Logging around the Xmas tree

Checking out my shortwave radio earlier this afternoon, a number of shortwave stations were heard.
Only 2 were identified, tho.

From 2:30 to about 2:45, on 6300, a Dutch sounding pirate called Radio Luxemburg was heard. Ironically, the jingle used was "Radio Luxembourg, Great Britain" lol

Then from 3:30 to after 4:00, Radio Mistletoe was heard on 6245 kHz. Mostly Xmas music, also a brief history of the Xmas tree.

London pirates

Following heard over Marxism weekend, not far from Euston station:


87.9 Shine 87.9 , no RDS
88.3 Vision Radio, scrolling RDS = vision \ radiouk
88.6 House FM RDS = HOUSE FM
89.4 Unknown FM, scrolling RDS = Unknown \ fm.net \ 07930 \ 800 904
89.8 Station FM. RDS =,STATION - PT = Other Music
90.1 Point Blank FM, scrolling RDS = LOG ON \ WWW.POINTBLANK.FM
90.4 Raw FM , no RDS
90.6 Fresh PT = Other Music
90.8 Lightning Radio , no RDS
91.6 Genesis Radio , no RDS
92.0 Scream 92 FM , no RDS
91.8 Passion FM , RDS = PASSION
92.2 Metro Love Radio
92.7 Energy Radio , no RDS
92.9 Love FM , RDS = LOVEFM , website = lovefmlive.com (promo for recruitment and advertising)
93.7 Vibe (?) 93.8 FM , no RDS
94.6 Kool FM , RDS =KOOL FM
95.1 Origin FM , RDS = ORIGINUK.NET
95.5 On Top FM (announced) - also ontopfm.net
96.1 RDS = S-DANCE
96.3 Hot 96 (announced)
96.6 Rhythm FM (announced)
96.9 (Choice FM - ILR)
97.6 RDS = BLAZING
97.9 Passion FM , RDS =PASSION
98.1 Mystic Radio (announced)
99.3 RDS = SelectUK
99.5 Galaxy Radio (announced) scrolling RDS
99.7 Flex FM , RDS = FLEX
101.1 unidentified
103.9 RDS = MUZIK FM
106.5 RDS = FORCE


All above stations were heard on the 2nd floor, using a Roberts EcoLogic 1 radio

RFT Gale meets his Nemesis

Nemesis Revival 87.8 made its final broadcast (at least in 2009) today. Was announced that Nemesis intends to return in 2010.

Due to the shorter days, the broadcast hours were changed slightly; programmes started at 2:30 pm and finished at about 5:45 pm

Perhaps it's just as well the broadcasting hours were brought forward (not least for Mr Gale's underpants!). About 5 minutes after the broadcast ended, as Mr Gale was packing the equipment away, a car pulled up next to the transmitter location (shown by the green arrow on the map). An old man got out of the car and asked Mr Gale what he was doing there; since the broadcast had now ended, Mr Gale replied that he had been "conducting radio experiments".

The old man, preseumably working for the land owner (or maybe the landowner himself) then told Mr Gale that he shouldn't be there, as it was private land. Mr Gale apologised rather than having "Mr Twatt" (anyone who's seen "The Boat That Rocked" will know why I'm calling him that) end up calling the Police, but alo pointed out that there were no signs anywhere saying that this was private land. (It was also apparent that this land was less than well cared for, while at the same time hardly ideal for wildlife).

Having packed his gear away, Mr Gale returned home. 2009's last broadcast of Nemesis Revival had gone smoothly, all equipment remained intact ready for 2010, all Mr Gale needs to do now is find a new transmitter location. All in all, it could have been a googolplex times worse!

Even so, it seems kinda ironic that "Mr Twatt" has picked on a pirate radio station when the place had more important issues. Mainly the fire which is constantly burning there, and has been noted during every broadcast since July. What's more, by the looks of the cartons and packaging being burnt, the fire appears to have been of commercial waste.

Then again, I guess this is just a microcosm of the fact that the authorities continue to clamp down on pirate radio, while at the same time, you're likely to get threatened or even beaten up while going out to a local pub or nightclub. Small wonder, I guess, that Nemesis Revival also announced today that they had taken on board Radio Caroline's concept of Lovin' Awareness !

Diabolical Advertising Bull****

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against DAB digital radio. But I do think the latest advert for DAB - which includes 'interference' from what sounds like a cliched London pirate - is rather 'below the belt' by reinforcing the myth that pirate radio causes interference.

Besides, it is also a myth to suggest that DAB has no interference, and is either perfect sound or impossible to receive. Anybody listening to a distant multiplex on DAB (ie all of them, in many areas!) will notice times when the station sounds like you're listening underwater! (appropriate for Radio Mi Amigo, perhaps :P )

Still, it's interesting that pirate radio is obviously still popular enough to be a thorn in the side of the radio Establishment, so they want to discredit it. Could this have something to do with the increasingly poor quality of independent radio in the UK, where even the 'music' stations seem to have 20 minutes of verbal diarrhea for every record played? And the fact that the promotions are increasingly getting 'preachy', encouraging us to take up exercise when all we want is to listen to the music? No wonder, then, people are deserting ILR for the pirates. And without a root-and-branch change in format of British legal radio, DAB isn't going to help.

After all, perfect-sounding crap is still crap!

Au Revoir Nemesis Revival

Nemesis Revival 87.8, a pirate from somewhere in North Derbyshire, announced today it was closing down until the autumn.

From 3pm to just after 6pm, Nemesis Revival was on-air today and also on Sunday 2nd August.
Nemesis Revival was heavily based on the pirate Radio Nemesis, which used to broadcast to the North Derbyshire area back in 1987 - the DJ even called himself Richard 'Force Twelve' Gale (could it be the same one as operated the original Nemesis?), and the old Nemesis 'You will not ...' promo was aired.

Format was mostly dance music with minimal chat; although Radio Ability - aired from 4pm to 5pm - was 'across the board' music by recording artists with disabilities and disability info.

It was announced that Nemesis Revival hopes to return, possibly in October. In the meantime, plans are afoot to sort out web streaming, hopefully (it was announced) within the next fortnight. Watch this space ...

London pirates

Just returned last night from Marxism 2008, the annual socialists' event in central London.

While there, I was staying on the 4th floor of student accommodation. Using my Roberts ecologic 1 radio, the following free radio stations were heard on the night of Friday 3rd July 2009:

87.5 Dockland FM (?) , no RDS
87.8 Shine FM, RDS = SHINE879
89.8 Station FM , no RDS
90.1 Point Blank, scrolling RDS = POINT
BLANK
90.6 Unknown FM, scrolling RDS = UNKNOWN
FM
91.8 Passion FM, RDS = PASSION
92.7 Freeze FM , scrolling RDS = Freeze
FM_92.7
93.8 Ragga FM , no RDS
94.0 Touch FM, RDS = TOUCH'94
94.6 Unidentified, string of repeating adverts, scrolling RDS advertised coming events
95.5 Upfront 955, no RDS
96.1 S-Dance, RDS = S-DANCE
102.8 ULR - Urban Love Radio , no RDS
105.6 Jiggy Radio , scrolling RDS = JIGGY
RADIO
108.0 Unknown FM, no RDS, announced as unknownfm.net

In addition there were more Unidentified stations on 88.2 (rave) , 88.6 (rave) , 89.35 (rave) , 90.8 (reggae) , 91.6 (rave) , 93.0 (reggae) , 95.1 (rave) , 97.5 (reggae) , 99.5 (reggae) , 99.8 (reggae) , 100.4 (dance) , 101.2 (R&B) , 102.5 (reggae / lovers rock) , 103.6 (Asian) , 103.8 (reggae) , 105.2 (dance / R&B) , 106.5 (rave) , 106.7 (rave)

And the ILRs heard included:
95.8 Capital FM , RDS = CAPITAL
96.9 Choice FM , no RDS
97.3 LBC , RDS = LBC_97.3
100.0 Kiss FM
101.4 On FM - website
102.2 Smooth Radio
104.9 XFM , RDS = X_F_M
105.4 Magic
105.8 Absolute Radio
106.2 Heart FM, RDS = HEART
107.1 Choice FM , no RDS
107.5 Time FM
107.8 Radio Jackie


The following morning, at 08:40 am, the following were also heard:

97.9 Passion FM , RDS = PASSION
99.1 Irie FM (?) , no RDS

And at 23:00, another was added:

87.8 Hightz Live , RDS = www.hightzlive.com

Farewell West Yorkshire

Well, today was my last day at Arqiva. So. it seems a good time for a final round-up of what's on air in the Leeds area:

Roundhay Radio are doing an RSL on 87.7 FM. RDS = ROUNDHAY

Fresh FM 95.6 and Peoples FM 104.5 are still on-air. Haven't heard Radio Frequency 88.1 for about a week now - raided?

Ah well, still haven't found a new job yet so it looks like I'm on the 'rock 'n' roll' for now. Nevertheless, I'm determined not to let my radio skills go to waste ... and I've plenty of time on my hands to pursue my latest 'project' ...

Real Radio all at sea

This afternoon from 1pm to 2pm, Yorkshire regional IRR station Real Radio aired a programme about the offshore pirates of the 1960's. Named "When Pirates Ruled The Airwaves" (more details on Real Radio website), this included interviews with ex-offshore pirate DJs, and also airchecks of stations like Caroline, Swingin' Radio England, and Big L Radio London.

This was part 1, so I'll definitely have to listen in again next week for part 2. I also plan to see the film "The Boat That Rocked", set on an offshore free radio ship, sometime over Easter.

London log

Was in London today, for the big "Put People First" demo against job losses.

On the coach down, an unidentified pirate was heard some way north of London (approx junction 7 of the M1) playing a loop tape of an advert for an event in Reading. By junction 6, this had been replaced on the frequency by the London pirate Platinum FM.

After the march arrived in Hyde Park and before the speeches started, I put my new radio to good use. It's a Roberts ecologic 1 DAB/FM with RDS radio. The RDS is actually more versatile than that on a car radio; as well as the station name, you can also see the Programme Type (PTY) and scrolling programme info. Not that the Programme Type is of much use in practice - many of the pirates selected "Talk" or "News" for this flag!

Anyroad, here is the list. Mostly pirates (or presumed pirates), unless otherwise stated.

87.5 Platinum FM, no RDS
87.7 NME Radio (RSL), RDS = N_M_E
89.4 Unknown FM, RDS = UNKNOWN
90.6 Unknown FM, RDS = UNKNOWN
90.8 Lightning FM, RDS = LIGHTNIN
91.6 Genesis Radio, no RDS
91.9 Pulse FM, RDS = PULSE_FM
93.8 Vibes FM, RDS = Vibes FM (Do not adjust your screen - it seems it is possible to have small letters in a station's RDS name!). Scrolling info RDS = "Vibes 93.8 FM. The People's Choice."
94.0 Touch FM, RDS = TOUCH'94
95.5 On Top FM, RDS name was scrolling
96.0 RDS = S-DANCE
96.4 Hot 96, no RDS
97.9 Passion FM, RDS = PASSION
99.3 RDS = SELECT_UK
99.5 Radio Galaxy, RDS = galaxy
106.4 Village Radio, no RDS
108.0 Unknown FM, RDS = UNKNOWN, scrolling info RDS included studio text number

Unidentified stations thought to be pirates (all no RDS except 94.5) were heard on 88.6, 89.8 (Station FM?), 92.2, 92.3, 94.5 (RDS name scrolling with an ad for an event), 97.6, 98.2, 99.1, 99.7, 100.2, 100.4, 101.2, 101.7
(Believe it or not, this is probably not an exhaustive list!)

In addition, ILR's Radio Jackie 107.8 (the ex-pirate) and 96.5 The Eagle were also heard.

Unique pirate

Unique FM 87.8 was heard tonight, on Hickenwood Lane overlooking Clowne.
Believed to be from Nottingham, as most adverts and announcements seemed to mention Nottingham.
Format was reggae.

Thought to have been heard weakly on previous nights (weekday nights included), in Whitwell and Bolsover, but has not been ID'd until tonight.


Also heard on Hickenwood Lane was Sheffield pirate Bounce FM 88.0

Bounce back and feel the Vibez

Huddersfield pirate Vibez FM 90.6 heard tonight on the M1, near Barnsley (junction 37).

RDS = VIBEZ FM

Signal faded out soon afterwards, but was still audible as far as junction 36.


In Sheffield, Bounce FM 88.0 was heard for the first time in ages. Although no RDS, a strong signal was still audible almost as far as Clowne.


In Leeds, the usual pirates - namely Peoples FM 104.5, Fresh FM 95.6, and Radio Frequency 88.1, were all heard on the way home just after 4pm.

In addition, an Asian RSL was heard on 87.9. Adverts mentioned Bradford, so station is probably Apni Awaaz FM.



BTW yes, I've just found out how to use colour on Blogger :-)

Leeds got the Vibe

Vibe FM was heard this morning and early afternoon, in Garforth, on 94.7

Thought to be a pirate

No RDS noted.

Format was dance and Asian bhangra music

Announced as from Leeds

An advert was aired for advertising on Vibe FM "from £25 per week"

Signal audible in Garforth, but even before I reached the A1, it was competing with BBC Radio Sheffield on the same frequency.

Also on air in Leeds, from 4pm this afternoon, were the pirates Peoples FM 104.5 and Fresh FM 95.6, and an RSL on 87.9 playing Asian music (possibly Hum FM)

Deja vu

One addition to the London pirates list this morning. Namely Deja Vu 92.4, which was heard from 10am. At the time, they were having a phove in on what TV shows, listeners used to watch when younger.

More London pirates

In addition to yesterday's log, the following pirates were heard tonight:

94.6 Kool FM
96.1 Supreme Dance
97.1 Energy FM


Off-topic, tonight at the Marxism event, there was a showing of the film I Cento Passi (which translates to English as The Hundred Steps). This Italian film is the story of a Sicilian trade unionist who stood up against the Sicilian Mafia, back in the 1970's. To spread his message, he started a small-scale radio station, Radio Aut.

Fresh FM is a thriller

From 4pm, DJ GQ on Leeds pirate Fresh FM 95.6 seemed to be dedicating his show to music by Michael Jackson. This was apparently to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Thriller album.

Well, when he played Thriller itself, it certainly set the atmosphere for the gale-swept drive home down the (often rather bleak) A1.

I also noticed that Fresh FM have again started using dynamic RDS, and were using it to advertise and under-18's disco. (Either appropriate or ironic, depending on your opinion of MJ himself!)

Frontline back with a vengeance

Huddersfield pirate Frontline FM 94.7 heard this evening, for the first time in ages.

Heard in Garforth approx 16:00, still on the A1 south of the M62 (although had disappeared by Darrington). DJ on the station mentioned listeners as far as Sheffield.

RDS noted for the first time = FRNTLINE

Frontline FM's area on MySpace

Frequency FM returns (?)

Leeds pirate Frequency FM thought to have returned this evening.
Heard approx 5 pm on 88.1, near Rotherham on the M18, playing dance/rave music.
Still audible very weakly in Clowne (although with much interference from BBC Radio 2, on or near that frequency).

Also audible on way home tonight: Hit Music Radio 100.8 (end of M18 / junction 32 of M1).

Audible in Leeds: Fresh FM 95.6

No RSLs at all heard today :-(

Peoples FM Leeds

Leeds pirate Peoples FM 104.5 heard tonight from 4pm, with the best signal in ages - still audible well south of Darrington on the A1.

Taking a leaf out of Fresh FM 95.6's book, Peoples FM now have scrolling RDS.

Format was reggae music (including Judge Dredd "Big Six"!)

Irie FM Manchester

Visited Manchester today, to join the march and demo to demand that Gordon Brown pulls the troops out of Iraq.

On the way there and back, I heard the pirate Irie FM on 105.8 FM.

Irie FM Manchester on Myspace

Signal was heard as far as Stockport on the way home, on a pocket radio/mp3 player inside the Stop The War coach.


On returning to Chesterfield just after 6pm, I noticed Chesterfield ILR Peak FM 107.4 was off-air (reason unknown).

Tower block nightmares

Just seen part 2 of the Tower Block Dreams series (here on YouTube). Sad to say, something in it left me with a nastier taste in the mouth than a pint of Bitrex.

It seems the practice of sabotaging pirate radio stations, which was not unknown in Birmingham in the late 1980s /early 1990s, is still going on. As an ex-pirate who still supports free radio, from a free speech and free expression point of view, I decry and condemn the practice of pirates sabotaging other pirates.

Occasionally. there may be mitigating factors behind such moves - such as, if another pirate is deliberately jamming or recklessly causing inteference, is broadcasting truly abhorrent material (such as racism, kiddie porn, libel or threats), or has itself sabotaged another station (including grassing them to the DTI). However, even in such cases, the merit of vigilante action such as sabotaging transmitters is highly debatable.

Besides, broadcasting to or from the same area as an existing pirate is not, in my opinion, a valid excuse for taking them off-air. Indeed, by only allowing one station in an area, such activity is acting not unlike the Establishment regulatory authorities :-(

The reason given for the sabotage (in Tower Block Dreams) is that too many pirate stations in an area are more likely to attract the DTI. I know DTI raids are far from fun, I was raided on Starforce FM back in 1997. And there are many means pirates can use to reduce the risk of studio raids and prosecution - eg the use of link systems, secure transmitter sites (perhaps with security measures such as look-outs or CCTV), measures to avoid interference to other stations or radio users.

But doing the DTI's dirty work should not be one of them!