Valley Wave Radio (International)

Although I have strayed beyond the ideals from which this blog was intended to represent, the history of the station now known as Valley Wave does overlap with the overall theme. Yes, this is a collection of insights and observations pertaining to the 1990s UK-based free radio scene on shortwave, but as my listening to pirate stations began in October 1990 before concluding in 2002/3, these early years of the current millennium represent the first knockings of when Valley Wave came into being.

Research for this blog and information passed on by a well-known operator who continues to sporadically broadcast to this day brought up a station named Uranium International, which seemed to begin life around the time that I walked away from free radio. I would like to think that this was a coincidence! I am not sure for how long Uranium patronised the 48 metres band, but it was a station that I completely missed out on. 

Fast forward two decades, and word on the street tells me that a station fairly frequently heard on 6265-6266 KHz is indeed a reboot of Uranium, now broadcasting under the Valley Wave nom de plume. I have heard broadcasts from what are described by the operator as "live from the car, back on the mountain" although chat is usually conspicuous by its absence unless at the top of the hour. Whilst less can be more, and needless verbiage can make some free radio broadcasters sound identikit and akin to legal FM stations, in general I am not a supporter of continuous music and canned idents. However, Valley Wave is quite literally out in the field, at altitude, a location probably not best suited to lengthy streams of eloquence and numerous 'shouts out to' due to passing walkers, farmers, etcetera. 

Initial programmes, probably whilst being in what seemed to be a perpetual test mode, centred upon airing back in the day Media Network programmes fronted by the inimitable Jonathan Marks, and time signals/call signs from the likes of Radio Prague International. It is difficult to say if this was purely for the operator's delectation or just offered something different whilst testing, but from my subjective perspective the 1980s electronica favoured by 'Mr. Valley Wave' represents the most preferable form of programme content he has up to now regaled listeners with. 

For a station broadcasting remotely and using so few watts, a signal last night of S9+10dB was highly impressive. Although my penchant for Heaven 17, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Soft Cell was not sated on this occasion, I did note the following tracks played by Valley Wave:

• Van Halen - Jump
• David Bowie - This Is Not America
• The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar
• Pink Floyd - High Hopes
• AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
• AC/DC - Shoot to Thrill
• Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart
• Tears for Fears - Head over Heels/Broken
• Tears for Fears - Sea Song
• Karel Fialka - Hey, Matthew.

I would conclude from this playlist and the music policy generally adopted in previous broadcasts that the operator really knows his music, exemplified through such a catholic taste. Through such a shadowy and enigmatic persona, taste in music, and unique broadcasting circumstances I would say that Valley Wave, after my initial scepticism, is in terms of listenability up there in the current crop of UK-based stations with Radio Clash and the Xenon Transmitting Company(XTC).

Some further observations include that with such a great signal (and vastly improved audio) that Valley Wave broadcasts not too far away from my QTH, which short-skip conditions would confirm. However, whilst I am not going to divulge my location nor where I think the station is based, the trained ear will be able to identify the operator's 'crossover' accent. 

Valley Wave has in the recent past announced a mobile phone number, although neither my text message nor one sent by A.N. Other elicited a response. Furthermore, the station does not have an email address but does it have to? Perhaps the operator can ascertain that people are listening from being listed online by logging sites, and through real time reports on free radio fora. Also, there may be an aversion to the slavish demands for QSL cards from those who listen for just a few minutes, and have little else or nothing to say of interest.

As we have now established Valley Wave is a mobile station, insomuch that it would seem to broadcast from a remote location rather than a fixed studio setting. This deserves praise in itself, so for a certain contributor to the HF Underground message board to continually complain about the station drifting a few hertz seems rather trite and petty. 

If the operator of Valley Wave reads this, please get in touch. My preliminary 'what is this all about?' reaction to his content has given way to enjoying what I am now hearing, especially in the circumstances that the programmes are being transmitted. If ever UK-based free radio on shortwave needed variety and personality it is now and Valley Wave undoubtedly affords listeners something different and refreshing, whilst embodying true free radio spirit.