassig-IL)

** Good Times Radio

12/25, 2047-2131*, 6925am to 6920am. Via a recording, the carrier appeared without audio, than Eye of the Tiger. Moved to 6920 at 2052, then Danger Zone and Hooked on a Feeling. The programming ended at 2129 and the carrier was gone at 2131. 12,000 Hz. (35454, Hunsicker, PA)

** ID Radio

6920 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) ID Radio, 2357-0033 Dec 20, non-stop music program, with Otis Redding “Knock on Wood”, Big Bopper with “Chantilly Lace”, Tom Jones with “She’s a Lady”. I didn’t hear a station ID by HF Underground reported this as ID Radio. Poor to fair signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

** Mix Radio International

12/25, 2112-2200 and beyond, 6880am. Via a recording, first a carrier appeared, went away, and returned with Noel. Then a Sade tune. 20,000 Hz. (55555, Hunsicker, PA)

12/26, 0102, 6880am. Mix Radio International with upbeat prog music. Solid s9, very good signal and sound. (Will-MD)

** Pirate Radio Boston

6935 AM, Dec 24 at 2329, JBA music. These logs ID it as Pirate Radio Boston, with Charlie Loudenboomer: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** Radio Free Whatever

12/25, 2056-2126 and beyond, 6950usb. Via a recording, the program opened with the RFW anthem, then DW wished listeners a Merry Christmas and gave an ID. Dick was in disarray for a bit and ruminated on Spotify’s algorithm’s logic. Identified as a continuation of the previous night’s recap show. Indy Rock. 2800 Hz seemed right. (35443, Hunsicker, PA)

6950 USB, Dec 25 at 2253, music. Radio Free Whatever per these logs: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** Radio 48 (Mix Radio International relay)

6875 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) Radio 48 relayed by Mix Radio International, 2301-2332 Dec 23, nice “Radio 48” station ID at tuned in followed by a music program with plenty of station IDs including one at 2317 by Michale for “Radio 48” then another by a woman announcer for “Radio 48 on Mix Radio International” and then a third by another man announcer for “Mix Radio International”. Good signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

6875 USB Radio 48 via Mix Radio International, 2313, 12.24.23. ID sequence, "Independent radio", both R. 48 & MRI IDs went on several minutes, dance music w/ vocal, 2323 MRI ID (synth YL) over music, into program of contemporary dance music with frequent IDs for both stations. Good. (Taylor – WI)

6875 USB, Dec 23 at 2320, music vs high storm noise level from across all of west Texas. Many reports here as Radio 48 via MRI: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

Radio 48 on MRI, 6875 usb, 12-23/24-23, 2232 on Brookfield WI sdr with very wide fair/good S9+10+ signal and vestigial LSB, HFU and MRI shown on waterfall above signal, much technopop dance music and some comedy bits, thanks for the tunes. (Hassig-IL)

6885 USB Waterfall images, 0045, 12.24.23. Cycle of waterfall images repeating "48, RADIO, bat MRI, bat HFU, bat" then “48”. Related to Radio 48 via Mix Radio International on 6875 USB. Fair to good. (Taylor – WI)

6875 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) Radio 48 relayed by Mix Radio International, 2115-2134 Dec 24, weakly heard with music program and station ID. Hopefully, conditions will improve as darkness closes in. (D’Angelo-PA)

Radio 48 on MRI, 6875 usb, 12-24-23, 2327 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with good S9+10 wide signal with vestigial LSB, I used IQ mode for max fidelity, alternative xmas tunes. (Hassig-IL)

6875 USB, 12/24, 2328, S9+10/20 of music, strongest by far. Many logs here as Radio 48 on MRI: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

6880 AM, Dec 25 at 2251, S9+ music. Mix Radio International logs earlier but none later than 2153: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** Radio Garbanzo

6950 usb, 12-23-23, 0010 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7 signal, various tunes and comedy bits, thanks for the program. (Hassig-IL)

** 77LJS

6960 usb PIRATE (No. Am.) 77 LJS, 2250-2316 Dec 21, nice program of pop music vocals with “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “Save the Last Dance for Me”, “Nice and Easy Does It”, “Up the Lazy River” and others heard. A couple of announcements by the man announcer including station ID and shoutouts to listeners, etc. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-PA)

6960 usb, 12-21-23, 2307 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with fair S9 signal, various Tony Bennet tunes, at 2310 "put your head on my shoulder" sung by Tony Bennet, at 2311 DJ said "hello William Hassig", more songs and some jazz, thanks for the nice program, at 2342 gave ID then off air. (Hassig-IL)

6930 USB, Dec 27 at 2320, S7/S9 music about = noise level. These take it as 77LJS, as one reported it ``sounds like`` that: [www.hfunderground.com] Has the derivation of that name been explained? They say it was playing classical choral music (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

12/29, 2332, 6950usb. 77LJS with odd music. A couple of unidentifiable funk songs starting at 2335. Low-fi but good sounding sideband signal. ID, "77 lima juliet sierra broadcasting live from three peaks station" at 2343. Excellent, s9. (Will-MD)

** Sycko Radio

12/26, 0102, 6956usb. Sycko Radio. Odd mash-up of "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". Sycko radio song at 0106. ID at 0109 with Sycko, "boy oh boy oh boy". Fair to good, s5/s7. (Will-MD)

6956 usb, 12-26-23, 0244 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with weak S5-S7 signal, male singing "white christmas" with whistling, apparently off at 0248. (Hassig-IL)

** Unid

6872 usb, 12-22-23, 2339 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with fair S9 signal, heavy metal versions of "deck the halls" "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer" "little drummer boy" "silent night" etc, SSTV/FAX at 2343, thanks for the tunes. (Hassig-IL)

6872.2 AM UnIdentified, 0218, 12.24.23. Poor reception of an apparent radio play. Initially some music and into dialogue then the signal was poor at best and mostly barely audible with talk and transition music. Gave up at 0230. Very poor. (Taylor – WI)

6955 USB UnIdentified, 0127, 12.24.23. Blues by Gary Tunes, Eric Blues, Red Whiskey & Ricardo Tunes including 'Ain't No Fool', 'Ain't True Yet', and 'Good Timin’. Abruptly off at 0154 then off and on until they went off for good with apparent transmitter problems. Good to poor with fading. (Taylor – WI)

6961 usb, 12-24-23, 2332 utc on Traverse City MI sdr with good S9+20 signal, occasional QRM from utility data, Chipmonk's xmas song, "jingle bell rock" then "sleigh ride" by the Ronnettes(?), various xmas standards, nice program, thanks. (Hassig-IL)

12/25, 2043-2145*, 6929.97usb. Via a recording, a program in progress with and OM talking and music. Both were unusable because of a weak signal. Rock, C&W, parody tunes, and Blues. Enjoyable, but I wished there were less noise and more signal. 2800 Hz bandwidth. Some really ugly bands of noise passed through the channel. (25242, Hunsicker, PA)

12/25, 2242-2356*, 6930usb. Via a recording, Indian table drums opened, followed by a novelty song. Jazz and Pop music. Mention of WRFL, 88.1 FM, at 2307. 15% Noise Reduction helped. The group Thirteenth Floor Elevator was promoted. There might have been an ID at 2355 but the lad talked too fast for me. 3000 Hz. (35353, Hunsicker, PA)

12/26, 0130-0300, 6956usb. Via a recording, faint audio that was unusable. The entire broadcast was “unusable” due to a weak signal. The broadcast seemed to end at 0247, but there was Rock music from 0252-0300, including Going Up Country. Then a deep-voiced OM said, “All I hear is bork, bork, bork.” I never heard anything that I even imagined was ID. (Unusable, Hunsicker, PA)

12/28 & 12/29, 2339-0029*, 6920usb. Via a recording, the program opened with a few bars of Rock music then some Rap. A mix of Christmas and other music. Closed with the sounds of an owl calling repeatedly. Due to a band of noise that started at 6922.5 or so, I used a 2400 Hz bandwidth to keep the noise at bay. (35353, Hunsicker, PA)

12/29, 2038, 6949.7am. Spooky space sounds and various spoken word bits mixed with techno music. Radioactivity by Kraftwerk at 2048. Military march with robot "...we shall never surrender" voice and end of record skip, then off at 2058. Huge signal, s20+. (Will-MD)

** Unid (Hikari FM?)

First as UNIDENTIFIED. 11514.9, Dec 25 at 1631, algo S3. Nothing listed on 11515 in WRTH 2024, Aoki or EiBi; but via WWDXC, BCDX, USAGM RMS monitoring included it among Dengê Gel and/or Turkjam in mid-Nov. I haven`t tried to track any of that lately, but this is their favorite jumparound area (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

UNIDENTIFIED: 11514.9, Dec 29 at 1530, JBA music at S3/S4 direct. Still no other reports of this since my last log Dec 25, so I check several remotes for it: nothing at UTwente, Bandung, Qatar, nor Oita, Japan. In California the omni KFS gets it at S6/S7, while inaudible on their NW antenna but agrees on offset display of a trace; it`s JBA but I keep listening there to 11515 -96 Hz = 11514.904. Seems to be nothing but music, mainly soprano voice, past 1700. By 1716, it`s a smidgen stronger, S7. Guess at Turkish jammer vs Dengê Gel, but not that kind of music. Still same offset into KFS at 1910, S7 now YL popsong in English. What is this???

Further chex, *still* audible on this off-frequency, at least into KFS: 1957 hi-pitched YL voice speaking, English? mentions numbers? goes past 2000 with no break. Next check 2147, still music S7/8. And at 2306 really inaudible but KFS still synchs on 11515 -96 Hz.

Meanwhile I got replies on the WOR iog from Lucas Bandura: ``Hikari FM, Arizona pirate. Moved from 11289.4 kHz`` and from Dan Robinson: ``Yes, operator of the former Pushka and Russian named station, now Hikari FM was awaiting some equipment parts to make the move to this frequency area``. When first reported on 11289.4, I checked but never heard. I belatedly check HFU for reports about this: on Dec 24 there were reports on 11520. A QSL of Dec 19 for 11289 said 10 watts and soon would be on 11520. Ex-6200 AM, where I was still alert for anything at night, but nothing lately.

He once claimed to be just across the border from Arizona in NW Sonora. That might discourage the FCC from seeking him, true or not (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** Unid (Thunder Chicken Radio?)

6872 USB, Dec 22 at 2319 music, 2320 SSTV beepery, 2322 back to Xmasmx, no announcements heard. More unID reports here, also earlier on 6870 USB and there were separate logs on 6871 LSB: [www.hfunderground.com] SSTV images of chickens, so obvious question, Thunder Chicken Radio? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** The Voice of Christmas

12/25, 1350-1438*, 6935am. Via a recording, first a carrier with no audio, then repeating Christmasy music. A disguised male voice gave an ID at 1355. Classic (if one is older) Christmas hits by the traditional artists. Lots of noise around and I used LSB for a while to avoid it. 7600 HZ AM fit well. (35342, Hunsicker, PA)

** Voice of Laryngitis

12/26, 0000-0028*, 6960usb. Via a recording, opened with Little Drummer Boy, then Genghis Huxley and Cowboy Stanley chatted for a bit. “The best of the Voice of Laryngitis for Christmas.” Reverend Billy Bob Huxley with the Almost Heresy Hour, reports from NORAD, and ad for the Death is Cheap mortuary. 2800 Hz fit well. (45454, Hunsicker, PA)

** WBLR

12/25, 1136-1341, 6930am. Via a recording, a program in progress with Christmas tunes—Rap style. DJ is Silver Night. 24,000 Hz bandwidth. ID at 1342. (35343, Hunsicker, PA)

** WDOG

12/29, 2225-2359*, 6955usb. A program in progress with songs with women’s first names in the titles. I enjoy the tunes—thanks. Frequent IDs. 11,000 Hz sounded best. Occasional bursts of data drove changes to LSB and USB to try to avoid the noise. Around 2344 the audio became distorted and then dropped to very low levels. After 245 there was only a carrier with nothing heard. (45454 when no data, Hunsicker, PA)

** WFZY? WFTY?

6930 usb, 12-21/22-23, 2352 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with fair/good S9-S9+10 signal, hard rock then country rock, at 0002 switched to heavy metal, the country rock again, sudden slight upshift in freq at 0010, at 0015 said goodbye then off. Thanks for the program. (Hassig-IL)

** Wolverine Radio

6950 usb, 12-24-23, 0056 utc on Brookfield WI sdr with good S9+10 to S9+20 signal, s-on with "testing 1 2 3 can anybody hear me?" then Wolverine ID, 1st song "I'll glad when you're dead you rascal you" then songs "when that man is dead and gone" and "Jack you're dead", Wolverine ID, a "dead" themed program with various songs having the word "dead" in them, at 0145 "dead skunk in the middle of the road" by Loudon Wainright 3rd, at 0204 echo ID then SSTV/FAX then off, nice program, thanks. (Hassig-IL)

6950 USB Wolverine Radio, 0104, 12.24.23. 'When that Man is Dead and Gone' - Mildred Bailey, 'Jack, You're Dead' - Louis Jordan & This Tympany Five, ID, 'Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead' - The Marvelettes, "Dead End Street" - The Kinks, 'And When I Die' - Blood, Sweat and Tears, ID, 'Don't Want to Die in Georgia' - Brewer and Shipley into a program of die / dead themed songs. Good to excellent. (Taylor – WI)

** WWWW

6925 usb, 12-22/23-23, 2353 on Brookfield WI sdr with weak S5-S7 signal, "Layla" Derek and Dominos, at 0008 "mama told me not to come" by 3 dog night. (Hassig-IL)

** Zeeky Radio Shroomus Show

6961 USB, Dec 24 at 2328, S9, sounds like a ham QSO talking directly to one person, mentions WA1ZMS. About the 486 kHz special experimental broadcast, but then mixes in some music. Many logs here as Zeeky Radio Shroomus Show: [www.hfunderground.com] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)


~~~~

Regards, Lw