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1366

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 5534 kHz USB 0620+ UTC 12 April 2017

« on: April 12, 2017, 0627 UTC »

Doing some late night (er...early morning) band scanning and came across another "pescadore net" on 5534 USB.  5534 kHz lies within the 5450 kHz to 5730 kHz aeronautical band but 5534 does not appear to be an assigned on-route HF aircraft frequency. 

Radio traffic is similar to the standard peskie two-way traffic heard in the 6-7 MHz region and on other frequencies.  Heavy static crashes and relatively weak signals gives these stations a SIO 222. 

1367

Other / HF Marine Nets 6230 kHz USB and 6270 kHz USB 0330+ UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 12, 2017, 0336 UTC »

Two groups of marine stations chatting away on 6230 kHz USB and 6270 kHz USB.  6230 kHz is one of the few 6 MHz marine band [6200 kHz - 6525 kHz] simplex only channels (according to the ITU channel plan anyway). 

6230 kHz USB - Spanish language
6270 kHz USB - Italian language

Both nets are coming in nice and strong late this evening (US East Coast).  Nice to see marine users actually using legal HF marine frequencies within the legal HF marine bands!   

1368

Other / HF SSB Marine ITU Channel 601 6200 kHz USB 0300+ UTC 12 April 2017

« on: April 12, 2017, 0332 UTC »

Tuning around the 3-8 MHz region this evening, right at the bottom of the 6 MHz marine band and I came across a simplex QSO on 6200 kHz USB.  Per the ITU HF SSB maritime frequency channel plan, 6200 kHz is ITU channel 601 and is a "duplex" channel (split-frequency) paired with 6501 kHz.  6200 kHz USB is the ship transmit frequency and 6501 is the coast transmit frequency.  6200/6501 is listed as one of the "USCG Calling" channels which makes sense given the fact that the US Coast Guard uses 6501 kHz USB for marine weather transmissions.  

The users are speaking Spanish and are operating in single-frequency only (nothing heard on 6501 kHz).  Per ITU channel plan, only 6224 kHz, 6227 kHz and 6230 kHz may be used for simplex operation.  

Maybe I've stumbled upon some fishermen actually using real legit MF/HF marine radio with the pre-programmed ITU channels!  [gasp!]

Still going strong at 0332 UTC.  

1369

Peskies / Peskies / Pescadores / Freebanders Loggings 12 April 2017 0130+ UTC

« on: April 12, 2017, 0144 UTC »

6750 kHz USB - Unknown language, likely Spanish...strong QRM from data signal on ~6752 kHz
6763 kHz USB - Spanish, very strong signals with ute QRM
6771 kHz USB - Spanish - with very heavy QRM from Old Time Radio on 6770 kHz AM
6868 kHz LSB - Portuguese
6870 kHz AM/CW - station tuning up
6873 kHz LSB - Portuguese
6873 kHz USB - Spanish, sporadic signal right at noise floor
6895 kHz LSB - Spanish, very strong signals with some static crashes.  At least 3 different stations talking in a "net"
6900 kHz LSB - Spanish - active as usual
6915 kHz LSB - Portuguese
6919 kHz LSB - Portuguese, sporadic signals
6925 kHz LSB - Portuguese, very strong signals some S7-S9 with QRM (stations walking all over each other, etc)
6960 kHz LSB - Spanish
6986 kHz USB - Unknown language, sporadic signal

1370

North American Shortwave Pirate / Old Time Radio OTR 6770 kHz AM 0130 UTC + 12 April 2017

« on: April 12, 2017, 0141 UTC »

Hearing bits and pieces of Old Time Radio pirate on 6770.0 kHz AM.  Pescadore QRM from two-way traffic on 6771 kHz USB making reception difficult.  SIO 333 at best.

1371

10/11 meters / 27495 kHz USB / 27.495 MHz USB Sporadic-E 11 Meter Activity 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 1739 UTC »

Hearing faint Spanish language traffic on 27495 USB (complete with roger beeps!) at 1735 UTC.  Scanning the rest of 11 meters and hearing nothing but local AM CB traffic and occasional station calling CQ DX on 27385 LSB. 

Maybe the sporadic E season is finally upon us! 

1372

10/11 meters / Truckstop Broadcasts on CB Channel 19 27.185 MHz 27185 kHz AM Indiana SDR

« on: April 11, 2017, 1736 UTC »

I was fooling around with one of the KiwiSDRs (remote SDRs) located in Indiana (Edinburgh, Indiana), which happens to be located right next to Interstate 65.  Listening to the 11 meter band on this remote receiver I tuned to 27185.0 kHz (CB CH 19) and heard a very strong signal right on 27185.00 (lots of transmissions on CB, especially truckers' radios, are usually 500-1000 Hz off frequency, some of them I've noticed are 3-4 kHz off-frequency.

Anyway, every 30-40 seconds, a powerful signal comes on [often on top of on-going trucker chatter] with a YL advertising an "all hand truck wash" at exit 76B:

$20 truck wash, $20 trailer, $15 flatbed, etc.  I've heard several different versions of these ads (including ones coming from local truck stops on Interstate 95) and they're not actually truck washes...they're truckstop prostitutes "lot lizards" advertising themselves over CB radio.  Considering the fact that most trucker communications heard on this SDR are in the S2-S4 signal strength range and this automatic recording broadcast is S5 to S7 means they're either running considerable power or are very close to the SDR receiver itself.  

Since the receiver in question is near a truckstop, I've logged several other local communications on nearby 11 meter frequencies:

26985 kHz / 26.985 MHz - CB Channel 3 - truckers chatting to each other while at truck stop
27055 kHz / 27.055 MHz - CB Channel 8 - truckers chatting to each other while driving up (or down) Interstate 65
27125 kHz / 27.125 MHz - CB Channel 14 - two truckers, one with a very overmodulated signal talking about switching trucking companies
27165 kHz / 27.165 MHz - CB Channel 17 - appears to be alternate channel, used when channel 19 is congested
27205 kHz / 27.205 MHz - CB Channel 20 - truckers chatting to each other while at truck stop
27355 kHz / 27.355 MHz - CB Channel 35 - dump trucks on work site talking to each other (very strong signals, possibly construction crews)
27635 kHz / 27.635 MHz - truckers chatting to each other while driving up (or down) Interstate 65

The band was completely closed when I made these logs so I know the traffic heard was local.  Interesting what can be heard on these SDRs since basically all of them cover the 25-30 MHz region.  

1373

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6925 AM 1540 UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 1541 UTC »

OMs talking, occasional music

Drama involving Sam Spade, sounds like The Maltese Falcon.  Fading up and down, S3-S4 signal but readable except during deep fades. 

1374

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6898.7 kHz USB 0600+ UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 0621 UTC »

via Stevensville, Montana remote receiver [KiwiSDR].  6898.7 USB

Several stations chatting away, with the usual static crashes.  A couple stations are decently strong (SIO 333 - SIO 444), while others are barely readable.  One of the operators was singing for a few seconds.  Tuned in at 0600 UTC, frequency still active at 0621 UTC.

1375

Utility / US CBP COTHEN HF SSB Net Active 5732 kHz USB 0356-0401* UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 0400 UTC »

Hearing an aircraft working a ground station (hearing the aircraft side of the QSO only) "altitude 13 thousand, how copy, over?" followed by several seconds of silence and then data burst (possibly ALE?).  Tuned in a little too late to hear the callsign or ID for the aircraft transmitting.  After short data burst, nothing else heard (I presume the QSO moved to another frequency).

1376

Peskies / UNID Unknown Language 6733.3 kHz USB 0345+ UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 0350 UTC »

I'm pretty this is Portuguese, but it could be Italian for all I know.  Very strong static crash QRN making listening difficult.  Originally thought frequency was 6733 kHz, however 6733.3 kHz sounds much better, and lines up with the pattern of pescadores, freebanders, etc, using "cute" frequencies that are easy to remember.  At least two stations having a QSO.  One is SIO 222 at best, the other is right at the noise floor. 

1377

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6330 kHz USB 0340+ UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 0340 UTC »

6330 kHz USB two-way voice communications, likely pescadores (fishing fleets, fishermen talking on the radio, etc).  Very similar to earlier logging made on 6270 kHz USB.  Portuguese language, varying between a SIO 222 to SIO 323 at the best.  Lots of static crashes. 

1378

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6270 kHz USB 0320+ UTC 11 April 2017

« on: April 11, 2017, 0337 UTC »

6270 kHz USB Portuguese speaking stations 6270 USB.

I'm putting this in "Peskies" due to the frequency.  6270 kHz isn't a legal ITU HF SSB marine frequency.  6269 kHz and 6272 kHz are the closest ITU marine frequencies to 6270 kHz.  The conversation reminds me a lot of the traffic heard on the higher bands (6765-7000 kHz, etc).  

Several stations chatting away, laughing, stations talking over each other, pretty standard operating procedure for "peskies".  

Still going strong when I tuned away at 0336 UTC.

1379

Peskies / Peskies / Pescadores / Freebanders Loggings 11 April 2017 0130-0200 UTC

« on: April 11, 2017, 0147 UTC »

Some quick loggings:


6782 kHz USB - Spanish language - weak with storm static crashes QRN making copy difficult
6825 kHz LSB - Spanish language - weak but getting bits and pieces
6925 kHz LSB - Portuguese language - the usual 6925 LSB crowd, not as strong as they were earlier tonight
6900 kHz LSB - Spanish language - "freebander watering hole" for Spanish language (see also: 6900 USB)
6905 kHz LSB - Spanish language, cities/states in Mexico mentioned
6950 kHz LSB - Spanish language - SIO 555/SIO 333 two stations talking, signal reports given ["very strong!"] and discussion of antennas
6960 kHz LSB - Portuguese language
6970 kHz LSB - Portuguese language
7000 kHz LSB - Spanish language (see also, the stations logged using 6999 kHz LSB earlier)

1380

Other / Hams Behaving Badly 7200 kHz LSB 1800+ UTC 10 April 2017

« on: April 10, 2017, 1820 UTC »

Several jamming signals going at once on 7200 LSB.  Old school rap music and sound clips being played over each other.