Category: THE SHORTWAVE RADIO AUDIO ARCHIVE

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: WREC Radio Free East Coast Pirate 1997

Date of recording: August 31, 1997

Frequency: 6.955 MHz

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes: Some pirate radio stations used to use an interval signal. This is a recording of shortwave pirate broadcaster WREC Radio Free East Coast beginning a broadcast on August 31, 1997. It was made in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada and you will hear an interval signal followed by a song "Yo ho, yo ho A Pirate's Life for Me", then station identification. Receiving equipment was a Panasonic RF-3100 hooked up to a longwire antenna and the station was heard on 6955 kHz.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Voice of Nigeria, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation 1971

Frequency: 7.275 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Here is a recording of the distinctive rapid drum beat interval signal used by the Voice of Nigeria in Lagos on shortwave, made sometime in 1971. A voice announcement follows, as they begin a program in the French language. In the second recording, you will hear their interval signal, anthem, and sign on in English. This recording was made circa 1971 on 7275 kHz.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Trans World Radio, Meyerton, South Africa 1990's

Frequency: 7.215 MHz

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Trans World Radio used to air some of it's programs via the SENTECH transmitter at Meyerton, South Africa. Here is a recording of the station in the late 1990's, including identification in English but no transmitter site given. This was made from my receiving post in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada, likely on 7215 kHz shortwave. This transmitter was shut down in March 2019.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Baghdad, Iraq

Date of recording: Circa 1971

Frequency: 15.400 MHz

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Another bird call interval signal. Even though Radio Baghdad in Iraq may have had a program beamed to North America in the early 1970's, they were not easily heard at my receiving post in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. This may have had to do with their choice of frequencies used. This recording begins with their mechanical nightingale interval signal, followed by identification in the Arabic language.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following recordings of Vatican Radio made on April 26, 2025.

The first recording, pre-funeral in French, was recorded at 07:36 UTC on 17520 kHz:

The second recording, made during the funeral in English, was recorded at 08:18 UTC on 17540 kHz:

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: RAI Italian Radio and Television, Rome 1971

Frequency: 6.010MHz

RX location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: RAI, Italian Radio and Television from Rome, had an interval signal that was described as a mechanically generated chirping canary, mechanical nightingale and even an Italian Sparrow. The station broadcast on a number of different frequencies in English (my QSL has them on 6.010 MHz), however in this recording, that was made circa 1971, the station identification is given in Italian.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Botswana 1983

Frequency: 4.845 MHz

RX location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Radio Botswana used to be famous for their "barnyard" interval signal. While my recording, from 1983, only captures a few seconds of the cowbells, it does include their full national anthem and sign on announcements in Setswana (presumed) and English.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, for sharing the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Australia

Date of recording: July 27, 1986

Starting time: 0300

Frequency: 17.795 MHz

RX location: South Bend, Indiana

Receiver and antenna: Sony ICF 2001

Notes: Here is a recording of Radio Australia's DX program called Talkback from July 27, 1986. I believe this was recorded around 0300 UT on 17795 kHz when Australia used to come in well in the evenings here.

Some of the program highlights are:

Review of the 1986 ANARC Convention, which was held in Montreal, Canada. Hosted by Radio Canada International, it attracted over 200 attendees. New Zealand's Arthur Cushen was the Guest of Honor for the event.

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Bryce Belcher, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: WRMI

Date of recording: January 10, 2024

Starting time: 2000 hours UTC

Frequency: 5.925 MHz

Reception location: Columbus, Ohio

Receiver and antenna: Tecsun PL880 with bilt-in telescopic antenna

Notes: Here's a recording from WRMI from Okeechobee Florida on 5.925 MHz on January 10th, 2024.

BBC World Service in English received in Europe on shortwave frequency of 9410 kHz at 0504 GMT May 9, 2025 using domestic 40-years old shortwave receiver "JS" (with double frequency conversion design) running on bateries. Antenna: 5 meter wire outdoor put on trees. Recorded using old SONY cassette recorder TCM 500V model.

The transmission recorded originated from the BBC Atlantic Relay Station in Ascension Island The station made its first shortwave radio transmission on July 3rd, 1966