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931

Spy Numbers / XPA2, 14538 USB, 14 FEB 2017, 15:20 UTC

« on: February 14, 2017, 1608 UTC »

Was able to receive the message as well. Unfortunately there was one single digit that wasn't decoded. I attempted to listen again at 1540z at 13538 USB, but the decoding program went haywire and didn't decode anything properly.

Video of reception and decoding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htfnpJ0yVyw

Number sets sent:

05197 00093 49856 86770 26703 24955 75264 93522
18991 54585 15533 39611 74957 37988 72799 32639
65627 24256 52290 80212 46634 12281 27324 98007
19793 09519 00859 98659 43093 42176 89535 05376
12470 50212 10349 86150 60443 43874 93083 48355
87229 34507 22338 31486 44049 06798 62798 11182
98370 21768 79966 41286 16543 32183 82771 56398
71906 69890 33473 65173 98402 41337 42769 68208
72142 01722 92569 34722 04983 85187 93806 36658
555x4 12410 40177 13904 54046 25079 80667 33575
90845 41082 63546 06053 94891 92662 33950 07695
15166 52332 29586 68786 73790 33185 32437 36652

932

Clandestine Stations / Radio Dabanga, 7315 kHz, 10 FEB 2017, 05:37 UTC

« on: February 10, 2017, 0547 UTC »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXJm0yUxkp8

Not strong, but I haven't copied Dabanga since September I think, so I'll take it.

933

Spy Numbers / HM01 Log, February 2017

« on: February 01, 2017, 1632 UTC »

To see what this is all about, go here: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,32334.0.html

All transmissions received in Denver, CO, USA using an SDRplay RSP2pro and a 1m diameter homebrewed magnetic loop antenna

Latest update 28 FEB 2017, 16:27z

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat: Frequency (kHz) and time (UTC):
020117          44217          50184421.f1c * 11435 1600
020117          08873          04740887.txt *
020117          22164          50472216.f1c *
020117          62184          37706218.txt *
020117          04088          50720408.f1c *
020117          24343          37272434.txt *

broadcast errors: The 1600 transmission got off to a late start, which seems normal now. Spanish broadcast that sounded like news was transmitted for about 10 seconds at 1606, which I presume was RHC's Spanish service. HM01 finally got underway shortly thereafter.

* these files were first transmitted in January. Please see January HM01 log (link at top of post) for info, and also for a link to those files. They will not be included in February's folder, which is linked in the next comment.

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat: Frequency (kHz) and time (UTC):
020217          86381          84018638.txt 10860 0500 (020317)
020217          08874          repeat
020217          22165          repeat
020217          62185          repeat
020217          04089          repeat
020217          24344          repeat

020317          86381          repeat 11435 1600
020317          08875          repeat
020317          22166          repeat
020317          62186          repeat
020317          30461          44203046.txt
020317          24345          repeat

020417          86382          repeat 11435 1600
020417          08876          repeat
020417          22167          repeat
020417          62187          repeat
020417          30461          repeat
020417          24346          repeat

020517          86383          repeat 11530 1700
020517          08877          repeat
020517          22168          repeat
020517          62188          repeat
020517          30462          repeat
020517          24347          repeat

020617          86384          repeat 11435 1600
020617          08878          repeat
020617          88671          20748867.txt
020617          48551          28174855.txt
020617          30463          repeat
020617          24348          repeat

020717          86385          repeat 11435 1600
020717          08879          repeat
020717          88671          repeat
020717          48551          repeat
020717          30464          repeat
020717          28701          60172870.txt

020817          86386          repeat 11435 1600
020817          46351          83044635.txt
020817          88672          repeat
020817          48552          repeat
020817          30465          repeat
020817          28701          repeat

020917          86387          repeat 11435 1600
020917          46351          repeat
020917          88673          repeat
020917          48553          repeat
020917          30466          repeat
020917          28702          repeat

021017          86388          repeat 11435 1600
021017          46352          repeat
021017          88674          repeat
021017          48554          repeat
021017          30467          repeat
021017          28703          repeat

021117          34621          06633462.txt 11435 1600
021117          46353          repeat
021117          88675          repeat
021117          48555          repeat
021117          30468          repeat
021117          28704          repeat

021217          34621          repeat 11530 1700
021217          46354          repeat
021217          88676          repeat
021217          48556          repeat
021217          06301          41060630.txt
021217          28705          repeat

broadcast error 021217: When I tuned back to 25m to find an unrelated broadcast, at 18:20 UTC, I found a strong open carrier signal at 11530 and nothing at 11635, its normal frequency for this time. The YL voice reading numbers came in at 18:25, about the time it would be expected. So it appears that HM01 did not sign off 11530 and sign on at 11635.

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat: Frequency (kHz) and time (UTC):
021317          34622          repeat 11435 1600
021317          46355          repeat
021317          88677          repeat
021317          48557          repeat
021317          06301          repeat
021317          28706          repeat

021417          34623          repeat 11435 1600
021417          46356          repeat
021417          88678          repeat
021417          48558          repeat
021417          06302          repeat
021417          28707          repeat

Broadcast error 2/14: They were reading 2/13's number sets at the start of the transmission, but correctly read today's numbers when at the point when they began sending the RDFT files.

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat: Frequency (kHz) and time (UTC):
021517          34624          repeat 11530 1700
021517          46357          repeat
021517          88679          repeat
021517          48559          repeat
021517          06303          repeat
021517          27101          36172701.f1g

021617          34625          repeat 10345 021717, 0600
021617          46358          repeat
021617          66861          50556686.f1c
021617          68251          47346825.txt
021617          06304          repeat
021617          27101          repeat

021717          34626          repeat 11435 1600
021717          46359          repeat
021717          66861          repeat
021717          68251          repeat
021717          06305          repeat
021717          27102          repeat

021817          34627          repeat 11435 1600
021817          40641          58564064.txt
021817          66862          repeat
021817          68252          repeat
021817          06306          repeat
021817          27103          repeat

021917          34628          repeat 11435 1600
021917          40641          repeat
021917          66863          repeat
021917          68253          repeat
021917          06307          repeat
021917          27104          repeat

022017          84431          22818443.txt 11435 1600
022017          40642          repeat
022017          66864          repeat
022017          68254          repeat
022017          06308          repeat
022017          27105          repeat

022117          84431          repeat 11530 1700
022117          40643          repeat
022117          66865          repeat
022117          68255          repeat
022117          06309          repeat
022117          27106          repeat

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat: Frequency (kHz) and time (UTC):
022217          84432          repeat 11435 1600
022217          40644          repeat
022217          66866          repeat
022217          68256          repeat
022217          73631          38467363.txt
022217          27107          repeat

022317          84433          repeat 11530 1700
022317          40645          repeat
022317          66867          repeat
022317          68257          repeat
022317          73631          repeat
022317          27108          repeat

022417          84434          repeat 11435 1600
022417          40646          repeat
022417          66868          repeat
022417          78651          58877865.txt
022417          73632          repeat
022417          88401          03238840.txt

022517          84435          repeat 11435 1600
022517          40647          repeat
022517          33831          66283383.txt
022517          78651          repeat
022517          73633          repeat
022517          88401          repeat

022617          84436          repeat 11435 1600
022617          52511          52405251.txt
022617          33831          repeat
022617          78652          repeat
022617          73634          repeat
022617          88402          repeat

022717          84437          repeat 11435 1600
022717          52511          repeat
022717          33832          repeat
022717          78653          repeat
022717          73635          repeat
022717          88403          repeat

On 2/27, there was no carrier until 1602. When it came on, it was silent for a while and cut out a couple of times. Broadcast began after half a minute, in the middle of a RDFT transmission for the 52511 number group. At 1604 the broadcast suddenly started over from the top, with the number groups being repeated as is normal for the start of an hourly or half-hourly broadcast.

022817           53361           34735336.txt 11435 1600
022817           52512           repeat
022817           33833           repeat
022817           78654           repeat
022817           73636           repeat
022817           88404           repeat

934

Shortwave Broadcast / Brother Stair on WBCQ, 9330 kHz

« on: January 31, 2017, 1703 UTC »

This is interesting. I found Brother Stair on this frequency, and confirmed that it's WBCQ from it's telltale H3E signal that I observed on the Radio McRadioface Jersey Shore kiwiSDR. It's even listed on eibispace.de, but it's not on WBCQ's online schedule. Apparently he's on from 0330 to 2330 z, a block of transmission time similar to his broadcasts from WRMI. I was unaware that WBCQ broadcast anything on any of their frequencies outside of 2000-0500 UTC.

935

Shortwave Broadcast / Radio Australia, 17840 kHz, 30 Jan 2017, 2339 UTC

« on: January 31, 2017, 0024 UTC »

As I type this it's 1/31 and 0020z, the sun has set in Denver and the signal is very degraded. But about 40 minutes ago it was really good.

It's being reported that ABC Northern Territories is going permanently QRT at 0230 UTC, and it's presumed that RA will follow suit.

Farewell, Radio Australia. I'm still fairly new to the hobby and haven't listened to you much as some very long time listeners, but you were an instant favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQqoOS2vbaI

936

North American Shortwave Pirate / WMFQ, 6945 USB, 2249 UTC, 29 JAN 2017

« on: January 29, 2017, 2250 UTC »

2249 Nice signal in Denver. "Ship of Fools" World Party SIO 222 with some nice fade ins. If it could maintain those levels it would be 444.
2253 "Ain't Even Done With the Night" John Mellencamp
2306 WMFQ ID into Genesis "No Reply At All"
2312 WMFQ ID into "Midnight at the Oasis" Maria Muldaur
2319 WMFQ ID ("where's my f***in' QSL?") into "Falling Away From Me" Korn
2321 WMFQ ID with maildrop address (consulting Andrew Yoder's book reveals that this is an old pirate, maybe another relay of an old show?)
2322 "California Girls" sloppy a capella cover version, WMFQ ID shouted out in the middle of it UPDATE no, it's a looped version of the Beach Boys minus the music.
2326 WMFQ ID, sped up Beach Boys, WMFQ ID again
2342 just about gone now

Reception at 23:11 - https://youtu.be/ybERsouUp-E

937

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID, 6930 USB, 0132, 29 JAN 2017

« on: January 29, 2017, 0134 UTC »

0132 SSTV. Much weaker signal compared to Radio Garbanzo, so confident it's someone else.
0136 SSTV sent again
0138 music, "Herr Mannelig" by Garmarna per Shazam
0144 new song, "Völuspá-Die Weissagung Aus Der Lieder-Edda" Duivelspack per Shazam
0147 cut off mid-song
0151 signal back, "Crying of the Sun" Metalwings
0153 suddenly off again. Back on after about 15 seconds
0155 cut off mid-song again.

I'm not hearing anything at or after 0210, so it may be a different pirate.
0218 finally hearing some extremely weak signal, about as weak as it can be without being wishful thinking. I'm sure this is a different pirate. Signal about SIO 111 as of 0220. Sounds like Donna Summer or someone like that.

938

North American Shortwave Pirate / Pee Wee, 6955 USB, 0226, 21 January 2017

« on: January 21, 2017, 0227 UTC »

0026 Music. High noise floor, signal right at it to occasional S9 peaks. Sounds like an old fashioned drinking song, best as I can describe it. YL vocals.
0229 Skull & Bones "The Chest Of Billy Bones" Nice signal now.
0234 pretty faded now. Gone?
0235 SSTV - strong enough to tell it's Scottie 1, but too weak to really capture

Since this turned out to be Pee Wee again, I'll leave it up to the moderators whether this should be merged with the other thread about Pee Wee or not.

939

Spy Numbers / HM01 log, January 2017

« on: January 16, 2017, 1804 UTC »

Since getting an SDRplay, I have been able to use DIGTRX to receive the RDFT files sent on HM01 transmissions. Starting on January 3, I have tuned into HM01 every day (most often at 1700 on 11530 kHz, but sometimes other times and frequencies). HM01 is known to start it's broadcast day with the 1600 transmission on 11435 kHz, in which the repeated number groups change by one digit (e.g., if they had a number group 12345 previously, it will be 12346 today)*, and any new number groups and associated RDFT files are first introduced. All subsequent transmissions through the 1000 UTC one at 9155 or 12180 kHz (depending on the day of the week) broadcast exactly the same number groups and RDFT files. So the 1000 UTC transmission is the last of the HM01 day, and the 1600 one is the first of the new HM01 day.

* There's an exception to the rule. The first day a group is transmitted, the number group ends in 1. But on the second day, it still ends in one, and the final digit only begins to increase by +1 starting on the third day.

DIGTRX receives the RDFT files and saves them at .txt files, although sometimes they come in a binary format with .f1c as the file extention. To date (1/30) there are 25 unique files. 22 are .txt and three are .f1c, and are in red font below. I will convert the .txt files to .pdf and make them publicly available soon, and will update this post with a link.

I don't think I can convert the .f1c files at all, so I will instead make them available as is. They can be opened and viewed using Wordpad on Windows-based PC's. I will look into the possibility of opening them on computers using other operating systems and update this with what I discover, but anyone who might already know how is welcome to comment.

HM01 RDFT file log Updated 31 January 2017

Repeats eliminated, e.g., 13283361.txt was sent on both 010317 and 010417. Only the numbers are listed in those cases.

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat:
010317          33618         13283361.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 122616
010317          50162         31605016.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 010117
010317          05001         45070500.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 010217
010317          51841         66425184.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 010217
010317          14555         08631455.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 122916
010317          02448         51370244.txt presumed to have first been transmitted on 122616

010417          33619         repeat
010417          50163         repeat
010417          05002         repeat
010417          51842         repeat
010417          14556         repeat
010417          02449         repeat

010517          50101         00365010.txt
010517          50164         repeat
010517          05003         repeat
010517          51843         repeat
010517          14557         repeat
010517          58821         81265882.txt

010617          50101         repeat
010617          50165         repeat
010617          05004         repeat
010617          51844         repeat
010617          14558         repeat
010617          58221         repeat

010717          50102         repeat
010717          50166         repeat
010717          05005         repeat
010717          51845         repeat
010717          14559         repeat
010717          58822         repeat

010817          50103         repeat
010817          50167         repeat
010817          05006         repeat
010817          51846         repeat
010817          44111         41444411.txt
010817          58823         repeat

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat:

010917          50104         repeat
010917          50168         repeat
010917          05007         repeat
010917          51847         repeat
010917          44111         repeat
010917          58824         repeat

011017         not logged, presume 50105 and repeat
011017         not logged, presume 30031 and new file (see 011117)
011017         not logged, presume 72231 and new file (see 011117)
011017         not logged, presume 51848 and repeat
011017         not logged, presume 44112 and repeat
011017         not logged, presume 58825 and repeat
   NOTE: HM01 was not active at 1700, 1800, or 2100 on this date. It may have transmitted at other scheduled times.

011117          50106         repeat
011117          30031         13113003.txt
011117          72231         33877223.txt
011117          38831         07663883.txt
011117          44113         repeat
011117          58826         repeat

011217          50107         repeat
011217          30032         repeat
011217          72232         repeat
011217          38831         repeat
011217          44114         repeat
011217          58827         repeat

011317          50108         repeat
011317          30033         repeat
011317          72233         repeat
011317          38832         repeat
011317          44115         repeat
011317          03281         52200328.txt

011417          50109         repeat
011417          30034         repeat
011417          72234         repeat
011417          38833         repeat
011417          44116         repeat
011417          03281         repeat

011517          58011         21125801.txt
011517          30035         repeat
011517          72235         repeat
011517          38834         repeat
011517          44117         repeat
011517          03282         repeat

011617          58011         repeat
011617          30036         repeat
011617          72236         repeat
011617          38835         repeat
011617          16061         77381606.txt
011617          03283         repeat

Date (MMDDYY):      Numbers:      File name or repeat:

011717          58012         repeat
011717          30037         repeat
011717          72237         repeat
011717          38836         repeat
011717          16061         repeat
011717          03284         repeat

011817          58013         repeat
011817          30038         repeat
011817          61741         24666174.txt
011817          38837         repeat
011817          16062         repeat
011817          03285         repeat

011917          58014         repeat
011917          30039         repeat
011917          61741         repeat
011917          38838         repeat
011917          16063         repeat
011917          03286         repeat

012017          58015         repeat
012017          53121         13235312.txt
012017          61742         repeat
012017          41351         34354135.txt
012017          16064         repeat
012017          03287         repeat

012117          58016         repeat
012117          53121         repeat
012117          61743         repeat
012117          41351         repeat
012117          16065         repeat
012117          60021         55436002.txt

012217          58017         repeat
012217          53122         repeat
012217          61744         repeat
012217          41352         repeat
012217          16066         repeat
012217          60021         repeat

012317          58018         repeat
012317          53123         repeat
012317          61745         repeat
012317          41353         repeat
012317          16066         repeat
012317          60022         repeat

Date (MMDDYY): Numbers: File name or repeat:

012417          58019         repeat
012417          53124         repeat
012417          61746         repeat
012417          41354         repeat
012417          04081         50720408.f1c
012417          60023         repeat

012517          44211         50184421.f1c
012517          53125         repeat
012517          61747         repeat
012517          41355         repeat
012517          04081         repeat
012517          60024         repeat

012617          44211         repeat
012617          53126         repeat
012617          61748         repeat
012617          41356         repeat
012617          04082         repeat
012617          60025         repeat

012717          44212         repeat
012717          53127         repeat
012717          61749         repeat
012717          41357         repeat
012717          04083         repeat
012717          60026         repeat

012817          44213         repeat
012817          53128         repeat
012817          22161         50472216.f1c
012817          62181         37706218.txt
012817          04084         repeat
012817          60027         repeat

012917          44214         repeat
012917          08871         04740887.txt
012917          22161         repeat
012917          62181         repeat
012917          04085         repeat
012917          24341         37272434.txt

013017          44215         repeat
013017          08871         repeat
013017          22162         repeat
013017          62182         repeat
013017          04086         repeat
013017          24341         repeat

013117           44216         repeat
013117           08872         repeat
013117           22163         repeat
013117           62183         repeat
013117           04087         repeat
013117           24342         repeat

940

Equipment / Question regarding my first loop antenna

« on: January 15, 2017, 0645 UTC »

Most regulars here are probably aware that I have two homebrewed loop antennas that I've been using. Both were constructed with identical 365 pF variable capacitors for tuning, and as it turns out, both loops overlap coverage with each other quite a bit despite other important differences (namely one loop has a circumference of 15' using 1/2" diameter copper tubing as the conductor, while the other has a 10' circumference using 1/4" diameter copper tubing).

The bigger loop, the first one I built, is very top heavy and despite a decent tripod, has toppled over a few times. The variable capacitor got some of the plates bent (as far as I can tell) and isn't very usable at the moment. It can probably be salvaged, but I thought I would take advantage of the situation and replace it with something that can lower the frequency coverage I receive, if possible. I figure that a variable capacitor with a higher pF number is the way to go. With the old 365 pF capacitor, coverage leveled out at about 3.6 MHz. I'd like to go all the way down to 1.8 MHz if possible. Am I on the right path?

I know of this calculator form (below), but it's geared toward transmitting loops. It seems to say that I would need a capacitor with at least 2,000 pF. I don't know if I'm reading it correctly. It also says I would need a much bigger loop, but again it's in regard to a Tx loop, and I'm just interested in Rx. Thanks for helping out someone who knows little about electronics.
http://www.66pacific.com/calculators/small_tx_loop_calc.aspx

941

North American Shortwave Pirate / Skippy Radio 6930 USB 2225 UTC 14 JAN 2017

« on: January 14, 2017, 2226 UTC »

2225 Faint music, sounds like hard rock.
2232 Rising up nicely, still too hard to identify but sounds like blues now
2237 not hearing much of anything now. Didn't even hear the SSTV.
2239 heard a lick of blues guitar
2251 audio rising again, sounds like hard rock with YL vocals
2254 tone heard, like that of some kind of data (hellschreiber being reported on Ryver chat)

recording of reception when it was peaking at 2234: https://youtu.be/vySpVt8nZpM

942

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID, 6930 USB, 0109 UTC, 14 January 2017

« on: January 14, 2017, 0110 UTC »

0109 Very faint music audible
0110 gone almost as soon as it was logged

943

Broadcast Announcements / Radyo Oleg, 6920 USB, Europirate, 2100z, today (January 13)

« on: January 13, 2017, 2034 UTC »

Got a tip that a test broadcast is going out. I probably won't be able to hear it because it's coming from Europe, but some of you should be able to, conditions willing. And yes, that's 6920, not 6290.

944

Equipment / computer generated RFI

« on: January 10, 2017, 1539 UTC »

Hello, looking for a little guidance.

I recently got an RSP2 for Xmas from my mom, a nice little gadget. Because of certain physical and monetary considerations, rather that use this on the household Mac, I'm set up on a PC my wife used to need for her work (a Dell Inspiron from 2011, where the computer is built into the monitor). It has its limitations, particularly when running SDRuno (a resource-heavy program) but it works alright. Except for one thing - the screen is LCD and so the RFI is ranges from crappy to good god, why am I putting up with this. (It doesn't help that it's in the same room as our modem and wireless router, both of which are good RFI polluters themselves.)

As a long term solution I know that I'll have to get something else. It will need to be another Windows running PC because my daughter is getting to the age of online gaming and this PC is woefully inadequate for the task, so we'll need something to share. I'm leaning toward a less expensive gaming laptop. My question is, aside from getting something with an LED screen (which doesn't look to be an issue), are there other RFI generating components I need to be aware of?

In the meantime, I have a question about the short term. I had googled this and found a forum posting from 2006 where someone claimed to have grounded the frame of the power supply to his shack's common ground, which took care of the issue well. I don't really want to open up the back of this thing to attach a ground (unlike a tower from then, this thing is tight on space), but another forum (from 2010) advised that laptop users could attach a ground to the screw on the serial port or video connector. So, where would be a good place for me to attach a ground wire on mine? (I'm attaching a link to this model's manual so you can see what I'm dealing with.)

Thanks again as always.

EDIT: it would help if I provide the link that I said I would. (PDF)
http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-one-2320_setup%20guide_en-us.pdf

945

General Radio Discussion / Is there such a thing as line of sight HF propagation?

« on: January 06, 2017, 1542 UTC »

As opposed to NVIS? I haven't had any reason to drive up north to Fort Collins or any of its surrounding communities, and thus be in line of sight of WWV. But if I lived in within, say, 20 or 30 miles of their transmitters, could I expect to hear them well at all times and frequencies because I'd be within line of sight? (I'm about 75 miles away as it is.) I tried googling around for an answer, but the closest I came was videos of people listening to stations while they were close enough to transmitter towers to be able to video record them on their cell phones.

I do plan to test this at some point, but I seldom have any reason to go up that way. Maybe I'll make a special trip of it just for that reason. But until then, I'm posing this question here.

News:

Topics - MDK2