For about six or seven years of the 1990s, shortwave free 'pirate' radio was a huge part of my life. Until approximately 1997-98, I was probably one of the most prolific listeners to 48 and 76 metres, mining the aural bounty that would invariably be heard most weekends, and occasionally during the school/working/unemployed week when the likes of UK Radio, Radio Atlantis(West Midlands) and Radio Armadillo could sometimes be heard.
It is now too long ago to explain why my interest waned, although I would estimate with a high degree of certainty that other, more tangible aspects of life attractive to someone in their early twenties gained greater prominence. I do vaguely recall that listening conditions deteriorated, and that the stations I favoured were become more conspicuous by their absence, or had closed down altogether.
As ever, life did not stand still, and that was also true for free radio on shortwave. Stations ceased to operate, others appeared that were often ersatz replacements of those lost to the scene, insomuch that my listening tastes were no longer being catered for. The world was perhaps moving into an era I wasn't too keen on following, with free radio being a microcosm of that.
If I was asked to recall my most fond memories of listening to UK stations on shortwave - this is, after all, a blog dedicated to the UK element of what could be heard on 6 MHz, and beyond - I would say that Christmas time was the most essential listening of the whole year. The recent re-emergence of Weekend Music Radio(WMR) has rekindled memories of Jack's epic programming during the festive season, often running several frequencies in parallel, with output, usually live, containing a variety of presenters and live phone calls, all before the days of email and logging websites. Any absence of WMR during the Christmas period would be extremely obvious, although a heavy session in the pub would usually account for such non-appearance.
It was understandable when Christmas Day on shortwave during daylight hours wasn't always as busy as one would hope, as despite popular misconceptions and rumours to the contrary, free radio operators are human too, and, like the rest of us, had family festivities to attend. It would though be in the evening, increasingly so on 3 MHz (76 metres), when the real, serious listening would take place. The likes of Live Wire Radio, always with great programming and a signal plus modulation to match, Subterranean Sounds, Radio Armadillo, WMS, and often WMR on a recorded loop would make night-time listening a rewarding, if somewhat exhausting experience. An honourable mention must also go to Radio Grensjager (Borderhunter) from somewhere on the Dutch/Belgian frontier, who also delivered charismatic, entertaining programmes during this time. Even Radio Barones, the 1.6 MHz stalwart, would occasionally pop up on 76 metres.
I eventually drifted away from free radio in 2002. It was only around 2014-15, with the aid of the now firmly established and incredibly helpful Internet that I began to think about past times, and who, if anyone, was still 'out there'. With the help of Software Defined Radio(SDR), predominantly those based in the North West of Ireland and Weston-Super-Mare, I began listening, albeit intermittently, a few years after that, which eventually spawned this blog.
My written account of listening to free radio in the 1990s was motivated by a lack of other, similar, chronicles of a scene that whilst great at the time to me, was in terminal decline after the heady days of offshore radio from the 1960s, and its land-based offshoots thereon in. I was though also compelled to put on record my appreciation of a scene that, in my humble, subjective opinion, was far better than what was being heard when I returned to the fray, up to the present day. Maybe nostalgia isn't what it used to be; hearing output from 30+ years ago through my now middle-aged, adult ears might not have the same appeal, but I won't attempt to rewrite history or diminish a hobby that gave me great pleasure at the time. Perhaps what I heard was of its time, but to this day and quite likely beyond, my best Christmases were synonymous with hearing great free radio programming.
Those remaining true to the medium include the aforementioned Weekend Music Radio(albeit via an odd relay), the Xenon Transmitting Company's Matt Roberts, and Steve Most of Radio Pamela. I am not sure if Radio Pandora's Steve St. John is still broadcasting, although Radio Blackbeard can again be heard on 1512 kHz.
Much of free radio on shortwave now consists of a raft of Dutch stations, including many who do not bother to check who is on or near their intended frequency, stations that change their names on a whim but are logged as separate entities - there are Dutch and UK-based stations doing this - and frankly bizarre but often high-powered relays of seemingly random legit internet or DAB-based station, for reasons unknown.
Of course, UK free radio has always been made up of an eclectic mix of individuals, which as a fringe operation, a niche within a niche within a niche, is only to be expected, but the motivation for getting on the air does seem to vary significantly operator to operator. Not many appear to be driven by interaction with listeners; I suspect for most achieving technical mastery whereby a signal and modulation worthy of the names was always the priority over 'being a DJ'. If so, fair enough, but canned jingles or no identifications whatsoever seems to render the effort made to get on the air somewhat pointless, but that opinion is very much from a listening, not a broadcasting perspective.
I won't be partaking this Christmas but for those that do, I hope your listening tastes will be sated. I will though be raising a Peroni Zero and Tesco mince pie to those 1990s entertainers who gave my own yuletide festivities that added kick, including the added thrill of anticipation when my receiver's signal meter suddenly became enlivened by a strong dead carrier. Sadly, these are more ghosts of Christmases past than those present, or yet to come.
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