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Author Topic: Pirate freq range CW  (Read 23197 times)

Grinch

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Pirate freq range CW
« on: July 03, 2026, 0057 UTC »
I know this isn't specific to Pirate radio, but does anyone know what this CW activity is around 6.949 Mhz is? It's just nonsense. Someone just playing around with a transmitter and a key/paddle? Thanks

Grinch

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2026, 0104 UTC »
I did hear a clear CW (?) question mark. If someone 'Not me' still had an unlocked transceiver I'd respond out of curiosity and see what I got in response

Radiouser

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2026, 0113 UTC »
Saw this earlier here on HFU:

Not CW, and looks like it will be around awhile?

The Russian Military 20-Baud Signal In the amateur radio (ham) bands, observers frequently log a mysterious, wideband signal that completely disrupts communications. Frequency Shift: Instead of narrow shifts used by typical digital radio or teletype systems (which are usually a few hundred hertz), this signal features a massive 7 kHz frequency shift. Speed & Operation: It operates at a very slow 20 baud (20 symbols per second). Dual-Channel Appearance: Because the frequency shift is so wide, it often visually and audibly sounds like two continuous wave (CW) transmissions running simultaneously or blinking back and forth. Origin & Purpose: Using Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) networks and KiwiSDR data, radio hobbyists have tracked these signals back to Russian naval or military installations, often in Crimea or near Sevastopol.
Dave in Hamilton, ON Please eQSL to [email protected]

All loggings Direct unless otherwise indicated.

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Chasing Pirate Radio stations since 1980.
Favorite Pirate Radio stations from the 80's both heard and QSL'd were Voice of Venus, RNCI, Tangerine Radio, Voice of To-morrow, Voice of Laryngitis, Radio Sound Wave, Radio Paradise International and Radio Clandestine among many others.
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autovon

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Default RX location is Wisconsin using various wire antennas. Other RX will be noted.

Grinch

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2026, 0129 UTC »
Got some interesting feedback from this and private message. Going to do more research tomorrow. Any info helps and I'll share anything I come up as well, Thanks again to everyone

Grinch

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2026, 0020 UTC »
Just turned on my radio. Same signal. 5-9 almost +10. 6.948 mhz roughly Doesn't seem like it could be from Russia. I'm in Florida, it's 8:15 pm. Weird

BoomboxDX

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2026, 0219 UTC »
When you hear the fast, CW-like gibberish, check both frequencies that are 7 kHz away. If you hear (or see, on your waterfall) the same thing 7 kHz away, it's probably the Russian 7 kHz FSK.

You may also hear or see them flip away about 2 or 3 kHz, after 20-30 minutes.

Those signals get out. They are probably in Southern Russia somewhere -- either the Crimea, or somewhere in the Caucasus, and they've been widely heard, even in sectors that have daylight.
An AM radio Boombox DXer.
+ GE SRIII, PR-D5 & TRF on MW.
The usual Realistic culprits on SW (and a Panasonic).

TrueNorthSWL

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2026, 0702 UTC »
Has anyone heard this signal after July 4?
Maybe the transmitter was disabled by Ukraine's attacks on Crimea.

BoomboxDX

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Re: Pirate freq range CW
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2026, 0010 UTC »
I haven't, personally. Haven't seen recent loggings of it on the SW subreddit or RR, the only other SW forums I go to.

I know that sometimes these Russian 7 kHz FSK transmissions have been received in the higher parts of the SW band before, at least within the last 6 months. Can't recall the frequencies but I think they were between 14 - 22 MHz somewhere.
An AM radio Boombox DXer.
+ GE SRIII, PR-D5 & TRF on MW.
The usual Realistic culprits on SW (and a Panasonic).