Radio Romania International’s Easter card
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Category Archives: Shortwave Radio
Pirate Radio Recordings: Radio Ronin Shortwave
Ronin’s mix starts with the Sex Pistols (Photo: 45cat.com)|
If you can’t tell from the number of recordings I posted today, last night was a busy night for pirate radio.
I heard no less than five pirates: AATW Radio, Red Mercury Labs Radio, Rave On Radio, Black Cat Radio and Radio Ronin Shortwave.
Though many had great signals, the strongest was Radio Ronin Shortwave on 6.925 MHz (AM). Ronin’s broadcast started around 22:15 UTC (March 22, 2013) and lasted for more than an hour. Near the end, you will hear some interference from maritime mobile stations in the upper side band of 6.925–that just ads character in my book.
Click here to download the full recording by clicking here, or simply listen via the embedded player below:
Standard Pirate Radio Disclaimer: This is a recording of a real pirate radio broadcast, and as such, may include strong or colorful language or lyrics. In general, if you are easily offended by the words, ideas, music lyrics, or music herein, you should slowly…back… away…
Rijmenants’ paper sheds light on Cuban numbers stations
I’m always amazed by the remarkable talents and extraordinary knowledge of SWLing Post readers. Dirk Rijmenants recently commented on one of our Cuban spy numbers station postings:
[T]hanks for your work on this fascinating blog.
I have additional information on how and who used these Cuban numbers stations. I composed a paper based on FBI and court documents. “Cuban Agent Communications” can by found in the Papers section of my website.
Here’s the direct link (pdf):
https://www.ciphermachinesandcryptology.com/papers/cuban_agent_communications.pdfHave fun reading!
I’ve read Dirk’s paper, which does, indeed, shed light on the process of receiving and decoding numbers. Most of all, it exposes the vulnerability and fallacy of using anything other than one-time decryption keys and single-use pads. Why? Most of what the FBI has learned about Cuban numbers came from laptops that were used to help decrypt coded messages–an unnecessary procedure when numbers can simply be decoded on note pads that can then be burnt or destroyed.
But don’t take my word for it–download and read Dirk’s paper “Cuban Agent Communications” by clicking here. Also, be sure to check out Dirk’s blog and cryptology website; I’ve bookmarked both.
Thanks for sharing your findings, Dirk!
Pirate Radio Recordings: Black Cat Radio
(Click to enlarge)
Last night, I heard a new pirate on the air: Black Cat Radio.
Black Cat signed on 6,925 kHz USB around 23:45 UTC. After sending in a reception report, I received a reply with a cool eQSL card (see right) and learned that this was, in fact, show number one.
Here’s the show #1 play list, courtesy of Greaser Bob:
- The Genders- Horatio
- Blitz- 45 Revolutions
- Queens of The Stone Age- Go With the Flow
- Nirvana- Anueurysm
- Black Flag- Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie
- Betty Blowtorch- Strung Out
- The Misfits- Angel F**k
- Suicidal Tendencies- You Got I Want
- MC5- Kick Out the Jams
- Corrosion of Conformity- Who’s got the Fire
- Phil X and the Drills- You’re not Happy till Im not Happy
- The Vandals- Urban Struggle
- The Bloodhound Gang- Pennsylvania
- Betty Blowtorch- Rock and Roll 69
Click here to download the full recording of Black Cat Radio Show #1 as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:
Standard Pirate Radio Disclaimer: This is a recording of a real pirate radio broadcast, and as such, may include strong or colorful language or lyrics. In general, if you are easily offended by the words, ideas, music lyrics, or music herein, you should slowly…back… away…
DRM tests from Moscow starting tomorrow morning
The WRTH Facebook page has noted that DRM tests from Moscow will take place on 25,900 kHz starting Friday, March 22nd (tomorrow) at 10:00 UTC and ending on Saturday, March 23rd at 10:00 UTC.
Details of each broadcast can be found here–see English version via Google Translate.
They’re asking that all DRM reception reports be logged in this online forum with a detailed description and even sound clips of audio reception, if possible.
Montsinéry transmitter site in French Guiana to close early April
(Photo: TDF)
According to the French language newspaper France-Guyane, the TDF transmitter site in Montsinéry, French Guyana, will shut down in early April.
Citing a lack of listeners, newer communications mediums (like the Internet/satellite) and the fact that much of the developing world is now politically “stable,” [obviously discounting Zimbabwe] delegate René Iafrate explained that it no longer makes sense to keep the site open:
Mais il n’est plus au goût du jour. « Il y a plusieurs raisons : la concurrence d’internet et des plates-formes satellitaires, et aussi le fait qu’un grand nombre de pays en développement qui constituaient nos cibles principales soient de plus en plus stables politiquement » explique René Iafrate.
The six employees who currently work at Montsinéry will be trained and given jobs in broadcast fields plus porteurs (more promising). The site itself will be dismantled within six to nine months.
Click here to view the original article in French or click here to view it in English via Google Translate.
This news was announced in mid-February, but it appears the closure is still on-track. Montsinéry relays a number of international broadcasters, so it’ll be interesting to see where they go for shortwave service to the target areas Montsinéry once covered.
Zimbabwe: More police raids in search of shortwave radios
In this case it’s not a child who was targeted in the raid, rather, the Prime Minister’s Principal Director:
(Source: SW Radio Africa)
A top lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, is being held by Harare police after she reacted to early morning raids leading to the arrest of Thabani Mpofu, Principal Director in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Office, a day after Zimbabweans voted in a constitutional referendum.
Thabani Mpofu, the Principal Director for Research and Development in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office, was taken from his home at 6am.
The police, led by Inspector Mirimbo from Law and Order Harare Central, later raided the Prime Minister’s office in Bath Road in Belgravia, leading to the arrest of feisty human rights lawyer. The police, who did not have a search warrant, are said to have been looking for shortwave radios. [Continue reading on SW Radio Africa’s website…]