A look back at 2024

As we welcome in a new year, it is time to take a look at what has been happening in the world of
shortwave free radio in 2024.

In the UK, there were a few stations keeping the flag flying for free radio in 2024.

Weekend Music Radio produced a new two hour show every week throughout the year. Jack served up a weekly helping of radio chat, recordings and great music, broadcast through various relay stations. Always a great listen and long may it continue.

Others keeping us entertained through the year included Radio Pandora, Radio Pamela, Radio Argus and, of course, XTC. Last week also saw the return of Swinging Radio England.

Elsewhere in Europe, The Netherlands continued to dominate with more than half all the shortwave pirates heard last year coming from here. 

Stations like Radio Monique, Contikenzo and Johnny Tobacco all gave us enjoyable shows in their own unique styles. 

Meanwhile Finland saw a increase in shortwave radio activity with pirates such as Radio Sombrero, West Finland and Lighthouse making regular broadcast. There were also new low power licensed stations switching on such as RealMix Radio, Piko and Blacksmith Knoll. 

In February Charleston Radio International was raided by the Swiss authorities and taken off air. The station used to broadcast daily on 5140 playing music from 1920s & 30s. It had been assumed the station was operating from Germany but it turned out the transmitter was in Switzerland. 

In 2023 I logged 111 shortwave pirates. However last year this was back up to 131 stations, with 72 coming from The Netherlands, 19 from the UK and eight from Germany.

Some were regulars heard throughout the year while others only made one or two broadcasts during 2024. I haven't counted relays of internet or licensed stations. 

Here's the country breakdown with 2023's figures in brackets:

• Netherlands 72 (66)
• United Kingdown 19 (12)
• Germany 8 (6)
• Ireland 6 (6)
• Finland 5 (3)
• Italy 4 (4)
• Ukraine 2 (2)
• Greece 2 (1)
• Belarus, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland 1 each
• Unknown 8

**My A-Z of shortwave pirates heard in 2024, from Radio AC DC to Zwarte Panter, can be found HERE **

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Many Dutch medium wave pirates were heard mainly from 1611-1670 kHz during the year, although some went higher and some lower. AssenDX has done his annual A-Z of these stations. Read the results on his blog at: 

https://mgpiraten.blogspot.com/2024/12/middengolf-piraten-ontvangen-in-2024-z.html