The Squeaky Wheel is the nickname given by radio listeners to a utility shortwave radio station that used to broadcast a distinctive sound. From around 2000 until 2008 this station sounded much like a squeaky wheel. From 2008 the channel marker changed to two different tones in a short sequence repeated with a short silent gap. The frequencies were 5473 kHz (day) and 3828 kHz (night). Several times voice messages in the format of Strategic Flash Messages have been reported. The exact transmitter site is unknown, but is thought to be near Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The signal strength is not very good in Central Europe and the station sometimes even might disappear for days in the noise.