Messages

106

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6930 kHz AM(?) 0315Z

« on: September 05, 2012, 0335 UTC »

I've been hearing a station on 6930 for 15 minutes or so. Extremely weak, I catch bits of music and voice under an extremely noisy band.

107

Equipment / Re: this is nothing short of AWESOME..cheap SDR?

« on: August 27, 2012, 1553 UTC »

I just got a Softrock Ensemble II SDR going. Very easy kit to build if you're experienced at surface-mount construction. This is my first venture into SDR and I'm impressed so far. I'm using the HDSDR software at the moment. I also got a Creative X-Fi Soundblaster USB card (SB1095). It's an improvement over my computer's built-in soundcard.

108

HF Beacons / Re: "OK" 3449.9

« on: August 21, 2012, 0145 UTC »

Looks like it's gone again. I haven't heard it in a week now.

109

Other / Re: Beacon of some type?

« on: August 14, 2012, 0243 UTC »

Looks like the video was removed. What was the frequency?

110

HF Beacons / Re: "OK" 3449.9

« on: August 14, 2012, 0241 UTC »

I didn't hear it at all last night (Aug 13, ~0500Z). Not a trace or a peep. Maybe it was down then?

111

General Radio Discussion / Re: Hello all........

« on: August 09, 2012, 1947 UTC »

(As Shemp said just before he was hit in the face with a cream pie),
"What next?"

112

General Radio Discussion / Re: [UDXF] night-of-nights 2012

« on: August 09, 2012, 1942 UTC »

The benediction sent this year:

"Dear Goddess, the members of the Maritime Radio Historical Society
are your humble servants and we thank you for protecting us this past
year as we continued our stewardship of the stations KPH, KFS and KSM.
The music of Morse has gladdened the hearts of many as our signals
crossed the barriers of time and space around the world. We ask that
you guide our decisions and actions during the coming year that we may
be worthy of the valuable equipment and the honorable tradition that
has been entrusted into our humble hands. Bless all the many ears that
share the fruits of our labours ZUT 73/88 DA / We now invoke and
request the blessings of the radio goddess to help our beloved Denice
and all radio men and women in their hour of difficulty. We wish you
fair winds and following seas GL and vy 73 de KPH/KFS/KSM"

113

General Radio Discussion / Re: [UDXF] night-of-nights 2012

« on: August 09, 2012, 1939 UTC »

I enjoyed tuning in. I recorded the transmissions of weather, news and M.E.B.A. I copied the benediction sent at 0700Z. Ms. Denice Stoops, longtime participant in Night of Nights who usually sent the closing benediction, had suffered a stroke earlier in the year and was unable to participate in the Night of Nights this year, but I understand she is on the road to recovery.

114

General Radio Discussion / Re: [UDXF] Military looking at communications at 1Terahertz

« on: August 09, 2012, 1934 UTC »

I'm building amateur radio equipment for 47 and 78 GHz. Maybe I will make it to 120 GHz eventually. Power is REALLY expensive up there, and I don't expect to get more than a handful of microwatts out of my equipment. That should be good for a few miles, though.

People I know who have made gear for 300 GHz and above say it isn't a lot different than using a modulated flashlight or laser. A 1 foot diameter parabolic reflector has a lot of gain.

115

Other / Re: Beacon of some type?

« on: August 09, 2012, 1912 UTC »

Perhaps. I'll have to listen for it.

116

Other / Re: strange computer tones on 14.0784

« on: August 09, 2012, 1910 UTC »

Note 14078 is within the part of the amateur radio 20-meter band used for digital modes. You will find all sorts of digi modes between 14065 and 14095. I would suspect anything unusual in that part of the spectrum to be an amateur radio digital mode of some sort before I'd think of anything else.

117

HF Beacons / Re: "OK" 3449.9

« on: August 09, 2012, 1906 UTC »

Been hearing it fairly regularly here recently between ~ 0400Z and 0700Z (which is about the latest I've been staying up). Usually S2 or S3 up to sometimes S7 or so.

118

HF Beacons / Re: "OK" 3449.9

« on: July 24, 2012, 0444 UTC »

Fairly decent signal tonight at 0442Z amid the S9 static crashes. Some QSB but generally about S3 to S5.

119

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: 0428Z Red Mercury Labs 6925 USB

« on: July 24, 2012, 0439 UTC »

I tuned in about 0428Z. Caught what I thought was tail-end of transmission ending at about 0431Z. Then they came back with very distorted signal. Another station called them on frequency (Radio ??) to tell them they were distorting. I think they're gone now at 0438. Signal was decent but thunderstorm QRN is S9 here tonight.

Caller was possibly Radio Whatever?

120

General Radio Discussion / Re: Tuning out - A cold-war stalwart goes out of fashion

« on: July 10, 2012, 1703 UTC »

I'm very sad to see both of these stations go and wonder who will be next.

I used to listen to Radio Netherlands Worldwide every Sunday when Eddie Startz did the Happy Station Program. I guess those days are gone forever.