HFU HF Underground
Loggings => Fishing Drift Net Beacons => Topic started by: mapleleaf on October 05, 2011, 0418 UTC
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at 0425 UTC on 1730 Khz. repeats "IC514" then a longer dash four or five times then pauses for about 5 minutes.
leaf
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I've spotted 2 more beacons:
KW109 at 1761 kHz and IC518 at 1752.
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http://www.genesisradio.com.au/VK2DX/fishnet.html
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Thanks for posting that link, QRP.
here is a list of what I logged last night. I just kept scanning between 1710 and the 160 meter band.
I will dust off the SDR-IQ and see what else is out there. It would be fun to see what other folks on the east coast can hear.
1730 0415 IC514
1752 0425 IC518
1761 0422 KW109
1839 0526 4BOB
1881 0536 4BNZ
1989 0510 AY7
1942 0500 IC526
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Hey, very interesting topic. I decided to do some listening with the SDR this evening.
All heard around 2250 UTC today, October 9:
1730 kHz CF3
1764 kHz 4LJP
1856 kHz DA2
1894 kHz 4OUS
1977 kHz 4CMV
1993 kHz 4OMZ
Heard around 2320 UTC:
1884 kHz CK1
1953 kHz QU7
1988 kHz JE1
1982 kHz HU5E
And at 2134 UTC:
1998 kHz 4DQX
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I spent this past long weekend at Kejimkujik National Park. One of the quietest places I've ever listened to radio. IC706 mkIIG, 12 volt gel-cel and a PAR-SWL oriented E-W.
I logged these beacons mostly between 1000 and 1400 UTC on Oct 8 and Oct 9.
1715 CB8
1720 92S115
1753 RZ6
1753 4LJS
1772 4PEC
1787 97W107
1792 SG5
1802 PK1
1812 VH7
1813 EY9
1856 DA2
1883 5AJW
1942 PS3
1970 4PFK
1972 AB8
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I see we both logged DA2. That's pretty impressive, given the low power of these beacons, and the distance between us.
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And another one, heard around 2156 UTC:
1948 khz 4QJA
Maybe it's worth creating a page on the HFU Wiki, to keep track of these?
http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Fishnet_beacon (http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Fishnet_beacon)
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It would be fun to try to track these things. I wonder if it is possible to get a bearing using a loop antenna of some kind? I have a large ferite loop-stick salvaged from an old MF/LF DF receiver.
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Hmm, that's an interesting idea. They're pretty close to the MW band - it might work. Do you think there will be enough signal?
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only way to find out is to try it. I will find a capacitor that works and try it
I just logged two on 1962: RZ6 and 4IGW. RZ6 also appeared at 1753.
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Some more beacons copied last night (early morning UTC 11 October 2011):
1722 93W113
1753 4PDU
1795 CF9
1894 4LID
1894 4LKO
1912 DS89
1918 IO82
2003 4JSP
2019 4HVX
2020 BM3
2041 4CEF
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I've played around extensively in the past using small air loops and ferrite bar loops to DF at HF. Both will work very well at these freqs with a couple caveats. You will get the best results if the loop is outdoors; there's seems to be too much obfuscation of the null bearing when the loop in inside, possibly from re-radiation from metallic house structures and wiring. If you are using an air loop, it is best that it has a balanced architecture with a balanced amp to get the deepest nulls.
The ferrite bar is the easiest way to go for a quick hack. Throw 30 to 50 turns on it, find a variable cap that resonates it at the freq of interest. Throw a second winding on the bar which has maybe 5 - 10 turns, and connect this to your receiver. It's cheap and quick, and you can always optimize the turns in each coil by testing it against top-end MW stations.
I don't see sig strength as being an issue; you're going to hear it or not. As I understand it, these beacons are pretty intermittent in nature. It's probably going to take some patience to find the null.
If you're really serious about DF'ing these freqs, the amplified air loop is the way to go. It will give generally reliable results up to around 2.5 MHz. In fact, the only time I logged the Falkland Islands (2380kHz) was with a small air loop. I had a rotor on it at the time. I only got about twenty seconds of audio, but I was able to DF it to within about ten degrees. They QSL'd it! Not a brag; I just got damn lucky that night. Rather, I think this is indicative of the enormous potential of small loops.
There are quite a few published articles about amplified air loops around. Might I suggest looking at some of the impressive work that Mark Connelly has out there. Most of it is geared towards MW, but should be easily modified to work just above the MW band.
Have fun!
BTW, what are the typical signal strengths you're seeing with your current antennas?
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I've been thinking that it might be useful if there was a way to add locations where various beacons have been heard to the list on the wiki: http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Fishnet_beacon (http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/Fishnet_beacon)
Any suggestions on how to do this?
An alternative would be some sort of online logging app, where folks can enter in what they've heard, and their lon/lat. It would take a little effort to make such an app. I could do it, if there would be enough folks willing to enter in loggings to make it worthwhile.
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:D Listening for fishing buoys would be a neat project, perhaps a top challenge beacon wise. Some of these I understand run 15W or more, and some are flea powered, however at these typical frequencies the radiation efficiency will be no more than a mobile ham station on the 160 meter band. The one factor that will make them decent radiators is the fact of a their salt water environment.
I will be a supporter of the separate fishing beacon site. Even If I cannot hear much from down here in Central Florida I will try. About a year ago I built A small “flag antenna”. It was seven (7) feet high and fourteen (14) feet long and rectangular in configuration. It was just an experiment as I didn’t have a suitable preamp at the time. Even so this small antenna picked up an amazing number of signals while reducing noise off the back. Especially seeing as we are finally heading into the Fall season with reduced static levels down here in Lightning Alley, I think I’ll put the flag back up and pointed generally at an azimuth of 30-35 degrees and listen a bit on the fishing net frequencies. By the way the first evening I listened on the flag I casually tuned down into the NDB band and easily logged QI, which is Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on 206 Khz., and this was without a preamp! By the way this size flag can easily be transported and set up using a simple pvc or fiberglass tubing structure. Set up next to salt water this would be a real asset.
Also, I highly recommend a preamp in kit form from the W8DIZ website. It is called HF RF Amplifier version 1.1 and for only $8.00 it is well worth the small investment. Mine was built in an Altoids case. I have been listening with this preamp connected to an on ground 15 foot long antenna with a single point ground with next to amazing results. This preamp would make a great companion to the flag and with the possibility of logging fishing net beacons has stimulated me to try.
Keep up the interesting reports and the question concerning relative signal strength and antenna type used during logging would be beneficial.
Looking to the Fall season!
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It looks like kluging up a directional antenna is going to require more effort than I thought. My ferrite loopstick is optimized for 1600 kHz and below. I could wind another coil on it but it seems that putting the effort into an air loop would yield better results.
I have some more loggings to post but I need to format them.
There is a beacon at 1725 which has a different format than all the others I have heard. While listening for an extended period, I heard several short bursts of fsk/psk data. This warrants further monitoring, I think.
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Beacons heard Oct 12 0730-0830 UTC
1705 3SUM
1713 HW212
1725 ET53
1828 IO5
1871 5AJV
1872 4FJT
1939 AV0
1970 4PFK
1970 4QNA
1970 AB8
1989 4IKT
2049 4COI
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Turned the radio on at UTC 0140 in heavy static caught
4QQC 1998 Khz followed by a long dash, repeats every 3-4 minutes
Using my loop signal was solid copy except for the heavy static.
Now on same frequency 4LJW and following dash at 0147 UTC
Again would be fun copy without the noise.
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Got another beacon at 1993 Khz 0201 4MYK
I hear another signal at 1986 kHz but static prevents ID at the moment.
This may be a lot of fun in the winter for me.
The noise is building so will probably shut down for tonight
Got got Got it at the last moment
OE1 1986 Khz 0220 Utc
Static is miserable.... >:(
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jFarley:
Signal strengths have been all over the place.Most of my loggings have been with an R75 and a 1/2 Vertical which is supposed to be for 14-30 Mhz. It is my least noisy. Most have been readable but not strong. Some move the s meter significantly. They must be fairly close.
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On signal strengths-
Yes I agree that signal strengths did vary a great deal.
Seeing as some of these buoys may be 1300 miles or more
varying signal strength seems quite understandable. If the
static last night was moderated at least some several signals
may have moved the S-Meter some down her in central Florida.
I quite surprised by hearing so many signals. I just turned my
radios on tuned down and almost immediately found one. I
wonder if there are buoys of this type further south than the
"Grand Banks" general area. You may be picking up signals from
as close as the Sable island area. Since the Labrador current
and Gulf Stream meet in that general area fishing must be good.
This is a neat project and hopefully we'll be able to better understand
these buoys, their placement and use, so we can be better prepared
to listen in and log a few.
I'll try and put some more time into buoy listening soon!
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I have an audio copy of Fish Net beacon 4QQC as received last evening.
If you want to hear what they sound like from my location let me know!
Its about 240 Kb MP3
My email: w1vr73@gmail.com
The recording was made at 400 Hz IF bandwidth, all of my noise
blanker controls were on line attempting to dig out the signal. The
recording was done merely putting my audio recording device next to
the speaker but sounds good.
:)
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Couple more Fisn Net beacons
I sat down this evening at the grey line and 4QQC on 1998 Khz was loud @ 2312 UTC
Logged him last night but no where near this signal strength. The noise was
somewhat reduced as well.
BL4 1979 Khz @ 2332 UTC very strong, moved the S-meter and estimated to be 15 db over noise.
This was quite a surprise considering the others have been so weak. This beacon was so strong
as I could easily pick up its hard keying characteristics including some clicks. If it wasn't some effects
of greyline this guy almost has to be down in this part of the ocean or gulf at the strong signal levls!
+++++++++++++
10-12-11 EP51 1963 Khz @ 0016UTC
Static building to last nights proportions so calling it quits for sack time.
::)
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I have a few more new ones for the log.
I made some recordings too. I'm wondering if I should put them up on a file hosting site.
copied between 0000 and 0100 UTC:
2040 EK3
1998 AZ9
1980 BQ4
1956 AH5
1940 CG5
1905 UF?
1826 EE2
1940 CG5
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Hello Mapleleaf!
I for one would like to hear your recordings.
My loggings thus far have produced signals good enough to make three recordings.
Last evening I caught at least one buoy with a cycle repeat time of about 2 1/2 minutes.
It may be that the owner has done this to help find his string or perhaps cycle time can
be altered remotely. ??
I wonder if a master list of buoys and their calls is available or are they also programmable?
Do owners simply select their own call signs?
If they do perhaps there is a data base available that would list all the currently assigned calls.
It almost seems reasonable that the calls are factory set as not to cause confusion. Of course the question then must be asked how multiple suppliers would correlate the call assignment unless a master data base available.
Have you logged any of the same call on a different frequency?
Just curious but would love to know the approximate position or general area where the buoys are when logged!
If you find anyhting out please post. It seems though you would be in a better position to actually visit fisherman who use these devices as they may be bale to shed some light on these curious entities.
Cheers!
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"These transmitters send periodic identifiers that repeat along with a carrier and long pauses. They generally have numbers in the identifier, repeat the identifier in groups of three, and then have long silent periods. They are battery powered and low power, but they can be heard for hundreds or thousands of miles. They are most frequently found between 1.8 and 3.6 MHz, and are very common on the 160-meter band.
The identifier has nothing to do with the location, it is something programmed by the manufacturer, installer, or his technical support. They often contain a receiver and can be turned off and on remotely by the owner.
The most effective way to get rid of one is to operate on or very close to the beacon frequency. It takes some period of time, but if the owner can't hear the beacon reliably he will program a new frequency. Several nights of heavy activity near a beacon often results in a channel switch.
The same is true for illegal fishing vessel transmitters. They often coordinate operation on or near a beacon's frequency on USB. They often take the hint they are operating illegally when they hear legal activity on or near their frequency. Illegal marine operations often occur on 160 and 80 meters. It isn't always the Japanese or Korean boats that are problem, there are fishing boats based out of Canada and the United States operating on illegal frequencies."
https://bmoran.onehub.com/app/hub/16078a1da35b4354a252f47ecfcdec75df742a69/content_item_previews/show/76a9a64254512ca70eca964e446a8cce2ef5caa8/1-563jpg-preview
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Here are a couple of recordings. The first one is an example of one of the stronger beacons I've heard.
The second one is interesting in that it is a different format from all the other ones, as you can hear.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/45626319/3ZTA.mp3
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/45626319/1725%20kHz.mp3
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Loggings from Oct 18 0930-1030 UTC:
1704 4LLR
1707 3ZTA
1748 95R971
1773 4PEC
1812 TR4
1826 4PEC
1826 EE2
1839 3ZDY
1862 UE6
1924 AG6
1942 IC526
1956 AH5
1989 4IKT
2049 4COI
2049 4IFE
The two beacons at 2049 are interesting as they are txing their IDs at the same time, less than 1 sec apart. 4IFE is slightly higer in freq so I could split them apart.
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Great loggings Mapleaf! It is obvious you have better signals especially confirmed after listening to your recordings on the drop box site! Looks like were going to get a tropical front through the area so my noise level will probably preclude much listening in the short time.
Earlier you mentioned a loop! With the signal strengths you receive, I would think that using a loop of almost any kind, including yours optimized for lower frequencies, would still work pretty well as is! I’m a WWII history buff and I couldn’t help but relate the fish net buoys, and your talk of a loop, to the same procedure for tracking U-Boats. Two ships in a convoy would hear the U-Boats reporting convoy information and then use the two direction finding data to roughly pinpoint the U-Boats position. This simple procedure worked very well and spelled the end for many a U-Boat sailor. Depending on your interest of course the same procedure could be used from your location with multiple reports and the azimuth information providing a rough area of fish net buoy deployment. If it is possible (in the fall and winter??) to hear the same buoy from two different locations such as from your vehicle driven to a good listening spot this could prove to be an interesting past time. I’m not sure if this is practical from my location down here in Florida as only a couple of buoys I have logged thus far have been potentially strong enough for direction finding.
Well, that’s just a thought as it could prove very interesting if one was inclined with the possibility of adding a significant extension of SWLing.
I’ll be watching for your posts as I really appreciate your comments! :)
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This screen shot of SpectraVue will give some idea of the number of beacons I may be able to track.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/45626319/27..jpg
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Wow! Sure love those northern noise levels (or lack thereof!) Nice!
Makes my reception environment look sick in comparison.
I need to throw a loop together and use it to check noise cancellation
whether its domestic or natural. Its mostly the natural down here as I've
recently complained.
I'll try and find some time this weekend as our temperatures, and
hopefully the noise level will follow as it will be in the high 40's.
Until then... keep up the good work! :)
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Some more information in this topic:
http://www.qsl.net/n2sln/driftnetbeacons.html
http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297:illegal-fishery-buoys-on-28-mhz&catid=39:iarums&Itemid=87
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Here's a vote to NOT create a separate forum... most of us would be interested and it fits the description and intent of this forum.