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1261

Peskies / 6972 kHz USB UNID Portuguese Chatter 1 May 2017

« on: May 01, 2017, 2356 UTC »

6972 kHz USB heavy static crashes due to heavy local (and distant!) thunderstorm and lightning activity.  Portuguese chatter heard 6972 kHz 6.972 MHz USB mode.  SIO 111 to SIO 222 at best due to the heavy lightning QRN static crashes.  I've noticed increased use of USB mode by pescadore fishing fleet radio nets in the 6-7 MHz region lately.

1262

Peskies / 6900 kHz LSB Spanish Speaking Freebander Net 2350 UTC 1 May 2017

« on: May 01, 2017, 2354 UTC »

First tuned in at 2350 UTC frequency 6900 kHz mode LSB.

Unusually weak signals for this frequency although it is still relatively early in the evening for monitoring the peskies.  Heavy thunderstorm static crashes making listening very difficult.  

EDIT:  Tuned back in at 0110 UTC.  Listening is considerably easier now due to a slight reduction in storm QRN and a significant increase in signal strength of the received signals.  Net-like "ragchew" format, roundtable discussion involving several stations, similar to identified use of this frequency in the past.  Likely the same stations received night after night on 6900 kHz LSB and alternate frequencies (6905 LSB and 6910 LSB are both very busy at the same time).  Mention of Mexico on 0111 UTC, followed by musings on stations contacted in both the United States and Mexico, followed by a station intentionally jamming/causing QRM over another....sounds like 11 meters to me. 

1263

Spy Numbers / HM01 Loud 11635 kHz AM Data + Numbers 1 May 2017 1815 UTC

« on: May 01, 2017, 1817 UTC »

Hearing HM01 very strong this afternoon SIO 555 with long data bursts and short Spanish numbers (female / YL reading callup) 50856 30856 33004 31877 31104 and several others.  Was scanning the 25 meter broadcast band and stumbled upon this very strong transmission.

Coming in nicely on my "throwaway emergency radio" TECSUN R9012 analog AM/FM/SW portable with telescopic whip.  

1264

Utility / RAF VOLMET 11253 kHz USB 1520+ UTC 30 April 2017

« on: April 30, 2017, 1527 UTC »

Hearing a previously unlogged (for me anyway) military VOLMET (weather forecast radio / meteo) transmitter with distinctive English accent.  Quick Googling of frequency shows RAF use of 11253 USB for VOLMET traffic.  SIO 222 at best. 

1265

Peskies / Spanish QSOs "Alpha Lima" 6895 LSB 6900 LSB 6910 LSB 0100+ UTC 27 April 2017

« on: April 27, 2017, 0149 UTC »

Our usual friends on 6900 kHz LSB are coming in nicely tonight (started listening at 0100 UTC April 27th, 2017), with several stations QSYed up (and down) to 6910 kHz LSB and 6895 kHz LSB.  The "usual" alternate frequency of 6905 kHz remains quiet for whatever reason.

6900 kHz LSB - several mentions of Alpha Lima - which is an 11 meter freeband DX radio club.  6900 kHz LSB may be the 43 meter Alpha Lima (also stylized as Alfa Lima) frequency for freeband chatter when 11 meters isn't open.  Many DX clubs have "club frequencies" on the 26-27 MHz band I don't see why this wouldn't translate to 43 meters or other bands.  Wouldn't surprise me if there's a 3-4 MHz Alpha Lima  / Alfa Lima frequency and another one between 7-25 MHz in addition to the usual 11 meter 27 MHz stuff and 6900 kHz.

6895 kHz LSB - stations that moved here from 6900 kHz LSB.  No names or callsigns heard, but one station has mentioned Puerto Rico several times.  Previous monitoring of 6900 LSB and related frequencies has shown a connection to Mexico, various parts of the United States including Florida, Virginia, California and Texas so Puerto Rico makes sense.  Puerto Rican stations have a large presence on the 11 meter freebanding scene so that also checks.  At 0150 UTC, a new station appeared on frequency with S9 level signal and loud clear audio.  Chatter about which stations he's talked to previously and signal reports.  Ham radio-like complimentary signal reports and mention of telephone conversations.  Still no names heard...0152, more personal ragchew-like chatter, very freeband SSB CB like.  Very...personal discussion of operator's lady friends' preferences and habits (we'll leave it at that   )...followed by more "PG rated" chatter about taking girls dancing and to the movies, etc.  

6910 kHz LSB - this frequency was coming in very very loud (S9+30db at points) around 0120-0130 UTC but it now appears to be clear.  Likely two operators went here to have a "private" QSO outside of the primary 6900 LSB net frequency

1266

Peskies / Peskies / Pescadores / Freebanders Loggings 27 April 2017 0100+ UTC

« on: April 27, 2017, 0125 UTC »

6850 kHz USB - Spanish language
6855.5 kHz USB - Spanish speaking stations, readable but much weaker than the 6900 LSB crowd
6865 kHz USB - Spanish language, weak and getting clobbered by ALE sounding bursts
6895 kHz LSB- Spanish speaking freebanders, QSY'd from 6900 LSB (see also 6910 LSB
6900 kHz LSB - Usual Spanish-language freebander net, mention of "Alpha Lima" [11m DX club] several stations checking into net, CB-like chatter
6910 kHz LSB - Spanish speaking freebanders, QSY'd from 6900 LSB (strong S9+30 signals)
6925 kHz LSB - Portuguese fishing fleets, busy frequency tonight (as almost every night)

1267

Utility / USAF EAM COMBATANT calling ALL STATIONS 8992 USB 1830-1840 UTC 26 APR 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 1838 UTC »

Emergency Action Messages nearly nonstop starting around 1830 UTC station COMBATANT calling ALL STATIONS very strong signal on 8992 kHz USB and 11175 kHz USB this time.  4724 kHz USB, 6739 kHz USB, 13200 kHz USB and 15016 kHz USB all simulcasting.  Three different messages, each repeated twice, each 6 character preamble repeated twice with "standby" between each preamble.  Strong echo heard on 8992 USB.  

ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS THIS IS COMBATANT

SONA4X STANDBY SONA4X STANDBY MESSAGE FOLLOWS

SONA4XSVIHVAY2CWFY7ZGQSZZXXWFJ

repeated 2x

THIS IS COMBATANT, MORE TO FOLLOW STANDBY

SOVSOA STANDBY SOVSOA STANDBY

SOVSOAAP7VFAFRWISLXPPTAJSO2OVX I SAY AGAIN [message repeated 2x]

THIS IS COMBATANT, MORE TO FOLLOW STANDBY

SOI5I3 STANDBY SOI5I3 STANDBY

SOI5I3VMGZIW4UZNC4GXQUNJ5KPSDZ I SAY AGAIN [message repeated 2x]

THIS IS COMBATANT OUT.

1268

Utility / USAF ALE Busy 11175 kHz USB / 11180 kHz USB 1712-1713 UTC 26 April 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 1714 UTC »

Following several broadcasts by COMBATANT, heard ALE soundings on 11180 kHz USB followed by a much stronger ALE on 11175 kHz USB. 

1269

Utility / USAF HF-GCS EAM 6739 USB Busy - Callsign COMBATANT Calling ALL STATIONS

« on: April 26, 2017, 1707 UTC »

Emergency Action Message on 6739 kHz USB (11175 USB and 13200 USB the strongest signals right now) with alternate frequency 11180 kHz USB busy with data bursts and ALE soundings.  Checked other simulcast frequencies and COMBATANT calling ALL STATIONS via simulcast feature for all messages.  While the thought of the US involving ourselves in yet another war(s) is disconcerting...I haven't heard this much traffic on the USAF HF circuits in a while.  

SOI5I3VMGZIW4UZNC4GXQUNJ5KPSDZ repeated 2x followed by "This is Combatant OUT"

Shortly after that, the same station came back on with:

All stations all stations, this is Combatant Combatant BREAK.

SOVSOA STANDBY SOVSOA STANDBY MESSAGE FOLLOWS

SOVSOAAP7VFAFRWISLXPPTAJSO2OVX repeated 2x followed

this pattern continues with a new message preamble (repeated twice) and a new message (repeated twice) followed by a break, then Combatant calling All Stations All Stations and the cycle starting over

While the EAMS on 4724, 6739, 8992, 11175, 13200 and 15016 are familiar loggings for people in the SWL community...but I've never heard Combatant as a callsign before.

1270

Utility / SHARES North Net 6765 kHz USB 1700 UTC 26 April 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 1702 UTC »

AAR7, NNA5BC, NNA5BK, NCS0xx and several others chatting on SHARES frequency 6765 kHz USB weekly net (see also frequencies 6910 kHz USB and 6845 kHz USB among others).  Net closed at 1700 UTC with discussion (more of a complaint) about conditions not being very good this week.  

1271

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6855 kHz USB 1650+ UTC 26 April 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 1657 UTC »

Early afternoon pescadore or (more likely freebander) traffic heard on 6855 kHz USB.  SHARES net on 6845 USB just went QRT and then these guys popped up.  Sporadic chatter in Spanish, barely readable but there. 

1272

Utility / SHARES Northeast Net 6845 kHz 1640 UTC 26 April 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 1644 UTC »

Hearing several stations checking in with net control station NCS042 and NCS042 requesting any and all check-ins and relays from other nets.  SHARES also heard on 6910 kHz USB and 6765 kHz USB.  At 1644 UTC, NCS042 doing another radio check and requesting "any station any region" check in to net.

SHARES NORTH net happening at the same time (these are weekly nets) on 6765 USB.  Didn't hear anything on 6910 USB or 7320 USB but the band conditions have been less-than-great so its possible I just wasn't hearing them.

Other SHARES frequencies (according to my book):

SHARES/FEMA-1 (Night): 5211 kHz USB
SHARES/FEMA-2: 10493 kHz USB
SHARES/FEMA-3 (Day): 14597 kHz USB
SHARES Night: 5236 kHz USB
SHARES Day: 14396.5 kHz USB
SHARES Central: 6910 kHz USB
SHARES Southwest: 7320 kHz USB
SHARES Northeast: 6845 kHz USB
SHARES North: 6765 kHz USB


Plus MARS "Disaster Net", FEMA, SECURE, and Civil Air Patrol HF SSB frequencies, including 7615 kHz USB (CAP Nationwide "CAP NHQ" net) - CAP has hundreds of other frequencies including ALE capability.  I mention them here because I've heard CAP callsigns on several SHARES nets in the past, indicating their participation in SHARES radio checks and programming of SHARES frequencies in CAP radios.  I can also confirm that CAP includes FEMA-1 5211 kHz USB and FEMA-2 10493 kHz USB in their radio programming for direct communications with FEMA networks. 

MARS Disaster Nets 6912.5 kHz USB, 7403.5 kHz USB, 13510 kHz USB, 13997.5 kHz USB, 14390 kHz USB

Missing SHARES West (I assume there's a SHARES West) frequency - if somebody has it I'd like to add it to my listing

1273

Peskies / Peskies / Pescadores / Freebanders Loggings 26 April 2017 0700+ UTC

« on: April 26, 2017, 0712 UTC »

Via West Coast remote SDRs, all loggings after 0700 UTC 26 April 2017:

6609 kHz USB - Spanish language...I know this is an aero frequency but sounded like freebanders/fishing boat chatter (!!!)
6675 kHz USB - Spanish language, "I copy you" and other radio-related chatter.  Possibly freebanders - very busy frequency
6677 kHz USB - Asian-sounding language - very difficult copy due to Spanish traffic on 6675 USB
6725 kHz USB - Asian-sounding language, similar to traffic heard on 6725 USB but weaker
6729 kHz USB - Asian language, busy channel several stations in QSO
6785 kHz USB - after 6786.6 LSB disappeared, Asian-sounding traffic showed up
6786.6 kHz LSB - Portuguese, possibly fishing fleets
6790 kHz USB - Unknown language, very busy but weak signals.  Reminds me of "classic peskie" chatter, possibly Portuguese but not 100% sure
6838.5 kHz USB - Unknown language, Asian-sounding.  At least two stations having a QSO.  Decent signal strength 
6884 kHz LSB - Spanish, active around 0709 UTC
6895 kHz USB - Spanish, weak

1274

Peskies / Peskies / Pescadores / Freebanders Loggings 26 April 2017 0000+ UTC

« on: April 26, 2017, 0206 UTC »

Not as much time to scan the bands this evening but wanted to make a quick log of frequencies and languages/users heard.

6868 kHz LSB - Portuguese
6885 kHz LSB - Portuguese language, fishing fleets (possibly) - getting creamed by STANAG 4197 data bursts at S9+30db
6890 kHz LSB - Spanish, weak
6895 kHz LSB - Spanish, likely freedbanders
6900 kHz LSB - Spanish, freebanders - primary frequency based on previous monitoring and logs
6900 kHz USB - Spanish, possibly alternate to 6900 LSB
6905 kHz LSB - Spanish freebander frequency - alternate to 6900 kHz
6915 kHz LSB - Portuguese (sporadic signal)
6925 kHz LSB - Portuguese
6930 kHz LSB - Portuguese, weak (some Spanish heard here as well - possibly two nets going at once)
6962 kHz USB - Portuguese
6965 kHz LSB - Portuguese, interfering with 6962 USB

1275

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6960 AM/USB 0155 UTC 26 April 2017

« on: April 26, 2017, 0200 UTC »

AM carrier popping up and disappearing a few times on 6960 kHz, each time with a different tone modulating it.  Possibly somebody testing?  

At 0200 UTC, a USB signal popped up on frequency with Tubthumping...then off the air, then a quick keyup in AM...then off the air again...AM carrier back on at 0204 UTC, then off...then USB signal back on with "Scatman".  Somebody's doing some testing it looks like.