Per the #pirateradio IRC chatroom tip, checking 11 meters yielded some logs. But first, some banter about 11 meter freebanding and the rapid proliferation of "export" or "10-meter" radios. These radios are sold in Europe as "10 meter radios" or, more commonly as "multi-norm", i.e. the radio's menu allow the user to select the country they are operating in.
Select "RU" for Russia and the radio works on 25615 to 30105 kHz AM/FM....Hmmmm
SS = Spanish language. I speak a little Spanish.
EE = English language. It is easy to discern regular CB operator/trucker traffic vs. taxicab dispatch traffic because taxi companies usually use female dispatchers (YLs) who will be reading lots of numbers (addresses and fare amounts, etc) and generally have a distinctive roger beep, music playing underneath the dispatchers voice, etc to identify a particular dispatcher from other traffic on frequency. The taxi cabs themselves generally run Superstar 158EDX (24265-29665), Voyage VR9000 (25615-28305) or similar export radios or "street legal" AM CBs with "channel kits" in them, usually expanding coverage to 3 bands of 40 channels "low/mid/high" 26515-27855. Whatever the radio used, it is generally mated to an amplifier to get through all the noise and QRM. Many of them are running well over 100 watts. I imagine the dispatchers are running similar setups, only with much better antennas - which is why they are easier to hear. On several occasions, however, I have heard the taxi drivers talking back to the dispatcher. Commonly logged taxi frequencies are in the lower part of 11 meters (start at 25615 kHz) and the upper part of the band, around 27775. I've heard taxis using 27995 AM before. Check out 25775, 26005, 26905, 27425, 27515, 27805 and 27815 (all AM).
When the band is really open, you will likely hear AM and FM voice traffic in the bottom parts of the 10 meter ham band. Common 10 meter "intruder" frequencies that I have logged include 28005 kHz AM, 28055 kHz AM, 28065 kHz AM, 28085 kHz AM, and 28305 kHz AM. As most export radios highest frequency is 28305 kHz, most of the activity should be contained to below that frequency. Some stop at 28755 kHz or even 29655 kHz. However, as Chinese radios proliferate, this will likely change. These radios cover the entire 10 meter amateur band in "export" or "Russia" mode and even into the very bottom of VHF. Usual coverage is 25615 - 30105 AM/FM.
My listening setup favors propagation from "south of the border" but I do hear European 11 meter DX quite often as well. It is important to keep in mind that the UK FM CB (known as "27/81" or the "Muppet" band, or just "UK FM band") band overlaps with many of the popular Latin American freeband frequencies. UK FM CB band extends from 27601.25 to 27991.25 kHz in 10 kHz steps with no gaps or weird channel sequence like the US/European Community "CEPT" or "mid band".
Additionally, the UK has legalized use of the 40 US channels (26965-27405 in 10 kHz steps with gaps at 26995, 27045, 27095, 27145 and 27195) and the 40 UK FM channels for their Community Audio Distribution Service (CADS) system. This allows churches and other organizations to broadcast their church services live on any one of the 80 available frequencies - 40 US/CEPT mid band channels + 40 UK FM offset channels with a maximum of 4 watts power in FM mode. Ireland has a similar system in place, called the Wireless Public Address System or WPAS. Ireland officially authorizes 80 channels as well. However, the frequency plan is a bit strange. Ireland allows use of the 40 UK FM channels (interestingly enough, Ireland allows FM
and AM on the UK 40) plus 27605 to 27995 in straight 10 kHz sequence - AM/FM allowed.
Now, this obviously produces a total of 80 channels but with either 3.75 kHz or 6.25 kHz spacing between each channel...which isn't enough for AM or the "narrow" FM used on the CB bands. This may explain why some Irish churches are using the zero offset frequencies (say, 27600 instead of 27601.25). This likely still does not entirely solve the adjacent-channel interference issue but I doubt Ireland's ComReg really cares either way. 4 watts maximum output power in FM mode or 4 watts carrier power in AM mode. Many Irish churches can be found in the 27600 to 27995 range, but there are others using the US CB allocation "mid band" as well, even though this is technically illegal in Ireland.
When the band is open to both Europe and the Americas, things can get quite interesting, considering the various overlapping frequency "plans" and modes in place. Many European countries have recently legalized use of AM/SSB on the US CB band. Some, however, still only allow FM. The UK still only allows FM mode on their 27/81 allocation with the odd offset. There are rumors that this band may eventually be taken away, although I don't see that realistically happening considering how much equipment is out there. Germany allows for 80 channels. The US FCC 40 channels, with AM/FM modes allowed, and another 40 channels, 26565-26955, in straight 10 kHz sequence, and only FM mode allowed. Packet radio and store-and-forward repeating is allowed on some of these frequencies. In Russia, the CB band is
de facto export bands A through E (25615 to 27855). Some cities even transmit automated weather and traffic information on 27635 FM. This has been reported in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russians also make use of the "Polish" or "zeros" - that is, the channel -5kHz. So instead of 26965-27405, you have 26960-27400. Taxi and trucking companies make heavy use of the 11 meter band in Russia and Eastern Europe (the CIS, former USSR, etc). There are several known simplex repeaters operating in the 11 meter band in that part of the world. Some are CTCSS (PL) tone squelch operated and others are carrier squelch or DTMF operated.
In the Americas, AM and SSB are the only modes allowed legally and by far the modes used on the 11 meter band. FM is seen from time to time, along with various digital modes such as PSK31. SSTV is on 27700 USB and 27735 USB worldwide. I know of at least one 11 meter band simplex repeater operating in the United States, and there are likely several others, including cross-band repeaters using the VHF CB (MURS) band at 151/154 MHz or the FRS/GMRS allocation at 462/467 MHz. Similar cross-band repeaters using the PMR446 allocation (446.0-446.2 MHz) and 27 MHz are likely operating in Europe.
25000 WWV
25615 AM - SS taxi dispatch (weak, with weird "warbling" QRM on top)
25645 AM - SS
25735 AM - SS
25805 AM - SS, weak
25875 AM - SS
25885 AM - SS with more data/"warble" signals
25910 FM - STL right at noise level (see also 25950 FM)
25915 AM - SS
25950 FM - STL right at noise level
25975 AM - Carrier here, no audio discernible
26025 AM - SS, weak
26075 AM - SS, YL down in the noise, maybe a taxi company
26105 AM - SS, weak but there
26165 AM - SS weak rapid fades
26225 USB - SS, Mexican accents
26375 AM - SS
26395 AM - SS, with roger beeps, etc. Lots of fading
26445 AM - SS, OM talking with echo/reverb effects. Lots of fading here too, similar to 26395 AM
26450 +/- 40 kHz - Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR). Moving up and down the band, very loud.
26515 AM - Taxicab Dispatch (SS speaking YL), weak
26525 AM - SS
26555 LSB - SS - This is one of the major Latin American SSB calling frequencies. See also 26705, 26715, 26725, 27065, 27455 USB, 27515 LSB
26565 AM - SS, with roger beeps, echo/reverb fx and roger beeps. Music underneath OM talking. Strong signals
26585 AM - Mexican AM calling frequency. Usually quite active. Hearing lots of stations on here at once
26595 AM - SS, Mexican accent OM talking. S9+30 very strong signal and loud, punchy audio.
26605 AM - SS, with echo and roger beeps, sound effects noise toys etc
26615 AM - SS, "Puerto Rico Calling"
26635 AM - SS
26645 AM - SS
26665 AM - SS, fading
26685 AM - SS, OM talking. Fading up to S9 and then back down into the noise rapidly
26715 AM - SS
26735 AM - EE, weak. Channel 19 "down one band" 27185 - 450 kHz = 26735
26815 AM - EE, Southern accents, rapid fade. Sporadic-E maybe?
26885 AM - EE, Southern accents
26905 AM - SS Taxicab Dispatch, YL with single roger beep. S9 signal with very little fading.
26915 AM - EE, Southern accents. This is a common US AM CB "freeband" calling frequency. See also 26775, 26815, 26835 and 26955 for "low band"
26945 AM - SS, weak
----begin US CB Band "Mid band" or "CEPT band" 26965-27405 in 10 kHz steps----26965 AM - CB Channel 1 - EE, Southern accents
26995 AM - R/C Channel - "CB Channel 3A" - Spanish speaking YL dispatcher heard talking to OMs. Taxis, etc.
27015 AM - CB Channel 5 - SS, very messy. S7 to S9 level het
27025 AM - CB Channel 6 - EE - The Superbowl. Full scale signals, some splatter
27035 AM - CB Channel 7 - SS. Similar to 27015 CB CH 5 AM
27045 AM - R/C Channel - "CB Channel 7A" - accessible via the "+10kHz" switch on most exports. Spanish speaking traffic, possibly taxis
27065 AM - CB Channel 9 - SS AM calling channel. Similar to 26585, 26705, etc
27085 AM - CB Channel 11 - "Hey 214 around Virginia Triple 9 Looking at you Break Break!" lots of other stations at once. US AM CB Calling Freq
27095 AM - R/C Channel - "CB Channel 11A" - See 27045. Spanish language heard. See also 27095, 27145, 27195
27105 AM - CB Channel 12 - EE/SS stations. Heavy QRM
27125 AM - CB Channel 14 - Truckers, with lots of het/QRM/mess underneath
27165 AM - CB Channel 17 - EE, Southern US accents, fading
27185 AM - CB Channel 19 - S7 to S9 noise level. Some voices coming out of the "mud" but nothing intelligible.
27195 AM - R/C Channel "CB Channel 19A" - "Catch you later sideways, Black Swan and I'm gone". S9+30 VERY LOUD
27205 AM - CB Channel 20 - EE, heavy QRM
27215 AM - CB Channel 21 - EE, distorted audio, caught "real tough guy"
27225 AM - CB Channel 22 - Similar to 27215, hearing lots of roger beeps
27245 AM - CB Channel 25 - SS, with roger beeps. Hearing somebody saying HOLA! HOLA! HOLA! over and over. Splatter from 27225
27255 AM - CB Channel 23 - S9+30 (full scale) data bursts/pager. Voice traffic underneath
27265 AM - CB Channel 26 - US AM Skip Shooting (DX) Channel. Very busy
27275 AM - CB Channel 27 - SS Spanish language, fighting QRM from 27265 and 27285
27285 AM - CB Channel 28 - US AM Skip Shooting (DX) Channel. Similar to 26915, 27085 (CH 11) and 27265 (CH 26)
27305 AM - CB Channel 30 - Very messy, lots of stations. Hearing Spanish language with roger beeps in there
27315 AM - CB Channel 31 - EE stations down in the noise
27380 LSB - Not a legal CB frequency, between 37 and 38. Southern US SSB traffic, likely QSYed from 27385 LSB (CH 38)
27385 LSB - CB Channel 38 - US SSB CB DX Calling Frequency. Not as busy as I expected considering how active the band is
27395 AM - Carrier het heard while listening in LSB mode. No voice heard but there's something there
27405 AM - CB Channel 40 - Spanish speaking YL heard down in the noise
----end US CB Band "Mid band" or "CEPT band"----27415 AM - SS YL Spanish language, maybe taxi dispatcher
27420 LSB - EE Southern US accents, various numerical callsigns heard
27425 USB - SS, various QSOs going on at once, heavy fading/QSB
27435 LSB - EE, this is a common American freeband SSB frequency, along with 27425 LSB and various others
27435 USB - SS, weak but readable
27445 USB - SS (with roger beeps). "Sierra Lima" callsigns heard
27450 USB - SS
27455 USB - SS - Latin American SSB Calling Frequency (see also, 26555 LSB, 27515 LSB, etc)
27465 USB - SS
27470 USB - SS
27475 LSB - EE, weak and with QRM from 27470 USB
27475 USB - SS, strong
27505 AM - SS heard, with SSB in the background that I can't seem to tune in for some reason
27515 LSB - EE/SS - The Knight Patrol CB Club (Jamaica). Nice loud signals from the Caribbean
27515 AM - SS Spanish speaking YL dispatcher getting clobbered by Jamaicans on 27515 LSB
27535 AM - EE discussing road conditions, traffic, etc. Probably US-based truckers. Channel 11 "up one band"
27540 USB - SS
27545 LSB - SS, with QRM from 27540 USB
27545 USB - SS, with roger beep.
27555 USB - International Freeband Calling Frequency "The Triple" "T5", etc. English-speaking stations calling CQ DX requesting QSY
27580 USB - EE, very thick Jamaican accents. "Rog-o, back to you!"
27595 USB - SS, weak. Discussing antennas.
----begin UK FM CB "27/81" or "Muppet Band" 27601.25 - 27991.25 in 10 kHz sequence. No gaps like US band----27605 USB - SS, sounds like Mexican accents
27615 USB - SS, very weak
27630 USB - SS
27635 AM - Truckers, likely somewhere in the USA. This is Channel 19 "up one band" (27185 + 450 kHz)
27645 LSB - SS
27660 LSB - SS
27665 USB - SS
27670 USB - SS, weak
27680 USB - SS, weak
27685 USB - SS
27690 USB - SS with some sort of data carrier underneath
27695 USB - SS
27705 USB - SS. No SSTV heard so far
27715 USB - SS
27725 AM - SS, possibly taxis or truckers. No YL dispatcher heard but I'm hearing roger beeps
27775 USB - SS, stations discussing frequencies, radios, etc. Some fading
27805 AM - SS Spanish language YL, likely taxi dispatcher as this frequency (and 27815 AM) have been noted before
27815 LSB - SS, weak with QRM from 27815 AM
27815 AM - SS Spanish language taxi dispatcher, very weak
27845 AM - SS strong heterodyne/QRM mess
27855 USB - SS station, peaking to S8 nice signal
27895 AM - weak carrier heard here
27935 USB - SS
27945 USB - SS
27955 LSB - SS
Scanned the UK FM allocation 27.60125 to 27.99125 MHz FM and heard nothing except for the SSB traffic noted above in that range of frequencies. Didn't hear any UK stations on 27555 or similar to that makes sense.
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