Messages

2326

Utility / Re: "A4A" "AA4AL" "AL" "FLX" as ID's. 6968.50 USB 1515 UTC 12 May 2017

« on: May 12, 2017, 1647 UTC »

It's MARS, in other words, ham operators passing military traffic on out of band frequencies using (modified) amateur radio equipment.  6968.5 kHz USB is one of their favorite frequencies.  You'll find them on several frequencies above and below 40 meters.  They almost always use a frequency ending in .5 for some reason.  They also make heavy use of encrypted data modes - listen to them long enough and you'll eventually hear a request to re-send a file.

Its fun listening to MARS on 6968.5 kHz USB while Portuguese speaking pescadores chat away on 6969 kHz LSB or 6970 kHz LSB.

2327

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Caribbean Beacon-11775 kHz-Distorted Audio

« on: May 12, 2017, 1627 UTC »

It sounds like she's talking with a sock in her mouth on 11775 kHz.

What a shame.  Such a strong signal today too.

2328

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: 7493 khz 2350 UTC 5/11/2017

« on: May 12, 2017, 1620 UTC »

Looks like 7490 kHz is used by WBCQ and WWCR only.  However, 7495 kHz is    VOA RADIO ASHNA (transmitters in Kuwait and Udon Thani) and Radio Algeria - see http://www.short-wave.info/?freq=7495

2329

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 10465 kHz USB 1730 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 1737 UTC »

Hearing faint pescadore like voice traffic on 10465 kHz USB / 10.465 MHz USB, sounds like fishing fleets (lots of noise in the background).  Closer to the voice traffic heard on the 6.6-7.0 MHz region (Portuguese language) frequencies such as 6925 kHz LSB. 

Traffic seems to have disappeared at 1737 UTC. 

2330

Peskies / Re: UNID Possible Italian / Portuguese 4630 kHz USB 0400+ UTC 8 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 1455 UTC »

Sounds like we've heard the same group of statons.  I can't put my finger on the language (I know accents make things even harder to really nail down).  Heavy storm static seems to be the norm late night this time of year but if 4630 kHz is anything like the other pescadore fishing fleet frequencies we've found, they'll be hanging out there all year. 

Certainly a frequency worth continuing to check out in the future. 

2331

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6925 kHz LSB 0000 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 0018 UTC »

6925 kHz / 6.925 MHz LSB.  Not as busy now as it usually is, but propagation seems odd tonight.  Must be the full moon. 

Anyway, hearing sporadic (but strong) Portuguese chatter on 6925 LSB.  First noticed traffic around 0000 UTC.

2332

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6940 USB 0015 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 0015 UTC »

Massive signal on 6940 kHz USB.  S5-S7 on peaks.  

2333

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6940 kHz LSB 2345+ UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2348 UTC »

6940 kHz LSB / 6.940 MHz LSB

Portuguese speaking stations heard at 2345 UTC, 2347 UTC on.  Weak signals, weather than similar traffic logged on 6965 LSB.

2334

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6965 kHz LSB 2345+ UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2346 UTC »

Hearing very weak Portuguese chatter on 6965 kHz LSB.  Several stations talking over each other, classic "peskie" chatter. 

2335

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6905 kHz LSB 2155+ UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2157 UTC »

At around the same time 6900 kHz LSB started showing signs of activity, I noticed nearby frequency 6905 kHz LSB is also active.  Hearing two or three Spanish speaking stations chatting on 6905 LSB at 2155 UTC / 2156 UTC.  SIO 222 - SIO 333 right now, but its still relatively early for activity on these frequencies.

Considering the fact that 6900 LSB is also active earlier than usual, hopefully these frequencies will stay busy later on and I'll be able to do some more in-depth monitoring of the freebanding radio operators that hang around below 40 meters. 

2336

Peskies / 6900 kHz LSB Spanish Speaking Freebander Net 2150+ UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2155 UTC »

Noticing traffic on 6900 kHz LSB / 6.900 MHz LSB a bit earlier than usual this afternoon (U.S. east coast time anyway).  Tuned in to 6900 kHz after seeing voice traffic on the waterfall while listening to 6880 kHz. 

Sporadic signals, not like the frequency is (will be?) later on in the evening.  Possibly an indicator of a busy night to come. 

2337

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 10, 2017, 2151 UTC »

I've had exceptional results with a regular old half wave dipole on 11 meters.  I agree with the posters who have recommended a vertical antenna (if you have the space to put one up - it doesn't have to be anything crazy like an Antron 99, IMAX 2000, etc - a 1/2 wave or 1/4 vertical do well, a 5/8 wave vertical will do better). 

2338

North American Shortwave Pirate / Unknown Name Radio Network 6880 AM 2137 UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2139 UTC »

Likely Unknown Name Radio Network UNRN.  Hearing music with some fading on 6880 kHz / 6.880 MHz this afternoon on the Ohio remote SDR.  S4-S5 signal with decent modulation.  

At around 2146 UTC or so, a data signal appeared on the lower side band, 6878 kHz.  Signal strength has decreased a bit, carrier easily visible on the waterfall but modulation noticeably weaker.  Hopefully that will reverse itself in the next little bit.

2339

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Caribbean Beacon-11775 kHz-Distorted Audio

« on: May 10, 2017, 2137 UTC »

Looks like flexoman also emailed them (twice!) about their 6070 kHz transmitter audio problems.  Looks like 11775 kHz has the same audio distortion problems.  They've been broadcasting for a while with these issues. 

2340

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Caribbean Beacon-11775 kHz-Distorted Audio

« on: May 10, 2017, 1854 UTC »

I'm listening to 11775 kHz AM right now (1850 UTC) May 10th, 2017 and the audio is extremely distorted, more or less impossible to understand what's being said.  Signal itself is strong, but there's something seriously wrong with the audio.