Free Radio Weekly #1451

FREE RADIO WEEKLY: #1451

Covering free radio activity from 6 January through 12 January 2024

Editor this week: Ron Hunsicker

Date emailed: 13 January 2024

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 is distributed to those who contribute.

WEEKLY DEADLINE: Saturday at 0000 UTC (Friday night in North America) Please send your logs to all the editors as the editing schedule is subject to last minute changes.

To subscribe to the FRW, please send an email to all the editors with a request to be added to the mailing list. Also, when changing your email address, notify all the editors.

EDITORS:

Harold Frodge (99crawdads@gmail.com)

Ron Hunsicker (frwrjh@ptd.net)

Dave Turnick (caodwolf@gmail.com)

Larry Will (radio@zappahead.net)


Contributors to #1451

Rick Barton, AZ

Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing, PA
William Hassig, Mt. Prospect, IL, williamhassig@yahoo.com
Ron Hunsicker, Wyomissing, PA, ronhunsi(at)ptd(dot)net
Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, wghauser@yahoo.com
Gary Pence, Dallas, TX


OUR EDITORIAL POLICY: All times and dates are assumed to be UTC.


North American shortwave stations

77 Lima Juliet Sierra

77 Lima Juliet Sierra, 01/05, 2311-2358, 6930usb. Via a recording, the program began with music and then a man talking about a detective story, “Dollar High.” A call-out to HFU reporters at 2326. (35453, Hunsicker, PA)

77 Lima Juliet Sierra, 01/06, 2020-2054*, 6930usb. A program in progress with Pop music tonight. Op advises that he is resuming where he left off the prior weekend. 3000 Hz was the best fit, but 2800 loped off some noise. (35353, Hunsicker, PA)

77 Lima Juliet Sierra, 01/07, 2341, 6930usb. Via the Barrington Hills IL sdr with weak noisy S5 signal, jazz tune sung alternately by male and female, more music. (Hassig-IL)

Ball Smacker Radio

Ball Smacker Radio, 01/06, 0218, 4032usb. Via the Barrington Hills IL sdr with weak S3 signal, hear music under low noise level, at 0221 switched to Traverse City MI sdr with fair S9-S9+10 signal, gave email of ballsmacker@protonmail.com , original "gotta be rock and roll music" by Chuck Berry. (Hassig-IL)

Cloudsplitter Radio

Cloudsplitter Radio, 01/08, 2247-2259*, 6938usb. Via a recording, a radio play in progress. Part II of Donovan’s Brain on CBS, sponsored by Roma Wine. The original announcer was Orson Welles. ID at 2259. 3000 Hz was a good fit. (35454, Hunsicker, PA)

Hikari FM

Hikari FM, 01/10, 0218, 11514.89. Gary Pence, Dallas, replies Jan 10: ``Hi Glenn, You asked a Question. I thought I would help out a little and re-sharpen my SWL skills. Since I used to listen to him before Hikari. On KFS SE ant I tried that first, no joy; then Mr. Moman Alberta SDR hears me on
40 meters real well to the southeast. I tried him as well. Could hear
him barely with a generous S8 or so. But I landed on KPH Point Reyes
and voilà, improvement. I could hear him playing soft jazz instrumental on 11514.89 with an ID at 0218z. 73, Gary, km5x`` Pence, with audio clip I include on next WOR 2225. (Gary Pence, Dallas TX)

Radio Free New England

Radio Free New England, 01/11, 2210-2227*, 6925am, Continuous music programming until 2224 SSTV transmission followed by a woman announcer with station ID before the carrier was terminated. Nice to hear an AM pirate station for a change of pace. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-PA)

Radio Seagull

Radio Seagull, 01/06 & 07, 2356, 6955usb. Via the Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7-S9 signal, instrumental music, at 0007 British accented male saying what was played, more music with singing. (Hassig-IL)

Seven Seas Radio

Seven Seas Radio, 01/08 & 09, 2330-0005*, 6919usb. Via a recording, the program opened with 96 Tears, then Hard Rock, the Beatles, and Rap. Closed with Jetro Tull and an ID at 0005. 2800 Hz had the best sound. (45555, Hunsicker, PA)

Seven Seas Radio, 01/08, 2353-0006, 6919usb. Male with vocal “Just One Fix’ followed by Jethro Tull’s “Mother Goose.” A woman announcer at 0005 said “Good evening … ___ ____ Radio”. Good signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

Stern Radio

Stern Radio, 01/05, 1933-1951*, 6960am. Via a recording, a program in progress with Techno Rock. Closes with synthesized version of Churchill’s beaches speech and anthem. 16,000 Hz was great! (55444, Hunsicker, PA)

Thunder Chicken Radio

Thunder Chicken Radio, 01/05, 2213-0026*, 6950usb. Via a recording, the program appeared to start at 2213 with music, a man talking, and a rooster. Not really “usable,” until 2241 when an SSTV in Martin 1 was “poor.” A night of guitar solos from Jeff Beck, Jimmy Buffett, Frank Zappa, and Gordon Lightfoot. SSTV ID at 2358. A rough night, but a very enjoyable playlist. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

Thunder Chicken Radio, 01/05, 2236-1123, 6950usb. Tuned in to Frank Zappa music followed by SSTV imagines (sound effect for me) and more music. Later hear Gordon Lightfoot with “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” I didn’t hear station ID, but HF Underground did. Fair. (D’Angelo-PA)

Thunder Chicken Radio, 01/10 & 11, 2231, 6950/6955usb. Via the Brookfield WI sdr with fair S9 signal, s-on with comedy bit and audience laughter, at 2236 "don't you eat that yellow snow" then 2243 "St. Alfonso's pancake breakfast" both by Frank Zappa, at 2245 some kind of wideband data QRM, operator moved up to 6955 then played more Frank Zappa songs, at 2311 "dancing fool" spoof of disco, at 2334 SSTV/FAX then more Zappa, at 0002 SSTV/FAX and more Zappa, at 0030 SSTV/FAX, at 0033 song "happy trails to you" then Thunder Chicken Radio ID then off, great to hear Frank Zappa again. I have mixed feelings about him because I was IBEW, and he was anti-union. To be fair he had a few run-ins with the teamsters. Thanks for the broadcast. (Hassig-IL)

Thunder Chicken Radio, 01/10 & 11, 2311-0005, 6955usb. Zappa’s Dancin’ Fool and more Zappa. The noise was fierce! SSTV ID in Martin 1 at 2334. 3000 Hz was okay. (25342, Hunsicker, PA)

Thunder Chicken Radio, 01/12, 2322, 6950usb. Soft rock, YL song, S9/+10; 2325 announcement about ``voices in my head``, maybe ID but missed. Many reports here say it`s Radio Free Whatever:
[www.hfunderground.com]
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

Two Dog Radio

Two Dog Radio, 01/06, 0236, 6955usb. Via the Barrington Hills IL sdr with fair S5-S7 signal, heavy metal music. (Hassig-IL)

Unidentified

Unidentified, 01/08, 1657, 11514.9. JBA carrier direct, no doubt
Hikari FM pirate from Arizona or Sonora; too QRP, why bother? (Glenn
Hauser, OK, WOR)

Unidentified, 01/08, 2334-2359*, 6930usb. Via a recording, the program opened with Pop music, including Endless Love and Walk 500 Miles. 3000 Hz fit. (35453, Hunsicker, PA)

Unidentified, 01/09, 2038, 11514.9. JBA carrier direct, no doubt
Hikari FM, Sonora, or Arizona pirate on signature off-frequency. Does
any remote pull it well enough to copy? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

Unidentified, 01/11, 0053-0123*, 6950usb. Via a recording, the program began with Freewill, and later Rebel, Rebel and Roundabout. 3400 Hz sounded best. Fading toward the end. (35443, Hunsicker, PA)

Unidentified, 01/12, 2323, 6930am. Pirate music, S9/+10. Many simulreports of unID here but as USB:
[www.hfunderground.com]
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

Yeah Man Radio

Yeah Man Radio, 01/06 & 07, 2306-0040*, 6925usb. Via the Brookfield WI sdr with fair S7-S9 signal, s-on with Steppenwolf "born to be wild" then "light my fire" by the Doors, "ride Sally ride" by Wilson Picket, at 2314 said "million dollar weekend" then read names of HFU poster including me, 2340 "black magic woman" by Santana, 0023 "everybody knows it's Windy" by the Association, many oldies from the 1960's and 70's, at 0040 "million dollar weekend" jingle several times then off, nice program, thanks. (Hassig-IL)

YHWH

YHWH, 01/01, 0130, 7475am. In progress at tune-in, and early for this op, familiar lecture. His usual "Say a prayer and pass the ammunition" and 10 commandments segments at 0145. Strong signal here in Arizona. Closing Ann & Days of Hard Life at 0200, then went to open carrier for a few minutes, then off. Logged on Drake SW8, long wire. (Barton, AZ)

YHWH, 01/06, 0250, 7475/am. In progress at tune-in, lambasting gay parades in Jerusalem. Logged on Drake SW8, long wire. (Barton, AZ)

YHWH, 01/07, 0150, 7475am. In progress at tune-in. Usual lecture by Josiah but hammered by OTHR radar pulses at 0210; the Commandments at 0220 and gone on 0240 recheck. Logged on RS SW-2000629, indoor wire (Barton. AZ)

YHWH, 01/12, 0310, 7475am. In progress at tune-in. Usual lecture by Josiah, but hammered lightning static crashes here. Fully lighting green tuning eye but weak modulation. Deep fade at 0335 and JBA by then. The signature song "Days of Hard Life" rising abv the static level at 0343. Into closing Ann at 0350, but barely audible. At 0355, we switched on the BFO but no carrier present, so he must have closed during that 5 minute period. Logged on RS SW-2000629, indoor wire. (Barton, AZ)



European shortwave stations

None reported.

Latin American shortwave stations

None reported.



QSLs

None reported.


Otherness

William Hassig submitted this SSTV image from a Thunder Chicken Radio broadcast:

Inline image



While listening to a recording of Thunder Chicken on a lousy night for radio in Wyomissing, I found that the Elad’s noise reduction greatly improved the quality of what I was hearing. I wondered if the noise reduction would degrade the SSTV images that were sent. It did not; they were better. Still sows’ ears, but a better class of sow—Hunsicker.




Electronic Mail Addresses for stations
[piratedatabase.webhop.net]



Best regards,

Ron