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Author Topic: Marine CW beacons/markers log.  (Read 201264 times)

Looking-Glass

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Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« on: July 19, 2017, 0910 UTC »
The following is a list compiled of known active CW maritime beacons/markers both military and civilian, reception of all are in the A1A mode (CW).  The last date when heard is shown in brackets and other notes.  Please post any new ones heard with UTC date/time, frequency, call sign and report. 

Please note that these are not 24 hour beacons, they do spend time off air.

Stations not heard between 2022 through to 2024 have been deleted, presumed inactive or decommissioned.  Should they reappear they can be reinstated later.

These are observations as of Friday 17th of July 2026:

1648z  2.680.0MHz  CW  "VVV de 4XZ 4XZ" Israeli Navy, Haifa Israel 319 report. in/out (Sometimes sends data) (hrd 08th June 2026)

1800z  4.209.5MHz  CW  "TAH" preceded with buzz tones, Turkish Met Radio, Istanbul, Turkey 559 report. (hrd 16th Nov 2025) (sending data SITOR-B)
1825z  4.210.5MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with buzz tones. Guangzhou, China 519 report. (hrd 17th July 2026)
1902z  4.212.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 519 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
1902z  4.215.0MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with four buzz tones, Shanghai, China 519 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
1903z  4.331.0MHz  CW  "VVV 4XZ 4XZ" Israeli Navy, Haifa, Israel 319 report. (also transmits data) (hrd 14th July 2026)

1045z  6.316.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 549 report. (hrd 12th June 2026)
0952z  6.326.0MHz  CW  "XSG"  preceded with buzz tones, Shanghai, China 559 report. (hrd 15th May 2026)
1031z  6.329.0MHz  CW  "XSQ"  preceded with buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 519 report. (formerly XSV Tianjin & XSG Shanghai) (hrd 17th July 2026)
1903z  6.607.0MHz  CW  "VVV de 4XZ 4XZ" Israeli Navy, Haifa, Israel 319 report. (Often sends data.) (hrd 14th July 2026)

1903z  8.421.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones. Guangzhou, China. 559 report. (hrd 14th July 2026). 
1944z  8.424.0MHz  CW  "de SVO" Olympia Radio, near Athens, Greece 539 report. (hrd 13th July 2026)
0936z  8.425.5MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with four buzz tones, Shanghai, China 519 report. (hrd 13th July 2026)
1838z  8.431.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 559 report. (hrd 17th July 2026)
1822z  8.431.0MHz  CW  "TAH" preceded with buzz tones, Turkish Met Radio, Istanbul, Turkey 519 report. (hrd 05th Oct 2025)
1945z  8.433.0MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with buzz tones, Shanghai, China 539 report. (hrd 06th August 2024)

1638z  12.603.5MHz  CW  "SVO" starts with "de SVO" (no buzz tones), Athens, Greece 319 report. (08th June 2026)
0615z  12.613.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 519 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
2335z  12.624.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with buzz tones, Guangzhou, China. 519 report. (14th July 2026)
0621z  12.637.5MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with four buzz tones, Shanghai, China. 519 report. (hrd 13th July 2026)
2339z  12.648.5MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 529 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
0535z  12.654.0MHz  CW  "TAH" preceded with buzz tones, Turkish Met Radio, Turkey 529 report. (hrd 05th Oct 2025)

0615z  16.850.3MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 529 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
0615z  16.880.0MHz  CW  "XSQ" preceded with four buzz tones, Guangzhou, China 419 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)
0415z  16.898.5MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with four buzz tones Shanghai,China 519 report. (hrd 15th Dec 2025)
0617z  16.695.0MHz  CW  "XSG" preceded with four buzz tones, Shanghai, China 539 report. (hrd 14th July 2026)


Japan Fisheries Radio Network:

The JFR Network covers HF frequencies in CW mode 3-22MHz and usually transmit on the hour and on the half hour with a callsign preamble then a request for traffic, there are also current weather warnings broadcast.  If sufficient interest/comment is received I will publish the other frequencies down to 3MHz. 

I have noticed over the past three or so years a sharp decline in traffic being worked suggesting that this service and mode will be retired in the near future, so hear them while you can.  JFE on Okinawa has not been heard for around four years which suggests that this station has already been decommissioned.  Likewise JFR, JFR2 and JFX haven't been heard on 22.642.0MHz for many months suggesting the sites have been closed down. So get them while you can as the Japan Fisheries Radio network on CW is gradually being closed down.

22.681.5MHz  JFS Amori, JFT Kamaishi,  & JFW Fukushima. (hrd June 2026) , only Fukushima)
22.642.0MHz  JFR Nagasaki, JFR2 Nagasaki & JFX Kagoshima. (JFR Nagasaki heard 0145z 07th June 2026)
22.606.5MHz  JFG Shizouka, JFM Muroto & JFH Mie. (hrd June 2026, only Shizouka and Muroto, nothing from Mie)

17.231.0MHz  JHA Ibaraki & JFC Kanagawa.
17.180.0MHz  JFE Okinawa
17.140.0MHz  JFR2 Nagasaki,
17.132.0MHz  JFS Amori, JFT Kamaishi &  JFW Fukushima.
17.014.0MHz  JFR Nagasaki, JFX Kagoshima.

16.976.8MHz  JFG Shizouka, JFM Muroto & JFH Mie. (JFG Shizouka & JFM Muroto heard June 2026)
16.942.8MHz  JSB Hokkaido.

13.024.5MHz  JSB Hokkaido

12.880.0MHz  JFE Okinawa
12.858.0MHz  JFT Kamaishi & JFW Fukushima. (JFW hrd June 2026)
12.832.5MHz  JFC Kanagawa & JHA Ibaraki.
12.811.5MHz  JFM Muroto, JFH Mie, JFG Shizouka. (JFM, JFG & JFH hrd June 2026)
12.704.5MHz  JFR2 Nagasaki, JFX Kagoshima


HLF, HLJ, HLO, HLW etc Korea Telecom transmitters are all 3Kw to Log Periodic antennas from an area outside Seoul.
SVO Olympia Radio uses 10Kw transmitters to ND TCI 540-2-04 antenna system at Volakas, west of Athens on the coast.
TAH Istanbul Radio, Turkey runs a 10Kw transmitter, antenna system not known, transmitter near Istanbul.
XSG & XSQ China, transmitter and antenna array not known.

Interesting to note in late 2025 that Turkish station "TAH" from Istanbul might have closed down the 12.654.0MHz and 8.431.0MHz transmissions, both not heard for around four months although "SVO" in Greece has been logged. 

"SVO" popped back up on 12.603.5MHz  during mid May 2026 after a prolonged absence. As of May 2026 no "TAH" transmissions on 8 or 12MHz have been logged (last logged October 2025) so it maybe safe to presume that these services have been discontinued by the Turkish Met office.

Chinese marker "XSG" on 16.695.0MHz CW reappeared in mid May 2026 after a lengthy absence.  Nothing has been heard from "XSG" in Shanghai on 16.898.5MHz for near seven months now, last logged 15th of December 2025.  Chinese marker "XSG" on 4.215.0MHz has been signing as "de XSG" during June 2026, a change of format, however, in July 2026 it had dropped the "de" prefix once again. 


Telecom Korea HLO, HLW, HLJ, HLG etc: These HF band CW transmissions ceased on all  HF frequencies during late 2022 and all stations have been officially closed.  Thus they all have been removed from the listings as of March 2024.

For those who collect QSL cards SVO, TAH and HLF, HLG, HLJ, HLO & HLW have issued QSL cards to DXers in the past, providing you send a report in UTC date/time format.  The Chinese stations, as far as I know, do not QSL.

Where time permits I will try an update the list each month.
 

(updated Friday 17th of July 2026)
« Last Edit: July 17, 2026, 2346 UTC by Looking-Glass »
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sat_dxer

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2019, 1353 UTC »
CW beacons/markers
8419.2 kHz XSV - Tianjin Radio, China from 1335z 7 Aug 2019
-----------------
8425.5 kHz XSG - Shanghai Radio, China w/ tfc from 1352z 7 Aug 2019
« Last Edit: August 07, 2019, 1355 UTC by sat_dxer »
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Most times & frequencies posted are only an approximation.
Wishing the 1980's PopComm was still around.

ZS6AF

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2020, 1925 UTC »
Hearing the cw beacons on 4211.8khz XSQ
4214.8 KHZ XSG

ICOM R8500 Receiver with mutliband dipoles 2 to 10 mhz , longwire 200mtrs , and verticals for 11 to 30mhz

ZS6AF
KG54KM
NELSPRUIT
SOUTH AFRICA
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Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2020, 0441 UTC »
Have revised and up dated the list where possible, any changes or additions you may come across please post here using the UTC date/time format...thanks! ;)
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Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2020, 2004 UTC »
New logging heard this morning by accident Tue 24th March 2020:

4.560.0MHz  CW  "TAH" preceded with buzz tones, Turkish State Met Office, Istanbul, Turkey. 539 report 1955z.
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Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2020, 0105 UTC »
Marine CW beacons have been updated today Thursday 26th March 2020.

Any news such as additions or call sign changes and other observations welcome, please post with date and time (UTC format) and report.
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Condobolin, NSW.

Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2020, 2256 UTC »
Any one hearing XSV Tianjin?

The last two known frequencies on 8MHz have been replaced with XSG Shanghai in last few months.

Maybe XSV has been withdrawn from service?

Post please if you hear it with frequency date/time in UTC and report...LG ;)
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Condobolin, NSW.

Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2020, 0329 UTC »
Beacon list being updated during late August, any one with some amendments please post, thanks. ;)
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Condobolin, NSW.

Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

SV1XV

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2020, 0538 UTC »
Quote from: Looking-Glass on August 19, 2020, 0329 UTC
Beacon list being updated during late August, any one with some amendments please post, thanks. ;)

Yes, you may add this from my log:

1435z  4.009.0 MHz  CW  "VVV de 4XZ 4XZ" Israeli Navy, Haifa, Israel 599 report.  (hrd 13th August 2020)

A rarely used frequency for Haifa Naval.

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Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2020, 1629 UTC »
Thank you Costas, by chance, did you hear 4.331.0MHz at the same time? Interesting to see if they were both on air together, at present 1625z I have 4.331.0MHz at 419 report but nothing on 4.009.0MHz. LG :)

You logging has been added to the main list, thanks again...LG
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Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

SV1XV

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2020, 1639 UTC »
Sorry I did not check 4331 at the time. Howevwe I did check 6607 and it was active. 
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Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2020, 0957 UTC »
Thanks Costas, when you have some time please check the following for me as they have not been heard this season:

SVO  Olympia Radio  8.424.0MHz
 
TAH  Istanbul    4.209.5MHz
                       4.560.0MHz
                       8.434.0MHz

I think Olympia Radio on 8.424.0MHz may be off air as I hear TAH on 8MHz regular on 8.431.0MHz.

Appreciated.... ;)
« Last Edit: August 23, 2020, 0055 UTC by Looking-Glass »
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Condobolin, NSW.

Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #12 on: September 06, 2020, 0806 UTC »
List at the top of this page updated Sunday 06th September 2020, any one with loggings please submit. :)
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Condobolin, NSW.

Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Looking-Glass

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2020, 0025 UTC »
Does any one know the status of the WLO beacons on 4, 6 & 8MHz from Mobile, Alabama USA?  They have not been heard for well over one year, leading me to think they have been decommissioned. Any information gratefully accepted, failing that they will be deleted from the list.

Appreciated. :)
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Grid Square:  QF37ub

Yaesu FT-1000D, Yaesu FT-2000D, ICOM IC-736 HF/50MHz, ICOM IC R75 & Tecsun S-2000 to 450 feet of wire, 27MHz 1/2 wave CB antenna converted to 21MHz & a multi band vertical of dubious reliability.

Rob.

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Re: Marine CW beacons/markers log.
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2020, 0926 UTC »
Quote from: Looking-Glass on September 12, 2020, 0025 UTC
Does any one know the status of the WLO beacons on 4, 6 & 8MHz from Mobile, Alabama USA?  They have not been heard for well over one year, leading me to think they have been decommissioned. Any information gratefully accepted, failing that they will be deleted from the list.

Appreciated. :)

https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/wlo-shipcom-has-gone-dark.373002/
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