[citation needed] During the Libyan Civil War, other rebel-controlled radio stations were reported to be operating in Tobruk, Nalut, Jadu, Libya, Derna and Zliten.
[6] Following the start of the Libyan uprising on 15–17 February 2011, DX radio enthusiasts outside Libya watched the frequencies of the country's transmitters for any unusual behaviour.
[7] The following night it was heard carrying material in English, including an appeal to US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
[8] A press report said the Benghazi station began broadcasting at 2 p.m. local time on 21 February[9] and it was confirmed by radio enthusiasts to be on the air later the same day.
However, in early April 2011, a live internet stream of the Benghazi station was established independently by a political activist, relaying off-air reception of the 675 AM signal.
[27] In the early stages of the Libyan uprising, the activities of the stations were reported by foreign journalists in the country, including video reports on the Benghazi and Bayda stations, which showed their staff, premises, transmitters and makeshift studios, and gave a vivid impression of improvised radio broadcasting in a civil conflict.
[28] The Tobruk station was not reported to have been heard outside Libya, suggesting that it may only have transmitted on FM, which generally has a shorter range than medium wave AM.
[31] In late July, a report said that "Free Nalut", the local radio station, was broadcasting updates from the front and sending encouraging messages to towns in the region still controlled by Gaddafi.
One source[34] at the time referred to this as "Radio Free Benghazi", operating with "breathless amateur announcers", and said it was based in that city.
However, there is no evidence that it was anything more than a chat facility enabling supporters of the uprising (perhaps outside the country) to speak to each other, or that it had any connection with the "Voice of Free Libya" radio in Benghazi that began broadcasting on 21 February.