HFU HF Underground
Loggings => Other => Topic started by: Strange Beacons on May 31, 2013, 1833 UTC
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Below is a link to a YouTube video that I created of a shortwave station I discovered on 6320 kHz, broadcasting what sounds like it may (possibly) be pulses from a PACTOR II radio modem, followed by the letters "DLB" in morse code.
I have not been able to learn anything about this particular transmission after searching online. If anyone has any information, please share it either here or in the comments section of the video. Thank you.
http://youtu.be/30YDLOwYo_s (http://youtu.be/30YDLOwYo_s)
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The CW ID is KLB.
I think what you've found is their PACTOR email service on 6318.0 (ship receive). What mode was your radio in?
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html (http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html)
Pictures:
http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB (http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB)
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Thanks very much for your help, and yes, I think you likely have identified this one, as the links you supplied are very convincing.
I'm going to demonstrate just how much of a total SWL noob I really am by saying that I have no idea what you mean by which "mode" my radio was in. I was simply auto-scanning the 49 meter band on my cheap Radio Shack PLL portable radio when I found this one.
The CW ID is KLB.
I think what you've found is their PACTOR email service on 6318.0 (ship receive). What mode was your radio in?
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html (http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html)
Pictures:
http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB (http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB)
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By mode, I meant is the radio set for AM, USB, LSB, or CW? For listening to the utility stations (like that one), USB would be the desired mode. Broadcast stations are normally AM. Amateur radio bands under 10 MHz are LSB.
On shortwave, I've found scanning to be fairly useless as the radios don't stop on the weak stations or even the moderately strong stations. If you only care about strong stations, then that's fine, but there's a lot of weak things lurking out there that the radio would never stop on.
The great thing about being a new to this is now you need to listen more for practice. ;D
Edit: Looked up that radio and looks like it has AM or SSB (no selection of USB/LSB/CW). From the sound of the video, it sounds like it was in SSB.
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That is indeed KLB WA. WLO AL can be heard 1 kHz below it. The radio says it is tuned to 6320 kHz, but it must be a case of the SSB tuning knob turned hard over to one side or something, KLB is actually on 6318 kHz center frequency (6317 kHz USB tuned freq for 1 kHz CW tones) and WLO is on 6317 kHz center frequency (6316 kHz USB tuned frequency for 1 kHz CW tones).
T!
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Yes, the radio was in SSB mode (thanks). I'm going to give another listen for this signal later tonight, but will dial it up on 6318.0 to see if that improves the reception.
Man, I just love this stuff!
By mode, I meant is the radio set for AM, USB, LSB, or CW? For listening to the utility stations (like that one), USB would be the desired mode. Broadcast stations are normally AM. Amateur radio bands under 10 MHz are LSB.
On shortwave, I've found scanning to be fairly useless as the radios don't stop on the weak stations or even the moderately strong stations. If you only care about strong stations, then that's fine, but there's a lot of weak things lurking out there that the radio would never stop on.
The great thing about being a new to this is now you need to listen more for practice. ;D
Edit: Looked up that radio and looks like it has AM or SSB (no selection of USB/LSB/CW). From the sound of the video, it sounds like it was in SSB.
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Set it to 6318 and then turn the clarify knob until it sounds good.
There's a lot of fun stuff out there. I was listening to Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz earlier tonight and now listening to a very weak pirate (unlicensed broadcaster) on 6925 USB. Later on, going to see if I can pick up Voice of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) on 15180. They have an English language broadcast at 0400Z (9:00pm PDT), also on 13760 and 11735 kHz at the same time.
In case you haven't found it yet, the following link is pretty good for shortwave broadcast schedules:
http://www.short-wave.info (http://www.short-wave.info)
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Great advice, great link, thanks for both.
Set it to 6318 and then turn the clarify knob until it sounds good.
There's a lot of fun stuff out there. I was listening to Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz earlier tonight and now listening to a very weak pirate (unlicensed broadcaster) on 6925 USB. Later on, going to see if I can pick up Voice of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) on 15180. They have an English language broadcast at 0400Z (9:00pm PDT), also on 13760 and 11735 kHz at the same time.
In case you haven't found it yet, the following link is pretty good for shortwave broadcast schedules:
http://www.short-wave.info (http://www.short-wave.info)
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RE: KLB and similar stations using CW markers:
Sometimes these marine coastal fixed stations send out their call letters in CW in between FSK bursts. I used to have fun seeing which ones I could log from other parts of the world, by listening for the CW markers.
In the early 2000's, when I was last interested in utility listening, there were a lot more of these coastal stations doing this. There seem to be less of them doing this now.
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Boombox;
For me, DXing and verifying the MM Coastal stations was a hobby within the hobby. I found it to be relaxing and a great way to decompress from the rigors of SWBC DX, the reports were pretty easy to put together, and the verification rate I found to be rather high. There were so many great DX targets in countries which otherwise would be very difficult if not impossible to hear via SWBC. As a bonus, it was a great way to pick up some CW reading skill. Some of the QSLs are real classics.
LF NDBs are challenging, but I really miss these guys.
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Back in the late 80's/early 90's, I used to grab the RTTY from the ships. My favorites were when they'd send in their grocery lists. There was one where they wanted over 900 eggs (the rest of the list was of very large quantities too). Printed that thing out... but unfortunately, its long gone.
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I got a good chuckle out of this! I sailed with the US Coast Guard and merchant marine for 15 years and I suppose it is possible that one of your "grabbed grocery lists" could possibly have come from a ship I was on. Yeah, 900 eggs seems like a lot, but it is nothing when it comes to feeding a hungry ships crew on a daily basis.
Back in the late 80's/early 90's, I used to grab the RTTY from the ships. My favorites were when they'd send in their grocery lists. There was one where they wanted over 900 eggs (the rest of the list was of very large quantities too). Printed that thing out... but unfortunately, its long gone.
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Here is a link to an .mp3 file that I found at Archive.org, featuring a recording of a KLB voice message: http://archive.org/download/ShortwaveOddsSodsTransmissions/MaritimeStationUnidPolytone8806khz1905z-1907z01-10-11.mp3 (http://archive.org/download/ShortwaveOddsSodsTransmissions/MaritimeStationUnidPolytone8806khz1905z-1907z01-10-11.mp3)
The CW ID is KLB.
I think what you've found is their PACTOR email service on 6318.0 (ship receive). What mode was your radio in?
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html (http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html)
Pictures:
http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB (http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/Marine_Coast_Station_KLB)
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Probably a good time to mark your calendars for NIGHT OF NIGHTS XIV July 12, 2013.
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/events_nightofnights.htm
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Hi All i am near london and i receive 6320khz as cw beacon SVO i think is russian airport beacon, is this correct. Very loud and clear with little noise on usb using sony sw55 and long wire. Is this good?
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Hi.
SVO, transmitting on 6321,5 kHz (CW) is Olympia Radio from Greece.
Hope this hels.
Kind regards.
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Thanks Thomas, I was curious who all evenings is beating key with S9 + 10