HFU HF Underground

Loggings => HF Beacons => Topic started by: Exo on August 23, 2018, 0150 UTC

Title: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 23, 2018, 0150 UTC
A thread looking at some of the western USA beacons on 4 MHz.
If you find these detailed reports useful or interesting, please feel free to reply with any comments.


Report:
These beacons logged below were simultaneously audible in a wide IQ DSB passband, about an hour before sunset local time.
Received on the coast of northern California.

0030 UTC 23AUG2018
4095.72 kHz Beacon ~5 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Viking?)
4095.81 kHz Beacon ~4 sec duration dashes (sometimes a little chirpy) - weaker than others but audibly readable (Viking? or Coxie?)
4096.37 kHz Beacon ~3 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Haystack 200mW)
4102.83 kHz Beacon Morse W, wind velocity dits, TMP#, B#. - readable (Windy)
(Windy telemetry before sunset 0030 UTC Temp 100 Battery 13.0 )
(Windy telemetry after sunset 0245 UTC Temp 94 Battery 12.8 )

Below: Here's a waterfall image 0030 UTC 23AUG2018 of the ~4096 kHz dashers and the Windy morse beacon.
(note: the horizontal lines are lightning crash static bursts)

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_Beacons_Windy_and_Others_0030_UTC_23AUG2018.jpg)

Below: Here's a waterfall zoom image 4 minutes later at 0034 UTC 23AUG2018 of the ~4096 kHz dasher beacons.
(note: the horizontal lines are lightning crash static bursts)

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_Beacons_dashers_0034_UTC_23AUG2018.jpg)

Below: Waterfall image at 2007 UTC 23AUG2018 of the ~4096 kHz dashers and the Windy morse beacon at mid-day.
(Windy morse telemetry: TMP106 = Temp 106F; B134 = Battery 13.4V)

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_Beacons_Windy_and_Others_2007_UTC_23AUG2018.jpg)


Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 24, 2018, 2328 UTC
Another look at some of the 4 MHz Western USA Beacons.
24 August 2018 report.

A symphonic trio of 3 dasher beacons was heard in the afternoon (western USA) .
Listening closely, it's possible to hear one of beacons drifting or chirping frequency slightly during a dash.

2231UTC 24AUG2018 afternoon local
4095.91 kHz Beacon 3.1 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Viking? )
4096.08 kHz Beacon 4.5 sec duration dashes - very weak (Coxie? )
4096.37 kHz Beacon 2.3 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Haystack 200mW)

2345UTC 24AUG2018 before local sunset
4095.86 kHz Beacon 4.0 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Viking? )
4095.95 kHz Beacon 5.6 sec duration dashes - weak readable (Coxie? )
4096.37 kHz Beacon 2.3 sec duration dashes - readable (Haystack 200mW)

0011UTC 25AUG2018 near local sunset
4095.72 kHz Beacon 6.0 sec duration dashes - CHIRP downward starting at 4096.10 kHz - readable (Coxie? )
4095.73 kHz Beacon 4.7 sec duration dashes - readable (Viking? )
4096.38 kHz Beacon 2.3 sec duration dashes - readable (Haystack 200mW)

Note: The beacon with the longest dash (and chirp) drifted down as sunset approached: from 4096.08 to 4095.95 to 4095.72 kHz.  This drift could be due to temperature and/or battery voltage. Also during this time, the duration of dash increased for both of the two lower frequency beacons.

Audio recordings in Upper Sideband.

The three distinctive beacons are heard as a low tone, a medium tone, and a high tone in this recording:

PLAY AUDIO: "Beacon Trio Symphony In 4096 Kilohertz"
PLAY AUDIO Beacon Trio Symphony In 4096 Kilohertz (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/Beacon_Symphony_2231UTC_24AUG2019_4096kHz.mp3)

Below:
~4096 kHz Dasher Beacons during afternoon in western USA - some slightly drifted frequencies for these beacons than yesterday.
The dash duration of each beacon was measured somewhat more carefully, as shown in this image.
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_Beacons_dashers_2231_UTC_24AUG2018.jpg)


PLAY AUDIO: "Beacon Duo with Chirpy Dasher 4096 Kilohertz"
PLAY AUDIO Beacon Duo with Chirpy Dasher 4096 Kilohertz (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/Beacon_Dashers_0011UTC_25AUG2018_4096kHz.mp3)

Below:
~4096 kHz Dasher Beacons before sunset in western USA - notice the chirpy long dasher has drifted down to about the same frequency as the medium dasher.
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_Beacons_dashers_0011_UTC_25AUG2018.jpg)

Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 25, 2018, 0536 UTC
Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated on what the proper nicknames are for the dasher beacons in the above log reports.

Guessing:

The 2.3 sec stable dasher beacon on 4096.37 kHz was Haystack?

The dasher beacon at mid-day 4096.08 kHz (4.5 sec dash) drifting to 4095.72 kHz (6.0 sec chirpy dash) and eventually cuts off after sunset: was Coxie?

The more stable dasher beacon that varies from 4095.91 to 4095.73 kHz was Viking?
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 26, 2018, 0106 UTC
Closer look and audio of the chirping long dasher around 4096 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California.

Log report
0039UTC 26AUG2018
4095.79 kHz - dash, 6 second duration, readable, with initial chirp starting at about 4096.15 ( Coxie ? )
Several other beacons heard around 4096 kHz.

0120UTC 26AUG2018 (about 1.5 hours prior to local sunset)
4095.66 kHz- dash, same beacon has drifted down, now intermittently heard at about 3 to 5 minute intervals, dash 6 second duration for several dashes, then fades out. Very weak, with initial chirp ( Coxie ? )

PLAY AUDIO 4095.79kHz beacon 6 second dash with easily heard chirp at 0039UTC 26AUG2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4095_79kHz_6sec_dash_chirp_0039UTC_26AUG2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image 4095.79kHz 6 sec dash with chirp at 0039UTC 26AUG2018.
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4095_79kHz_6sec_dash_chirp_0039UTC_26AUG2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 26, 2018, 0337 UTC
A look at the Morse beacon "ZN" which is usually reported around 4103 kHz.
This report catches it just after sunset, as it drifts down a few kHz, then disappears.
Received on the northern coast of California.
About 20 minutes after sunset, local time.

Note: Thanks to all HFUndergrounders who previously provided good background info on this wild beacon: ChrisSmolinski, tesla, mark-n-nut, cwguy, Teotwaki, Token, and others.

Log Report
0301UTC 2018AUG2603
4099.1 kHz - Morse beacon "ZN", frequency drifting down rapidly at 0301UTC from above 4102 kHz
4098.79 kHz - Morse beacon "ZN", somewhat stabilized at this frequency, before disappearing entirely

PLAY AUDIO ZN beacon can be heard drifting down rapidly to about 4098.79 kHz after sunset at 0303UTC 2018AUG26 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4098_79kHz_ZN_beacon_drifting_0303UTC_2018AUG26.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image of the ZN beacon is seen drifting down to 4099.1 at around 0301UTC 2018AUG26.
Note, the ZN beacon is normally reporated at around 4102+ kHz during day time hours.

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4099_1kHz_ZN_beacon_drifting_0301UTC_2018AUG26.jpg)

Below: Waterfall image of the ZN beacon is seen drifting down and stabilizing around 4098.79 kHz at 0303UTC 2018AUG26.
Note, a few minutes later, it disappeared entirely.

 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4098_79kHz_ZN_beacon_drifting_0303UTC_2018AUG26.jpg)


Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on August 27, 2018, 2254 UTC
Close look and clear audio of the chirping long dasher around 4096 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California, in the afternoon local time.

Log report
2221UTC 27AUG2018
4096.07 kHz - dash, 5.155 second duration, 5.155 second interval, good readable, with initial chirp signature.
Tentatively identified as Coxie ?

PLAY AUDIO 4096.07 kHz beacon 5.1 second dash with chirp signature at 2221UTC 27AUG2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_07kHz_beacon_5sec_dash_chirp_2221UTC_27AUG2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image 4096.07 kHz at 2221UTC 27AUG2018

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_07kHz_beacon_5sec_dash_chirp_2221UTC_27AUG2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 01, 2018, 0323 UTC
Closer look and some audio of the chirpy Morse beacon ZN while it was somewhat stable at 4103.7 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California, sunset local time.
Log report 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01
4103.70 Morse Beacon, KN, readable, slowly drifting down, chirp, among lightning static crashes
4102.81 Morse Beacon, Windy, readable, among lightning static crashes

PLAY AUDIO 4103.7kHz Morse Beacon ZN at 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4103_7kHz_ZN_beacon_0247UTC_2018SEP01.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image of 4103.7kHz Morse Beacon ZN at 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01, and 4102.81 Morse Beacon Windy

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4103_7kHz_ZN_beacon_0247UTC_2018SEP01.jpg)


Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Strange Beacons on September 01, 2018, 1644 UTC





Close look and clear audio of the chirping long dasher around 4096 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California, in the afternoon local time.

Log report
2221UTC 27AUG2018
4096.07 kHz - dash, 5.155 second duration, 5.155 second interval, good readable, with initial chirp signature.
Tentatively identified as Coxie ?


I was scanning HF this morning in the 4 Mhz range and discovered a strange signal at 4096 kHz. I made a recording (https://youtu.be/tO7VDGuxE9U) of it and then immediately came to this forum to see if there was any information about it, where I then saw your post. (Excellent information on this signal and thanks for posting it).

Curt / W9SPY
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 07, 2018, 0149 UTC
0146 UTC 07SEP2018
4096.36 kHz dasher Beacon (Haystack?), readable
4098.32 kHz Morse Beacon "ZN", weak, readable, drifty
4100.01 kHz Morse Beacon "H", weak, readable, 3 second repetition
4102.82 kHz Morse Beacon (Windy), readable, chirpy

PLAY AUDIO 4100.01 kHz Morse Beacon H 0158UTC 07SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4100_kHz_H_beacon_0158UTC_07SEP2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image of 4100.01 kHz Morse Beacon H 0158UTC 07SEP2018

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4100_kHz_H_beacon_0158UTC_07SEP2018.jpg)

Below: Waterfall image of 4 Western USA 4MHz Beacons at about 0158UTC 07SEP2018

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4_Western_USA_4MHz_Beacons_0158UTC_07SEP2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 07, 2018, 0258 UTC



4100.01 kHz Morse Beacon "H", weak, readable, 3 second repetition

4100.01 kHz "H" Morse beacon

Searching HFU forum, no previous reports of the 4100.01 kHz "H" Morse Beacon were found.

Perhaps it is a new one?
Or perhaps it is just a one-off transmission?
 
Time will tell.

A quick and casual listening survey of some of the remote online SDRs at about an hour after local sunset here in California:
At the present moment, "H" can be heard with good readability on receivers west of the rocky mountains, but not at all in the east. 
Very weak on Washington state, Colorado, and West Texas remote SDRs.
Good readable in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona.

Estimated -6dB to -10dB weaker than Haystack and -10dB to -20dB weaker than Windy.

Wild guess: possible Southwestern USA geographic origin, so it's been included in this "4 MHz Western USA Beacons" thread.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 07, 2018, 1113 UTC
Nice catch on H. I gave a listen this morning around 1030z and could not hear it locally (no surprise) nor on any of the west coast SDRs I tried.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 08, 2018, 0023 UTC
Nice catch on H. I gave a listen this morning around 1030z and could not hear it locally (no surprise) nor on any of the west coast SDRs I tried.

Hi Chris,

1030UTC may have been a bit too late for the 4 MHz propagation (or maybe the wild beacon's battery?)

The 4100 kHz "H" Morse Beacon seemed to fade out by around 0600 UTC last night, which was the last time I monitored it.

But "H" is back again today  :)

Report, copying it right now:
0014UTC 08SEP2018
4100.06 kHz "H" Morse Beacon, very weak, fading, barely readable.

You may be able to copy it through one of the following remotes.

Northern Utah SDR KiwiSDR #1 Corinne, Utah kiwiSDR remote (http://kiwisdr1.utahsdr.org:8073/?f=4100.05cwz10)

Maritime Radio Historical Society, Pt. Reyes, California kiwiSDR remote (http://198.40.45.23:8074/?f=4100.05cwz10)

At some point, it may be possible to get a screen capture of 6 wild beacons around 4100 simultaneously: Windy, Haystack, Coxie, Viking, ZN, and H  ;)

Note: this "H" beacon was previously reported by: mark-n-nut on June 27, 2018. see previous post.
 (https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,43799.msg161567.html#msg161567)
 
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 08, 2018, 0126 UTC
Report 0102 UTC 08SEP2018

4095.59 kHz "Coxie" dasher, weak readable
4095.59 kHz "Viking" dasher, weak readable
4096.36 kHz "Haystack" dasher, good readable
4098.25 kHz "ZN" Morse Beacon, 4.4 second repetition, readable, fading, (ZN sometimes run together like a prosign with an extra dash: "dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah-dit" or  --..--. )
4100.06 kHz "H" Morse Beacon, 3 second repetition, very weak readable
4102.79 kHz "Windy" Morse Beacon with telemetry, good readable

Below, the 6 wild beacons around 4100 kHz show simultaneously on the waterfall at 0102UTC on 08SEP2018.
Note that at this charmed moment, Coxie has drifted down exactly onto Viking's frequency. Coxie has the chirp signature and different dash interval from Viking.

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4100kHz_wild_morse_beacons_0102UTC_08SEP2018.jpg)







Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 08, 2018, 1438 UTC
Some very nice catches. I used to be able to copy the 4096 beacons here, but rumor has it the power level was turned down, which explains why they disappeared.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 08, 2018, 1809 UTC
Report
1730UTC 08SEP2018
4093.2 kHz dasher beacon, 700 millisecond dash length, 1.9 second repetition, very weak, deep fading.
Intermittent, possibly on/off with 1 to 5 minute cycle timer.

PLAY AUDIO 4093kHz 700mSec 1900mSec dasher beacon 1720UTC 08SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4093kHz_700mSec_1900mSec_dasher_beacon_1720UTC_08SEP2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image showing the 700mSec dash beacon 4093 kHz near the stronger dasher and morse beacons around 4096-4103 kHz at 1720UTC 08SEP2018
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4093kHz_700mSec_1900mSec_dasher_beacon_1720UTC_08SEP2018.jpg)



Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 09, 2018, 2101 UTC
A slightly tipsy dasher beacon?
Could this be another mode of the "ZN" Morse Beacon, which has been caught lately drifting around this frequency with irregular Morse characters and timing?

When first copying it yesterday, it seemed like some kind of erratic RFI interference, but that has been ruled out.
It seems like a wild beacon with strange timing characteristics.

So, here's today's report on it.
Listen to the audio and see if it reminds one of a drunken CW operator :)

Report
2009 UTC 09SEP2018
4114.42 kHz dasher, 1 second dash, 0.5 ~ 1 Second dash length, 0.5 ~ 1.6 second space length, irregular timing, weak readable, fading

2120 UTC 09SEP2018
4111.2 kHz dasher, 1 second dash, 0.5 ~ 1 Second dash length, 0.5 ~ 1.6 second space length, irregular timing, weak readable, fading
Note: This dasher or a similar one , was reported on this frequency by ChrisSmolinski in January 2017. (https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,32072.msg119875.html#msg119875)

PLAY AUDIO 4114.42 kHz dasher 2009UTC 09SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_42kHz_dasher_2009UTC_09SEP2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image of the 4114.42 kHz dasher 09SEP2018

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_42kHz_dasher_2009UTC_09SEP2018.jpg)

Below: Waterfall image of the 4114.42 kHz dasher near the "Windy" Morse telemetry beacon for comparison 09SEP2018

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_42kHz_dasher_windy_2009UTC_09SEP2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 11, 2018, 0012 UTC
Some wild beacons tend to vary in frequency.
Some dasher beacons tend to vary in dash length and repetition rate cycle.
For the wild beacons, this is most likely due to variations in battery voltage with solar cell charging and/or ambient temperature affecting the components.

This report captures some of the characteristics of 3 well-known dasher beacons around 4096 kHz.
The report was generated for a reception during the local afternoon, with very sunny weather conditions and moderately warm temperature throughout the Western USA desert region (where these beacons are believed to exist in the wild) .

Report
2332UTC 10SEP2018
4095.85 kHz, dasher, "Viking", dash 4 sec, 6.8 sec repetition, good readable
4095.96 kHz, dasher, "Coxie", dash 5.8 sec, 10.5 sec repetition rate, chirp signature, good readable
4096.37 kHz, dasher, "Haystack", dash 2.3 sec, 5.4 sec repetition rate, good readable

When tuned to 4095.5 kHz USB, the trio of beacons seem to play an audible musical melody of flute-like notes :)

PLAY AUDIO 4096 kHz symphony of three dashers 2332UTC 10SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096kHz_3_dashers_2332UTC_10SEP2018.mp3)

Below: Waterfall image of 4096 kHz 3 dashers 2332UTC 10SEP2018 Viking, Coxie, Haystack.

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096kHz_3_dashers_2332UTC_10SEP2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 12, 2018, 0035 UTC
Report: A look at the timing cycle of the 4102 kHz "Windy" Morse telemetry beacon

2323UTC 11SEP2018
4102.8 kHz "Windy" Morse telemetry beacon, good readable, downward chirp

PLAY AUDIO Windy Morse telemetry beacon 2323UTC 11SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_Morse_Beacon_Windy_Telemetry_Timing_2323_UTC_11SEP2018.mp3)

Below: Audio waveform image of Windy Morse telemetry beacon, timing measurements, telemetry decode.

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_Morse_Beacon_Windy_Telemetry_Timing_2323_UTC_11SEP2018.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Strange Beacons on September 12, 2018, 0328 UTC
Report: A look at the timing cycle of the 4102 kHz "Windy" Morse telemetry beacon

Outstanding report and great graphic on this unusual beacon. I tuned in tonight and heard a pretty clear copy of it (https://youtu.be/ezGJ9MyMSt0), using Token's Web SDR.

Question: Who can tell me what kind of kit may be available to build a beacon like this? Or is it all done by scratch?

Curt / W9SPY
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 12, 2018, 1018 UTC
A great illustration, thanks. Maybe you could add it to the HFU Wiki? https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Main_Page

p.s. a nice signal from Windy around 1113z. 76F and 12.6V I think.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 12, 2018, 2310 UTC
A great illustration, thanks. Maybe you could add it to the HFU Wiki?

Added description and the image of Windy telemetry to the HFU Wiki, in a new section "Telemetry Pirate Beacon" of the High Frequency Beacon wiki page (https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/High_Frequency_Beacon#Telemetry_Pirate_Beacon).
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 13, 2018, 2143 UTC
Report highlight: 4114.4 kHz Mystery Irregular Dasher Beacon

Report
2050UTC 13SEP2018
4095.92 kHz dasher, "Viking", weak readable
4096.09 kHz dasher, "Coxie", very weak readable
4096.38 kHz dasher, "Haystack", weak readable
4102.83 kHz Morse telemetry, "Windy", good readable
4114.44 kHz dasher, irregular timing, average 21 dashes per minute, tipsy, good readable

4114.44 kHz irregular dasher beacon was much stronger today, out of about a week of copying it, receiving it only around mid-day, it seems to be in the western USA.

PLAY AUDIO 4114.44 kHz irregular dasher beacon 2050UTC 13SEP2018 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_44kHz_dasher_tipsy_2050UTC_13SEP2018.mp3)

Below: waterfall image of the 4114.44 kHz irregular dasher beacon seen at 2050 UTC on 13SEP2018.
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_44kHz_dasher_tipsy_2050UTC_13SEP2018b.jpg)


Below: waterfall image of 5 of the 4 MHz beacons simultaneously seen at 2050 UTC on 13SEP2018.
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4114_44kHz_dasher_tipsy_2050UTC_13SEP2018.jpg)

Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 15, 2018, 0115 UTC
Report:
6 CW beacons simultaneously copied around 4.1 MHz

0050UTC 15SEP 2018
(1.5 hours before local sunset in California)

4095.70 kHz dasher, "Viking", weak readable
4095.81 kHz dasher, "Coxie", chirp signature, weak readable
4096.37 kHz dasher, "Haystack", good readable
4096.87 kHz ditter, "MarinDit", 1.1 dits per second, very weak, barely readable, fading
4102.82 kHz "W", "Windy", Morse telemetry, good readable, W with wind velocity dits, TMP100, B131 (Temperature 100F, Battery 13.1V)
4104.34 kHz "ZN", weak readable, erratic Morse characters run together, then at 0105 UTC good characters just before it shifted to 4104.13 kHz, good readable

Report
0405UTC 15SEP 2018
(after local sunset in California)

4096.36 kHz dasher, "Haystack", weak readable
4100.02 kHz "H", Morse, weak readable
4102.81 kHz "W", "Windy", Morse telemetry, good readable, W with wind velocity dits, TMP86, B128 (Temperature 86F, Battery 12.8V)
 
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 18, 2018, 0653 UTC
0745 UTC 18SEP2018
Report
4100.05 kHz "H", weak,  Morse beacon, weak readable, 3 second repetition
4102.82 kHz "Windy", Morse telemetry beacon, good readable, chirpy, Wind:variable, TMP:83F, B:12.7V
4103.97 kHz "ZN", Morse beacon, weak, weak readable, stable

Around midnight local time in California.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on September 19, 2018, 2046 UTC
A slightly tipsy dasher beacon?  When first copying it yesterday, it seemed like some kind of erratic RFI interference, but that has been ruled out. It seems like a wild beacon with strange timing characteristics. 
Report
2009 UTC 09SEP2018
4114.42 kHz dasher, 1 second dash, 0.5 ~ 1 Second dash length, 0.5 ~ 1.6 second space length, irregular timing, weak readable, fading
2120 UTC 09SEP2018
4111.2 kHz dasher, 1 second dash, 0.5 ~ 1 Second dash length, 0.5 ~ 1.6 second space length, irregular timing, weak readable, fading 

Report 2030UTC 19SEP2018
4114.42 kHz dasher and 4111.2 kHz dasher ,

After looking and listening more closely today at the pattern of these 2 signals previously reported:
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on October 05, 2018, 0613 UTC
Report
0550UTC 05OCT2018
(local night in California)

4096.37 kHz dasher, "Haystack", weak readable, heavy lightning static
4100.05 kHz "H", Morse, weak readable, heavy lightning static
4102.84 kHz "W", "Windy", Morse telemetry, good readable, W with wind velocity rapid dits, TMP68, B126 (Temperature 68F, Battery 12.6V)

In the gap between beacons H and W, copying some marine band traffic (this is in the maritime 4MHz band)
4100.0 USB peskies, voice, S. Korean language (KO), ship-to-ship, Pacific, good readable
4101.4 CW peskies, Morse, ship-to-ship, same Korean ops using voice USB on 4100 USB, callsigns: HL[...], good readable
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: MojaveBeaconeer on October 30, 2018, 2051 UTC
Exo,

ABSOLUTLY FABULOUS reporting and waterfalls!  The stable 24/7 bcn. is HAYSTACK on 4096.37 or so (xtal/temp drift) and with only about 150 mW output to an inverted-vee - the center is atop a big rock-pile. COXIE is a strong 1-watt output drifting day-timer hovering around 4096.0 but variable  +/- 150 Hz.

VIKING is on 4095.87 and is weak and drifty by a tad halfway between the Owens Valley and the Panamint Valley, and sometimes mid-day develops a weird trill in the noon Sun. 

COXIE is about 1 watt but long ago lost its battery so it runs day only and so varies a lot (cloud passages are neat to see).

The other ner 4 MHz stuff I do not know about... except a friend and I long ago in 2001 DFed Windy...

BTW if you do hear a weak signal ditting on 4096.85 or so it is the faint 5 mW fundamental of "MarinDit" hrd only 3x in the Moj desrt...  MB
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: MojaveBeaconeer on October 30, 2018, 2057 UTC
Yes COXIE in Joshua tree NP does have a funky chirp also, variable 4095.8 to 4096.15 (it has quite a freq.range!). 

Long ago, about 2006, its battery gave out and so it goes on day by day just by day and is about 1 watt to a tuned LC output to a straight dipole in a canyon with its best signal northward by far...

fab reports Exo! MB
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: MojaveBeaconeer on October 30, 2018, 2104 UTC

"When tuned to 4095.5 kHz USB, the trio of beacons seem to play an audible musical melody of flute-like notes :) "

hee hee,  that was the original idea long ago when the 4096 project began in '97... MB
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 02, 2018, 0920 UTC
Exo,

ABSOLUTLY FABULOUS reporting and waterfalls!  The stable 24/7 bcn. is HAYSTACK on 4096.37 or so (xtal/temp drift) and with only about 150 mW output to an inverted-vee - the center is atop a big rock-pile. COXIE is a strong 1-watt output drifting day-timer hovering around 4096.0 but variable  +/- 150 Hz.

VIKING is on 4095.87 and is weak and drifty by a tad halfway between the Owens Valley and the Panamint Valley, and sometimes mid-day develops a weird trill in the noon Sun. 

COXIE is about 1 watt but long ago lost its battery so it runs day only and so varies a lot (cloud passages are neat to see).

The other ner 4 MHz stuff I do not know about... except a friend and I long ago in 2001 DFed Windy...

BTW if you do hear a weak signal ditting on 4096.85 or so it is the faint 5 mW fundamental of "MarinDit" hrd only 3x in the Moj desrt...  MB

Thanks, @MB, for all the great details on these wild beacons in the Mojave!
They seem to have quite a fascinating backstory.
The Mojave is a harsh place for solar powered electronics in the wild.
The extremes of temperature, weather, and sunlight have broken down many remote sites.
It is really amazing that these wild beacons keep on ticking :)
 
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on November 02, 2018, 0943 UTC
I'm hoping improved conditions this winter (including less static) allow me to hear these beacons again. I used to get the 4096 beacons until a few years ago.  I am actually in the process of putting up a dipole cut for 4100 kHz oriented N/S so with some gain to the west, perhaps that will give e the extra dBs I need to hear them.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 02, 2018, 0944 UTC
Report 1900 UTC 2018 NOV 01

4102.8 kHz CW "Windy", erratic frequency drift to 4102.9 kHz, strong readable

Windy CW telemetry wild beacon has been erratic lately during sunlight hours.

Windy normally has a fairly stable CW frequency, but it has been logged drifting up +100 Hz and back down.
When the voltage is that high, the frequency seems to vary quite a lot during the transmission.

During high noon and afternoon daylight hours, (if the telemetry is actually calibrated) a much higher than normal battery voltage has been transmitted by Windy.
Voltages as high as 16.0 VDC (B=160 decivolts) have been copied.
Maybe it is suffering from too much sun :)

PLAY AUDIO Drifty 4102 kHz Windy CW telemetry wild beacon 2018 NOV 01 - 1918UTC  (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_kHz_Windy_CW_telemetry_wild_beacon2018NOV01_1918UTC.mp3)

Waterfall image of Windy drifting with Battery at 14.7 VDC
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_8kHz_windy__beacon_2018NOV1.jpg)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on November 02, 2018, 1009 UTC
I thought Windy was slightly higher in frequency when I was listening just a few minutes ago. A weak signal today, and lots of static from storms. Windy and A on 2097 are the only western beacons I am hearing, but they generally come in most mornings.

Until a few months ago I was hearing the Zebra beacons. I lost track of the time of the window of reception, if there still is one.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 03, 2018, 0202 UTC
Exo,
BTW if you do hear a weak signal ditting on 4096.85 or so it is the faint 5 mW fundamental of "MarinDit" hrd only 3x in the Moj desrt...  MB

Hi MB,

Yes, MarinDit was there today on its 4 MHz fundamental, precisely where you said it would be, just above Viking, Coxie, and Haystack :)

It was received around local noon during good NVIS propagation conditions here in Northern California.

Report 2005 UTC 2018 NOV 02
4096.86 kHz CW, MarinDit, beacon, very weak, fading, 0.9 second repetition rate



PLAY AUDIO  4096.86 kHz CW MarinDit beacon 2005 UTC 2018 NOV 02 with Haystack dasher below it (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_86kHz_MarinDit_2018NOV02_2005UTC_cw.mp3)


Waterfall image of 4096 kHz CW beacons Viking, Coxie, Haystack, MarinDit at 2005 UTC 2018 NOV 02:

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096_86kHz_MarinDit_2018NOV02_2005UTC.jpg)

Nearby Pt. Arguello ionogram at the time of logging. (the FoF2=5.488 MHz at this time)
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31056778)



Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Teotwaki on November 05, 2018, 1637 UTC
Report 1900 UTC 2018 NOV 01

4102.8 kHz CW "Windy", erratic frequency drift to 4102.9 kHz, strong readable

Windy CW telemetry wild beacon has been erratic lately during sunlight hours.

Windy normally has a fairly stable CW frequency, but it has been logged drifting up +100 Hz and back down.
When the voltage is that high, the frequency seems to vary quite a lot during the transmission.

During high noon and afternoon daylight hours, (if the telemetry is actually calibrated) a much higher than normal battery voltage has been transmitted by Windy.
Voltages as high as 16.0 VDC (B=160 decivolts) have been copied.
Maybe it is suffering from too much sun :)

I suspect a few things are in play.

The battery is losing capacity. Low voltages in the darker hours seem to indicate this.
The solar charge controller might have issues. The peak voltages should never go over 14.4 DC
The oscillator is not well isolated from voltage noise, spikes and small variations so as battery voltages become irregular the frequency follows.

Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 11, 2018, 2229 UTC
Highlight of this report: Relative signal strength of 4096 kHz beacons.

Report
2150 UTC 2018 NOV 11

4095.93 kHz CW, "Viking", dasher beacon, -109 dBm good readable
4096.04 kHz CW, "Coxie", dasher beacon, -118 dBm weak readable
4096.38 kHz CW, "Haystack", dasher beacon, -114 dBm good readable
4096.87 kHz CW, "MarinDit", ditter beacon, -125 dBm, weak readable with fading below noise
4102.83 kHz CW, "Windy", Morse telemetry beacon, -100 dBm good readable

PLAY AUDIO Four 4096 kHz beacons 4095.5 kHz USB 2150UTC 2018NOV11  (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096kHz_beacons_2150UTC_2018NOV11_4095_5kHzUSB.mp3)29 second MP3 audio clip

Waterfall image below shows a sample of signal strength and frequency of four 4096 kHz beacons:

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4096kHz_beacons_2150UTC_2018NOV11.jpg)


Ionogram below shows Pt. Arguello ionosonde data for the logged time interval indicating NVIS propagation single hop F2 around the California and western Nevada area with foF2=5.375 MHz.

(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31148417)


Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 21, 2018, 2137 UTC
Highlight of this report: UNID Dasher at 4087 kHz CW

Report
2048UTC 2018NOV21

4087.10 kHz CW, UNID, Dasher, -114 dBm, weak readable, ~1.0 second repetition, 600 mSec dash duration

4090.93 kHz CW, UNID, carrier, -120 dBm, weak
4095.89 kHz CW, "Viking", dasher beacon, -112 dBm, weak readable
4096.04 kHz CW, "Coxie", dasher beacon, -120 dBm, weak readable
4096.39 kHz CW, "Haystack", dasher beacon, -108 dBm, good readable
4102.86 kHz CW, "Windy", Morse telemetry beacon, -100 dBm, good readable

PLAY AUDIO 4087.10 kHz CW UNID Dasher 2048UTC 2018NOV21 MP3 audio clip
 (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4087_10kHz_CW_Dasher_2018NOV21_2048UTC.mp3)

Waterfall image below shows a sample of signal strength and frequency for this 4 MHz report:
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4087_10kHz_CW_Dasher_2018NOV21_2048UTC.jpg)


Ionogram image below for this report time interval, courtesy of the nearby Pt. Arguello ionosonde:
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31250952)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on November 22, 2018, 0643 UTC
Highlight of this report: "ZN" Beacon 4102 kHz amidst 4100~4103 kHz S. Korean fishing fleet Voice/CW traffic

Report
2018NOV22 0600UTC

4100.00 kHz USB, VOICE S.KOREAN, FISHING VESSEL "HLVW", "SAJO ORYONG #306",  -110 DBM, good readable
4101.37 kHz CW, S.KOREAN, FISHING VESSEL "HLVW" -110 DBM, good readable
4101.95 kHz CW, "ZN", MORSE BEACON -110 DBM, good readable (Does ZN stand for "Zion"? as in the National Park in Utah?)
4102.85 kHz CW, "Windy", MORSE TELEMETRY BEACON -100 DBM, strong readable
Average noise level ~ -124 DBM, with lightning static crashes

For more information about these S.Korean fishing vessels in the mid-Pacific Ocean, see the HFU topic here: (https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,46532.msg170256.html)
Topic: Mystery S.Korean Peskies 4100.0 USB 4101.4 CW Pacific (https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,46532.msg170256.html)

PLAY AUDIO 4101.37 kHz CW maritime with 4102 kHz ZN and Windy beacons 2018NOV22 0600UTC  (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4100kHz_maritime_USB_CW_4102kHz_beacons_2018NOV22_0600UTC.mp3)


Waterfall and spectrum image below shows maritime traffic on 4100 kHz USB Voice and CW with ZN and Windy beacons:
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4100kHz_maritime_USB_CW_4102kHz_beacons_2018NOV22_0600UTC.jpg)


Ionogram image below for this report time interval, courtesy of the nearby Pt. Arguello ionosonde:
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31268879)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: syfr on November 22, 2018, 1524 UTC
Chris, what time have you heard these? I've been out in Calif and heard them clearly but never from the Right Coast.
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on November 22, 2018, 2210 UTC
Chris, what time have you heard these? I've been out in Calif and heard them clearly but never from the Right Coast.

Generally just before sunrise, check my logs for exact time(s).
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 07, 2018, 0241 UTC
Highlight of this report: ZN beacon with good signal

Report
2018DEC07 0155UTC

4102.03 kHz CW, Morse beacon, "ZN", good readable, -110 dBm.
4102.86 kHz CW, Morse telemetry beacon, "Windy", W=medium rate, TMP46, B121, good readable, -112 dBm.

Note: The ZN beacon could very well be called the NZ beacon, because the spacing between all the Morse characters, 0.788 sec, is essentially the same. But, since it appears to have some contextual history among other Z beacons, it is being called the ZN beacon.

PLAY AUDIO recording of both ZN and Windy beacons in same passband 4101.5 kHz USB 2018DEC07 0155UTC (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102kHz_ZN_Windy_Morse_Beacons_2018DEC07_0155UTC.mp3)

PLAY AUDIO recording ZN beacon at 4102.03 kHz CW 2018DEC07 0155UTC (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_03kHz_ZN_Morse_Beacon_2018DEC07_0155UTC.mp3)

Waterfall image below shows ZN and Windy beacons 4102 kHz 2018DEC07 0155UTC

(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102kHz_ZN_Windy_Morse_Beacons_2018DEC07_0155UTC.jpg)


Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 19, 2018, 2150 UTC
Highlight of report: 6 western USA beacons around 4.1 MHz

Report
2018DEC19 2115UTC

4089.04 kHz CW, UNID, dasher, 0.5 second duration, 2 second repetition, weak readable, -125 dBm
4095.03 kHz CW, Viking, dasher, wild beacon, readable, -118 dBm
4096.06 kHz CW, Coxie, dasher, wild beacon, weak readable, -125 dBm
4096.35 kHz CW, Haystack, dasher, wild beacon, readable, -119 dBm
4096.84 kHz CW, MarinDit, ditter, QRPp attic beacon, weak readable, -126 dBm
4102.87 kHz CW, Windy, Morse telemetry, wild beacon, variable +/- 10 Hz, TMP=75, B=149, good readable, -116 dBm

Waterfall image below shows the 6 beacons as logged in this report at 2018DEC19 2115UTC:
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/Beacons_4MHz_2018DEC19_2115UTC.jpg)

Image below shows the ionogram of the nearby Pt. Arguello Digisonde ionosonde at the time of this report 2018DEC19 2115UTC with favorable 4.1 MHz single hop (foF2=5.663 MHz, fxI=6.33 MHz) and good NVIS propagation conditions for this geographic area:
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31554414)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on December 23, 2018, 2342 UTC
Highlight of report: 5 western USA beacons around 4.1 MHz

Report
2018DEC23 2320UTC

4095.76 kHz CW, Coxie
, dasher, wild beacon, distinctive chirp, weak readable, -118 dBm
4095.78 kHz CW, Viking, dasher, wild beacon, chirp/shift, good readable, -103 dBm
4096.34 kHz CW, Haystack, dasher, wild beacon, readable, -105 dBm
4096.84 kHz CW, MarinDit, ditter, QRPp attic beacon, weak readable, -125 dBm
4102.85 kHz CW, Windy, Morse telemetry, wild beacon, TMP=70, B=132, good readable, -100 dBm

At the time of this report, local late afternoon, 2018DEC23 2315UTC, there were favorable 4.1 MHz single hop and NVIS propagation conditions for California, USA.
Image below shows the ionogram of the nearby Pt. Arguello Digisonde ionosonde at the time of this report:
(http://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31596363)
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on January 23, 2019, 0201 UTC
Report
2019JAN23 0150UTC

4095.78 kHz CW, Viking, dasher, wild beacon, readable, -98 dBm
4096.35 kHz CW, Haystack, dasher, wild beacon, good readable, -92 dBm
4102.36 kHz CW, ZN, Morse, weak readable, -115 dBm
4102.82 kHz CW, Windy, Morse telemetry, slightly chirpy, TMP=50, B=126, good readable, -95 dBm
Note: Noise level in 3 kHz bandwidth, approximately -125dBm average.

Image below shows the ionogram of the nearby Pt. Arguello Digisonde ionosonde at the time of this report:
FoF2=2.700 MHz; fxI=3.3 MHz; 800 km MUF = 4.1 MHz.
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=31877770)
[/quote]
Title: Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons
Post by: Exo on February 06, 2019, 1814 UTC
Highlight of this report: "Windy" Beacon 4102 kHz long wind dash

Report
2019EBF06 1714UTC

4095.8~ kHz CW,  "Viking", dasher beacon, readable
4096.3~ kHz CW, "Haystack", dasher beacon, readable
4096.87 kHz CW, "MarinDit", ditter beacon, weak readable with fading below noise
4102.86 kHz CW, "Windy", Morse telemetry beacon, -114 dBm, readable (TMP53 B128 W_)
Average noise level ~ -120 DBM, with hf radar interference

PLAY AUDIO Windy Morse telemetry beacon LONG WIND DASH with TMP53 B128 W_ 2019EBF06 1714UTC (http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_9kHz_CW_Morse_beacon_Windy_2019FEB06_1714UTC.mp3)

Waterfall and spectrum image below showsWindy Morse telemetry beacon LONG WIND DASH with TMP53 B128 W_ 2019EBF06 1714UTC:
(http://hfpack.com/members/exo/4102_9kHz_CW_Morse_beacon_Windy_2019FEB06_1714UTC.jpg)


Ionogram image below for this report time interval, courtesy of the nearby Pt. Arguello Digisonde ionosonde in California:
(https://lgdc.uml.edu/common/ShowIonogram?mid=32028708)