HFU HF Underground

Loggings => Other => Topic started by: rokpych on February 04, 2014, 0212 UTC

Title: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: rokpych on February 04, 2014, 0212 UTC

Hello all, yesterday at 0200 UTC I picked up a odd signal on 7.007 MHz in CW mode, you could also hear it on SSB USB (if that means anything.) This is with a icom IC-PCR2500 and a whip atenna. It appears to be a muscial tune, then followed by Morse Code. Sorry for the meh sound, I'm new at this stuff. Is it an actual number station, or a pirate?  ??? It also appears to run everyday, I picked it up today not too long ago. The music also seems to change after a while, as if it has several songs playing each time. I also heard a voice repeating at one point, if that means anything as well.

Video: (may need to turn sound up) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9JzQ-laZkc

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: glimmer twin on February 04, 2014, 1257 UTC

Not sure because the speakers on my laptop are worthless & I am not at home & have no head phones. Having qualified my statement thoroughly I think its JT 65 a weak signal ham mode.

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: Token on February 04, 2014, 1455 UTC

Note the frequency (the one listed in the video is not the same as in the thread here).  This frequency is a typical JT65 freq, and the mode is JT65.

T!

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: skeezix on February 05, 2014, 0431 UTC

JT65... Is this the same or a similar mode that has been called the "snake charmer" outside of the amateur bands?

Next time I find that one, going to see if a JT65 decoder can do anything with it.

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: glimmer twin on February 05, 2014, 0525 UTC

Token knows way , way more than anybody here about the snake charmer but I don't think there is any relationship between JT65 & the snake charmer. JT65 is a weak signal mode originally used for Earth Moon Earth contacts. They exchange calls & signal reports & that's about it. I always want ice cream when I hear JT65 as it reminds me of the jaunty little tune of the good humor man.

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: Token on February 05, 2014, 1452 UTC

No, there is no relationship between the Snake Charmer and JT65.  The tones used and the number of steps are not similar.

The Snake Charmer (not my name for the signal, Hugh Stegman dubbed it that) typically uses 32 tones, however I have seen 8 to 64 used.  These tones are typically spread across about 2 kHz of bandwidth, the specific bandwidth depending on the mode the Snake Charmer is in.  JT65 uses, surprise, 65 tones, spread over 175 Hz of bandwidth.

T!

Title: Re: What is this station? Need help figuring out what it is.
Post by: cmradio on February 05, 2014, 2310 UTC

Quote from: glimmer twin on February 05, 2014, 0525 UTC

I always want ice cream when I hear JT65 as it reminds me of the jaunty little tune of the good humor man.

Dat's vere I heard that before! :D

Peace!