Operators: consider 6925 alternatives.

[Beerus Maximus]

A suggestion, from the offices of Beerus Maximus, to pirate operators.

Please consider, where possible and if you are frequency agile, choosing another frequency near 6925. A nightly "peskie" net has taken up residence on 6925 LSB and absolutely destroys modest pirate signals on this frequency. The peskies are probably more of a problem for us up here in the northeast but considering the density of listeners here, it would be really nice if you move up or down a bit so we can hear you. Moving frequencies isn't such a big problem these days; with so many listeners using SDR radios to watch a huge chunk of spectrum around 6925 you'll be found in no time.

[redhat]

Duly noted.  I favor the higher end of the band anyway.  It gives me more "elbow room"

+-RH

[ChrisSmolinski]

Yes, I've noted the strong signals from the 6925 LSB pescaodres as well. As Beerus said, they can cause a lot of problems to stations around 6925.

I was just reviewing the SDR recordings from last night:

6930 seemed to be relatively clear, as was 6940. I've noticed pescadores on 6945 LSB from time to time.

There's assorted pescadores and UTEs in the 6950-6960 range.

6970 was clear, although there's two issues with 6970 - Sound of Hope uses it, so Firedrake/CNR1 often turns up here, and there's a nasty spur/mixing product from WWCR that lands here whenever they are on both 6875 and 13945.  

UTEs notes around 6980 with PSK

Going down in frequency from 6925...

6920 had some pescadores on LSB. I know a few stations have made use of 6920 lately, sometimes it is clear enough.

The MARS guys hang out on 6903.5 so it is best to stay far far away from here. I think they've been heard in the 6910/6915 range as well.

Israel of course is on 6885, and WWCR on 6875.  WWCR often throws out an extremely wide signal, sometimes visible on the SDR between 6850-6900.

Not sure how much lower ops can go and still attract listeners. Those of us with SDRs will probably notice anything that pops up in the 6800-7000 range, but others may not.

My gut feeling is 6930/6935/6940 are probably the most clear frequencies. This will probably all change once we get into fall, anyway :-)

[Echo_One]

Yes, I've noted the strong signals from the 69025 LSB pescaodres as well.

Nice trick if you can do it

[atrainradio]

Yea, I was trying to listen to RML a couple of days ago, and the net on 6925 was destroying it and made it immposible to enjoy the show!

[ChrisLobdell]

Boombox Radio has used 6975 in the past with OK results so maybe that's a possibility or going up to the 7410 to 7500 range but that would be out of SDR range

[Fansome]

Years ago 6950 and 6955 were all the rage. I don't recall what caused everyone to move to 6925, but are those reasons still valid? I know that they still get used, although infrequently, and they have had their own interference problems.

[ChrisSmolinski]

Years ago 6950 and 6955 were all the rage. I don't recall what caused everyone to move to 6925, but are those reasons still valid? I know that they still get used, although infrequently, and they have had their own interference problems.

IIRC there was a Peruvian on 6955, I also seem to remember a Chinese regional station on or around 6950.

[ChrisSmolinski]

Boombox Radio has used 6975 in the past with OK results so maybe that's a possibility or going up to the 7410 to 7500 range but that would be out of SDR range

Yes, a big disadvantage of a big move back to the 7400 kHz range is that listeners won't be monitoring that area. There's still quite a few opens slots on 43 meters, ops may just have to move around a bit to avoid QRM. Numerous listeners with SDRs should still allow broadcasts to be reported in near real time both here and on IRC.
 

[jFarley]

Yes, I've noted the strong signals from the 6925 LSB pescaodres as well. As Beerus said, they can cause a lot of problems to stations around 6925.

I was just reviewing the SDR recordings from last night:

6930 seemed to be relatively clear, as was 6940. I've noticed pescadores on 6945 LSB from time to time.

There's assorted pescadores and UTEs in the 6950-6960 range.

6970 was clear, although there's two issues with 6970 - Sound of Hope uses it, so Firedrake/CNR1 often turns up here, and there's a nasty spur/mixing product from WWCR that lands here whenever they are on both 6875 and 13945.  

UTEs notes around 6980 with PSK

Going down in frequency from 6925...

6920 had some pescadores on LSB. I know a few stations have made use of 6920 lately, sometimes it is clear enough.

The MARS guys hang out on 6903.5 so it is best to stay far far away from here. I think they've been heard in the 6910/6915 range as well.

Israel of course is on 6885, and WWCR on 6875.  WWCR often throws out an extremely wide signal, sometimes visible on the SDR between 6850-6900.

Not sure how much lower ops can go and still attract listeners. Those of us with SDRs will probably notice anything that pops up in the 6800-7000 range, but others may not.

My gut feeling is 6930/6935/6940 are probably the most clear frequencies. This will probably all change once we get into fall, anyway :-)

Here in the midwest the two MARS channels noted by Chris tend to be very strong.  The lower channel is far more active.  I also note a CFARS net at times around 6980, but mainly weekends.

Pescs and freebanders are heard everywhere, intermittently, 6900 and up.  Generally LSB chatter, but occasionally USB and less frequently with "program" content.

I also noted a new spur 25Jul13, 0151z on 6980.  Very distorted AM, many ments of God, and I didn't have the time to try to determine any source.  Much stronger than I generally see/hear the 6970 spur.  Has not been seen since.

6930/6935/6940/6945 generally open with a bit less pesc noted.  I still note Link-11 from time to time between 6930 and 6940.  Generally weak but there.

[rdla4]

Agree. It seems that there is some sort of nightly"ragchew" fish net on 6925L. They get there early, and then leave late.

6930 is generally clear here, 6935, 6950, 6955 are generally quiet in North Georgia as well.

Even with Syncho AM, decoding only the USB side of an AM Signal, there is enough buck shot from the 6925L operations to cause the copy to be less than good.

[Zoidberg]

No particular problems with pesques on 6925 LSB here in Texas.  The strongest pesque ragchews here are on 6900 LSB and 6910 LSB.  Either way the Palstar's Collins narrow filters effectively screen out anything on the other sideband on the same freq.  There have been a few times when two stations were on 6925 LSB and USB and I could flip between both without any QRM.  No such luck with the Sony 2010 portable, which doesn't have such effective filters.

[jFarley]

Right on cue, Link-11 noted 30Jul13 at 0320z, 6944-6950kHz.  About an S5 here.

[ChrisSmolinski]

Right on cue, Link-11 noted 30Jul13 at 0320z, 6944-6950kHz.  About an S5 here.

Yep, noticed this on the SDR recording. Pretty strong here, S7.

[ChrisLobdell]

Pardon my ignorance .... but just what is "Link-11"??