Messages

1

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / EPAR - 31 MHz Band Street Lighting Control / Telemetry Link (France) VHF Low DX

« on: May 24, 2024, 1646 UTC »

Listening via the G8JNJ SDR receivers.

Polytone data transmissions, sound similar to ROS digital mode.  31 MHz band.

31.325 MHz
31.3875 MHz
31.4375 MHz
31.4625 MHz
31.475 MHz
31.6875 MHz
31.725 MHz
31.925 MHz
31.975 MHz

Seems like there are probably other frequencies in use, but these ones are confirmed via that particular receiver.  I've heard the following locally (in Richmond VA)

31.325 MHz
31.6875 MHz
31.975 MHz

31.6875 MHz comes in fine on 31.685 MHz or 31.69 MHz in NFM mode. 

31.725 MHz, 31.750 MHz and 31.775 MHz are also used for on-site hospital paging in the UK.  31.320 MHz is used for POCSAG paging as well, source is unknown.

2

10/11 meters / 26-28 MHz Paging Systems Activity Log 24 May 2024

« on: May 24, 2024, 1555 UTC »

Tune in time: 1530 UTC

G8JNJ Wessex, UK SDR.

26.200 MHz 26200 kHz - POCSAG paging signals, various signal strengths
26.220 MHz 26220 kHz - Paging signals - wideband, narrowband and very wide (16 kHz - 18 kHz BW) POCSAG
26.250 MHz 26250 kHz - POCSAG paging, FM carrier on frequency during "idle" time
26.350 MHz 26350 kHz - POCSAG paging, various strengths...also a weak FM carrier on frequency
26.500 MHz 26500 kHz - POCSAG paging, FM carrier on frequency during "idle" time
26.545 MHz 26545 kHz - POCSAG paging signals, intermittent activity
26.550 MHz 26550 kHz - POCSAG signals, narrow and wide band
26.600 MHz 26600 kHz - Very active pagers on this frequency 26.6 MHz 26.6MHz 26,600 kHz POCSAG
26.605 MHz 26605 kHz - Paging signals, narrowband POCSAG, sporadic signals, wideband POCSAG noted at 1538 UTC
26.630 MHz 26630 kHz - Wideband POCSAG paging signals, some SIO 555 very strong
26.645 MHz 26645 kHz - POCSAG signals, including 14-15 kHz wide signals
26.650 MHz 26650 kHz - Paging signals noted, roughly as frequent as 26.600 MHz or 26.900 MHz
26.655 MHz 26655 kHz - Sporadic paging signals on 26.655MHz
26.695 MHz 26695 kHz - POCSAG paging signals, numerous signals mixing together, constant activity
26.695 MHz 26695 kHz - POCSAG paging signals - narrowband signals
26.700 MHz 26700 kHz - Paging signals - POCSAG, intermittent use
26.705 MHz 26705 kHz - POCSAG signals - noted once every 30-40 seconds, narrow and wide POCSAG
26.735 MHz 26735 kHz - Wide and narrow POCSAG pager signals
26.745 MHz 26745 kHz - Non stop paging signals, just like 26.695 MHz, S9 + peak signal strength
26.750 MHz 26750 kHz - POCSAG paging and narrowband non-POCSAG signals (6 kHz bandwidth narrow)
26.750 MHz 26750 kHz - FM carrier on frequency during "idle" non-paging periods (very heavy QRM)
26.755 MHz 26755 kHz - Paging signals, pretty frequent use, but not nonstop like 26,695 and 26,745
26.785 MHz 26785 kHz - POCSAG - various bandwidths and signal strengths noted
26.800 MHz 26800 kHz - POCSAG pager signals, very busy at points
26.815 MHz 26815 kHz - Pager signals mixing with weak FM voice on frequency, nonstop signals just like 26.695MHz and 26.745MHz
26.835 MHz 26835 kHz - POCSAG - various bandwidths and signal strengths noted
26.850 MHz 26850 kHz - Sporadic POCSAG signals noted
26.885 MHz 26885 kHz - Sporadic POCSAG, extremely strong wide band paging signal 18 kHz BW!!
26.900 MHz 26900 kHz - Very strong POCSAG on frequency
26.950 MHz 26950 kHz - Narrowband POCSAG signals, other data link signals noted
27.300 MHz 27300 kHz - POCSAG paging signals basically nonstop on this frequency
27.350 MHz 27350 kHz - Narrow band POCSAG noted 27,350kHz 27.35 MHz
27.360 MHz 27360 kHz - Sporadic POCSAG paging signals, heavy CB radio QRM 27.355 MHz and 27.365 MHz
27.425 MHz 27425 kHz - POCSAG signals noted at 1546 UTC and 1547 UTC
27.450 MHz 27450 kHz - FM carrier during idle periods, POCSAG paging and other data also on frequency
27.475 MHz 27475 kHz - Narrowband paging signals - 6-7 kHz wide BW, fair to weak signals
27.500 MHz 27500 kHz - POCSAG, 12-13 kHz wide signals, very similar to 27.505 MHz signals
27.505 MHz 27505 kHz - POCSAG pager signals on frequency, center frequency varies, 27.504 MHz, 27.5055 MHz, 27.506 MHz..
27.510 MHz 27510 kHz - 20 kHz wide POCSAG signals noted, also narrowband 6-8 kHz wide signals on frequency
27.550 MHz 27550 kHz - POCSAG signals, no doubt causing havoc on 27.555 MHz USB
27.650 MHz 27650 kHz - POCSAG paging signals, similar to those noted on 26 MHz band
27.750 MHz 27750 kHz - POCSAG noted, idle FM carrier when no paging signal being sent
27.760 MHz 27760 kHz - Data link frequency, roughly 10-12 kHz bandwidth - paging signals also noted on frequency
27.845 MHz 27845 kHz - POCSAG signals, similar to 27.850 MHz (offset frequency)
27.848 MHz 27848 kHz - POCSAG pager signals, offset frequencies 27.847 MHz, 27.848 MHz, similar to 27.505 MHz signals
27.850 MHz 27850 kHz - See 27.845MHz and the offset 27.847 MHz 27.8475 MHz signals
27.900 MHz 27900 kHz - Sporadic data signals, narrowband POCSAG also noted

29.750 MHz 29750 kHz - Sporadic POCSAG paging signals, 29.8 and 29.9 MHz are well-known, 29.75 MHz is a new one (I think)
29.800 MHz 29800 kHz - Pager frequency, active with various bandwidth POCSAG pager signals 29,8 29,800 kHz
29.900 MHz 29900 kHz - POCSAG paging active, wide and narrow band signals 29,900 kHz 29.9MHz

3

10/11 meters / Re: UNID 26500 FM 1707 UTC MAY 18 2024

« on: May 24, 2024, 1524 UTC »

Nice catch, the use of FM for land mobile comms by most of the Latin American LMR users is uncommon...at least below 30 MHz. 

Usually its AM mode, and 26.5 MHz 26.500 MHz is an interesting frequency choice too.  26.500 MHz FM vs. say 26.495 MHz AM or 26.505 MHz AM. 

4

10/11 meters / BBC 25700 kHz AM 25.700 MHz AM 1400 UTC 05/24/24

« on: May 24, 2024, 1404 UTC »

Listening to the 25-30 MHz band via several UK based receivers.  Very strong SIO 555 signal on 25.7 MHz AM 25700 kHz AM 25,700 kHz AM with a BBC voice loop "This is the BBC, there are no programs on this frequency at this time" prior to the top of the hour.

Nice to see some 11 meter broadcasting going on still.  25800 kHz 25.8 MHz 25.800 MHz is well-known, 25700 kHz is an interesting one (yes, it is still a legal 11m BC frequency) - 25.6 MHz to 26.1 MHz (or thereabouts).  The 25600 kHz to 26100 kHz band overlaps with land mobile users, 25 MHz / 26 MHz marine allocation and of course the STL / IFB (cue) transmitters used in the U.S. under Part 74 of the FCC rules - 25.870 MHz to 26.470 MHz 25870 kHz to 26470 kHz (20 kHz steps, FM mode). 

5

10/11 meters / Re: KSL REMOTE FEED 26.190000 FM 1314 utc May 05 2024

« on: May 14, 2024, 1811 UTC »

No  PL tone / CTCSS tone
recorded

Makes sense, carrier squelch it is! 

26.190 MHz FM [CSQ] PL=none KSL remote STL 26.19MHz 26190 FM 26,190 kHz FM

6

10/11 meters / 26.110 MHz FM 26110 FM - KOVR-TV STL 1750 UTC 10 May 2024

« on: May 10, 2024, 1754 UTC »

Faded in at around 1745, maybe a few minutes later.  Stronger signal locally and on U.S. East Coast SDRs, including the W3HFU and N1NTE SDRs.  Very dramatic fading at points.  Signal actually dropped out completely for 10-15 seconds around 1753 UTC. 

Frequency: 26110 kHz 26,110 kHz 26.11 MHz 26.110 MHz 26.1100 MHz FM STL cue transmitter Part 74

Also checked the carrier transmitter on 25.950 MHz, it is much weaker than usual, also very dramatic fading.

KOVR's STL signal went off the air (very clearly so - several seconds of unmodulated FM carrier, then the transmitter was switched off) at 1755 UTC. 

At 1757 UTC, the carrier came back on...then off again at 1757 for 4-5 seconds, then back on with audio again (still at 1757 UTC).  On the air with studio audio at 1758 UTC.

7

10/11 meters / 29.850 MHz FM Asian Fishermen Fishery Radio Chatter 10 May 2024

« on: May 10, 2024, 1258 UTC »

Via UK based receivers, first heard at 1130 UTC on 29850 kHz 29,850 kHz 29.85 MHz 29.850 MHz FM.  Sounds like Japanese, strong FM modulation but the signal strength(s) are all over the place.  Lots of fading.

At around 1230 UTC, I was tuning around 27 MHz band, came across more Asian fishermen chatter on

27.525 MHz FM
27.750 MHz FM
27.800 MHz FM

At 1252 UTC, the signals on 29.850 MHz FM have become considerably stronger, and the frequency is busier in general.  Noting weak activity on

27.650 MHz FM - with severe QRM from UK FM CB signals on 27.651 MHz FM - 27.65125 MHz FM UK FM CB Channel 6
27.700 MHz FM - sporadic SSTV QRM signals on 27.700 MHz USB, along with UK FM
27.825 MHz FM
27.850 MHz FM - also suffering from SSB QRM, paging POCSAG QRM from 27.845 MHz and UK FM CB on 27.851 MHz FM
29.775 MHz FM
29.825 MHz FM
29.875 MHz FM
29.950 MHz FM

No activity on the 12.5 kHz offset frequencies like 29.9625 MHz, 29.9875 MHz, 30.0125 MHz, etc...at least not yet.  The pagers on 29.8 MHz and 29.9 MHz aren't coming in at the moment either.

Both 29.825MHz FM and 29.875MHz FM seem to be some of the more popular frequencies.  29.750 MHz FM also active at 1255 UTC with Asian fishery chatter.

8

10/11 meters / Re: KSL REMOTE FEED 26.190000 FM 1314 utc May 05 2024

« on: May 10, 2024, 1249 UTC »

I believe this is the first time I've come across a log for this station on this frequency - 26190 kHz FM / 26.190 MHz FM 26.19 MHz STL/IFB. 

Any chance you decoded a PL tone / CTCSS tone?

Nice log either way.

9

10/11 meters / 27.875 MHz AM 27875 kHz AM - US Truckers "Free Band" Comms 29 April 2024

« on: April 29, 2024, 2006 UTC »

U.S. truck drivers talking about road conditions, other typical trucker stuff.  Just after 2000 UTC on 04/29/2024.

27875 kHz AM
27.875 MHz AM
27.875 AM

Somewhat popular frequency for this purpose.  27.855 MHz, 27.865 MHz, 27.905 MHz, 27.915 MHz and others have been logged in the recent past, along with the more 'usual suspects' of 27.635 MHz AM, 27.535 MHz AM, 27.575 MHz AM, 27.585 MHz AM, 27.805 MHz AM and many, many more below CB channel 1...including 26.735 MHz AM, 26.915 MHz AM...and so on....down to 25.615 MHz AM.

10

10/11 meters / 27.815 MHz AM 27815 kHz Latin American Land Mobile Comms - Taxi Dispatch

« on: April 29, 2024, 2003 UTC »

2000 UTC
29 April 2024

Received locally, also hearing them on the N1NTE SDR.  Weak to fair reception, land mobile radio comms, taxi cab dispatcher.  YL taxi dispatcher and OM drivers, frequency 27815 kHz, AM mode.  27.815MHz AM 27,815 AM, taxi dispatch.  Spanish speaking comms, probably out of Mexico. 

11

10/11 meters / 27.435 MHz FM and 27.475 MHz FM 2000 / 2100 UTC 25 April 2024

« on: April 25, 2024, 2112 UTC »

Latin American stations coming in this afternoon, notably using FM mode!  Lots of activity on 27435 and 27475. 

27,435 kHz FM 27.435MHz FM
27,475 kHz FM 27.475MHz FM

Heard locally and on several U.S. East Coast SDR receivers.  Glad to see more FM adoption!

12

10/11 meters / 29.710 MHz FM 29710 FM UNID Land Mobile Comms [N1NTE RX] 15 April 2024

« on: April 15, 2024, 1809 UTC »

Tuned in at 1805 UTC.  Solid FM signal noted on 29.71 MHz FM.   Sounds like Spanish language, but this is a legal Part 90 Business / Industrial Radio Pool - Business Radio Service - frequency.  20K0F3E emission.  Given signal strengths, probably mobile to mobile comms.  Could be any number of licensed users.  Unable to pull CTCSS tone (PL tone).  29.710 MHz FM

The FCC actually calls everything above 25 MHz part of the land mobile service for Part 90 allocation.  However, the 25 MHz frequencies are only licensed to a handful of users.  The 27 MHz frequencies are used, but same thing applies...only a handful of users.  There are more licensed users on 29 MHz and even more on the regular 30-50 MHz frequencies.  The 27 MHz frequencies may all be licensed for itinerant use, 27.49 MHz is itinerant only, same with 35.04 MHz and 43.04 MHz.   

The 27 MHz frequencies suffer from severe QRM during band openings.  Regular FM voice is most commonly used, but some licensed users have emissions for more traditional HF modes such as AM voice, SSB voice, RTTY and other narrow-band digital modes.

25.020 MHz
25.040 MHz
25.060 MHz
25.080 MHz
25.100 MHz
25.120 MHz
25.140 MHz
25.160 MHz
25.180 MHz
25.200 MHz
25.220 MHz
25.240 MHz
25.260 MHz
25.280 MHz
25.300 MHz
25.320 MHz

27.430 MHz
27.450 MHz
27.470 MHz
27.490 MHz - itinerant only
27.510 MHz - low power only
27.530 MHz - low power only

29.710 MHz
29.730 MHz
29.750 MHz
29.770 MHz
29.790 MHz

30.580 MHz
30.600 MHz
30.620 MHz
30.640 MHz
30.660 MHz
20 kHz spacing up to 31.980 MHz

Then
33.020 MHz to 33.980 MHz - 20 kHz steps
35.020 MHz to 35.980 MHz - 20 kHz steps
37.020 MHz to 37.980 MHz - 20 kHz steps
39.020 MHz to 39.980 MHz - 20 kHz steps
42.020 MHz to 46.580 MHz - 20 kHz steps
47.020 MHz to 49.580 MHz - 20 kHz steps

Plus special frequencies:

36.250 MHz FM - may be used for oil spill clean up operations only (simplex or repeater)
41.710 MHz FM - may be used for oil spill clean up operations only (simplex or repeater)

Usually 36.25 MHz is used as the repeater output.  Both 36.25 MHz and 41.71 MHz are shared with federal government users and U.S. military users, which are the primary users on the

30.000 MHz to 30.550 MHz
32.000 MHz to 33.000 MHz
34.000 MHz to 35.000 MHz
36.000 MHz to 37.000 MHz
38.000 MHz to 39.000 MHz
40.000 MHz to 42.000 MHz
46.600 MHz to 47.000 MHz
49.600 MHz to 50.000 MHz

bands.  25 kHz spacing is the standard for military operations.  Federal government systems use a mixture of 20 kHz spacing and 25 kHz spacing.  A good example of this is the SNOTEL telemetry system that operates on 40.67 MHz 40.670 MHz.

Military users are allocated secondary rights on all frequencies outside the bands listed above for the entire 30-88 MHz spectrum, including the 50-54 MHz 6 meter amateur radio allocation, the 72-76 MHz fixed, mobile, RCRS, Part 90, assistive listening service and 74.8 MHz - 75.2 MHz subband for the 75.000 MHz marker beacons on 75 MHz aeronautical service...and of course the 54-72 MHz and 76-88 MHz broadcasting bands.   

13

10/11 meters / 27.725 MHz FM Asian Fishermen Fishery Radio Chatter 15 April 2024

« on: April 15, 2024, 1803 UTC »

27.725 MHz FM via the W3HFU KiwiSDR at 1800 UTC tune in.  Some pretty serious fades....but it sounds like the typical fishery radio chatter.  Asian fishing fleets Chinese fishing radio dedicated fishery radiotelephone

27.5 MHz - 39.475 MHz 25 kHz spacing - normal mode for 480 channels, FM voice, 25w output - 16K0F3E
27.5 MHz - 39.4875 MHz 12.5 kHz spacing - export mode 960 channels NFM voice, 25w output - 11K0F3E

14

10/11 meters / 27.755 MHz AM 27755 kHz Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch Land Mobile Comms 04/15/2024

« on: April 15, 2024, 1753 UTC »

27,755kHz AM 27.755 MHz AM, SIO 222 with some very dramatic fading.  Spanish language, Mexican accented YL reading alphanumeric taxi cab IDs, addresses, phone numbers...taxi cab dispatcher on 27 MHz band.  27.755 MHz, AM mode.   

First noted at 1750 UTC

15

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM 26765 kHz Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch Land Mobile Comms 04/15/2024

« on: April 15, 2024, 1741 UTC »

Starting hearing the dispatch lady - I believe out of Central Mexico or Northern Mexico on 26765 kHz 26.765 MHz 26.7650 MHz AM around 1630 UTC today.

At 1700 UTC or so, signal levels still roughly the same.  Coming in nicely on some U.S. East Coast online SDR receivers at 1730 UTC and now - 1740 UTC. 

Tell-tale end of transmission tone burst (EOT) - aka the "Roger beep" basically an automatic identification system. 

Frequency 26.7650 MHz AM is CB Channel 21 down one band.  Band C, Channel 21 on the regular 25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz 240 channel export radio band plan....or Channel B21E / B21E AM on the alphanumeric channel plan.

Some QRM from FM mode traffic around 1741 UTC / 1742 UTC...26.765 MHz FM coming in at the same time as 26.765 MHz AM. 

Also noting some European based paging signals on 26.695 MHz, 26.745 MHz...so there's still somewhat of an opening to Europe / the UK, which is likely where the FM CB signals on 26765 are coming from.