Messages

2311

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6919 kHz LSB 0300+ UTC 29 June 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0312 UTC »

Hearing some real life pescadores chattering away on one of their favorite frequencies, 6919 kHz LSB.  Weak with some summer storm QRN but they're certainly there.  SIO 222

2312

10/11 meters / Spanish language 11 meter net 27.500 MHz USB 27500 kHz USB 29 June 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0309 UTC »

Tuned in at 0306 UTC.  Hearing at least three different Spanish-speaking stations chatting away on 27.500 MHz USB.  Interesting frequency choice, as 27.5 MHz / 27500 kHz is usually used for digital modes (I've even heard CW on it) and 11 meter beacons.  These guys are having a pretty run-of-the-mill Spanish speaking 11 meter freebander QSO.  Talking about radios and propagation conditions, roundtable style (as found on 6900 kHz LSB and other 43 meter band frequencies and in lots of other places). 

Weak signals, but readable.

2313

10/11 meters / Re: Outhouse Net 27385 kHz LSB (ch 38) 0302 UTC Jun 28 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0305 UTC »

I have the Tram (or Browning, or Tram-Browning, depending on where you look) - all the same company, version of the Larsen NMO-27 professional land mobile style 26-30 MHz antenna, currently cut for 27.4 or 27.5 MHz, somewhere around there) and with a decent NMO mag mount antenna it actually performs just as well as the higher end Wilson, Hustler, K40, etc offerings.

That Radio Shack antenna is a classic.  I have the more modern version of it (that lacks the teardrop shape mount, the one I have has a regular old round mag mount but the antenna itself looks exactly the same).  The SWR readings on it are surprisingly good.  

27.385 LSB is active right now by the way.

2314

10/11 meters / Late Night 11 Meter Net 27.470 MHz LSB 27470 kHz LSB 0300+ UTC 29 June 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0301 UTC »

11 meter band free band CB radio SSB net frequency QRG 27.470 MHz LSB 27470 LSB 27470 kHz LSB.  One of the more popular "in-between" or "slider" channels (5 kHz steps instead of the standard 10 kHz CB radio channel steps), along with 27.420 MHz, 27.430 MHz, 27.440 MHz and 27.450 MHz.  For whatever reason, 27.460 MHz seems to not be nearly as popular as 27.450 or 27.470 MHz.  I have a feeling it has something to do with most English language stations using LSB mode and 27.455 MHz USB being a popular Spanish speaking DX calling frequency, so operating on 27.460 MHz LSB would result in a lot of QRM when the band is open to Latin America. 

Hearing an OM talking about a Uniden HR-2510 with the Chipswitch modification as well as a "Joker" 2-pill (two transistor) amplifier as a package deal.  Casual chatter about the Uniden 2510 or President 2510 radio - "that's another $300 or $350 radio today anyway, you know".  Unable to copy the station he's talking to.  Asked to hear a comment from "Wayne" indicating that this is another roundtable style ragchew net.  Sounds like the operators know each other pretty well.  "Anybody double dog dare me to call Wayne's cell phone?    WAKE UP!"  "What mic is that?" standard ham radio like amateur radio chatter about microphones, audio quality, etc....which is unfortunate because I can only copy one station out of the various stations that are chatting on this frequency.

2315

10/11 meters / 27.695 MHz LSB 27695 kHz LSB Busy Spanish Language 0250+ UTC 29 June 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0253 UTC »

Spanish speaking 27.695 MHz SS 27.695 LSB 27695 kHz LSB Spanish language

While (at least on my end) 6900 kHz and nearby 43 meter band frequencies are quiet, the 11 meter band versions (that cluster around the 27.6-27.7 MHz region, 5 kHz steps, LSB and USB with 27.695 and 27.665 being the primary frequencies) are busy.  Hearing a station welcoming various other operators to the frequency at 0252 UTC with signal reports.  Lively frequency even though its pretty late. 

2316

10/11 meters / Late Night 11 Meter Net 27.545 MHz LSB 27545 kHz LSB 0245 UTC 29 June 2017

« on: June 29, 2017, 0250 UTC »

Freeband 11 meter CB radio 11m outband net frequency 27.545 LSB 27545.0 kHz LSB Southern USA

Hearing two OMs chatting on 27.545 MHz LSB, possibly more (sounds like a net actually).  Mention of a Kenwood radio and another station "547" and "OK-01",  "167" "Bill" IDs heard...then mention of another station checking in at 0247 UTC.  Stronger station talking about "dragging the antenna on the ground" likely a mention to a station running mobile.  Southern accents.  Now (0248 UTC) talking about propagation conditions.  Professional operating practices, no stations talking over each other, etc.  Talking about other stations that the main station (control operator?) has worked "927" "Roy" and lots of stations in Georgia and Alabama, mentions of "Carolina", "Interstate 40" and other vague locations so sounds like I've stumbled upon a regional 11 meter net frequency. 

2317

10/11 meters / Ohio Remote SDR - 27.255 MHz FSK 27255 kHz Data Link CB Channel 23

« on: June 28, 2017, 1956 UTC »

Checking out one of the web SDRs I enjoy checking in the afternoon and I noticed a weak FSK signal on 27.255 MHz (really close to being right on frequency too, unlike a lot of AM CB transmissions I've watched on various waterfall displays).  No AM traffic on the frequency right now and the band appears to be closed so this could be local.

As I've mentioned a bunch of times before, Part 95 FCC rules allow up to 25 watts carrier power on 27.255 / Channel 23. 

2318

10/11 meters / Re: Outhouse Net 27385 kHz LSB (ch 38) 0302 UTC Jun 28 2017

« on: June 28, 2017, 1953 UTC »

That President McKinley is doing it for you.  And you're using an indoor mag-mount antenna?

2319

North American Shortwave Pirate / Clever Name Radio 6940 kHz USB 2055 UTC 27 June 2017

« on: June 27, 2017, 2056 UTC »

Strong signal just popped up on 6940 USB, rock music.

2320

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 10698 kHz USB 2050+ UTC 27 June 2017

« on: June 27, 2017, 2053 UTC »

10.698 MHz USB 10698 kHz USB Spanish speakers UNID possibly fishing fleets or freebanders, outbanders, pirates bootleggers etc two-way radio traffic HF band

Similar to traffic heard on same frequency band (10 MHz band) 10272 kHz USB at the same time, only weaker and more sporadic.  Possibly an alternate frequency??

2321

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 10272 kHz USB 2045+ UTC 27 June 2017

« on: June 27, 2017, 2050 UTC »

UNID Spanish language traffic 10.272 MHz USB / 10272 kHz USB

Hearing one side of a QSO in Spanish on 10272 USB.  About S2-S3 just barely readable with some fading.  Now hearing a much weaker station (also in Spanish).  Not sure if conditions have changed or if this is the other side of the QSO (or if there's multiple stations in a "roundtable" or net format).  Now (2049 UTC) hearing the usual "hola!" greeting common to 11 meter freebanders and 43 meter freebanders, perhaps this is their "30 meter" band

Informal chatter going at 2050 UTC.  Multiple stations going at once at points, causing severe QRM.  Possibly fishing fleets. 

2322

Peskies / Re: 6.990MHz LSB Indonesian Chanters

« on: June 27, 2017, 2014 UTC »

Maybe not too far off from drunken Portuguese speaking fishermen on 6925 LSB and dozens of other frequencies. 

Then again, if its similar to the Chinese VC01 stations...is somebody spoofing these transmissions and just playing around or have they moved to a different frequency? 

2323

10/11 meters / Re: Does your area still have CB "home channels" or "town channels"?

« on: June 27, 2017, 2006 UTC »

CB is the 'voice of the highway' so that makes perfect sense.  Since most information from trucker chatter on 19 can be gained simply by listening, it wouldn't surprise me if somebody brought a radio and antenna from home just to know what's going on.

Even the Virginia State Police used to have Uniden 520XL radios installed in their cars as part of the standard radio package.  They have since been removed from VSP vehicles, but, as I mentioned before, VDOT and other state agencies keep CB equipment in their vehicles for the same reason that army convoy had a CB in the lead vehicle. 

2324

10/11 meters / Re: Does your area still have CB "home channels" or "town channels"?

« on: June 27, 2017, 0022 UTC »

Tree companies and paving/road construction companies seem to make heavy use of CB around here as well.  There's one that has trucks with two antennas on each, one for CB, and the other for their 43 MHz band business radio service system.  Since they often work with other contractors/sub-contractors, having CB makes sense.  Same with the state department of transportation operating their own 47 MHz system, having radios for the VHF high band state police Project 25 digital trunking system, scanners of various types and a mag-mount CB antenna on some trucks for good measure - so the snow plow guys can talk to the truckers.

The roadside assistance trucks all have VHF low band (45/47 MHz), VHF high band (digital trunking), 700/800 MHz antennas (vehicle repeaters for digital trunking) and a hodgepodge of various CB antennas.  Some of them have dual ball-and-spring antenna mounts (one for a VHF low band antenna, and the other on the opposite side of the truck for a CB antenna).

I've seen 4 foot fiberglass coil antennas, 60-70" base-loaded whips, Wilson 5000 trucker antennas, and 108" stainless steel 1/4 waves opposite the VHF low band antennas.  With all those antennas combined with VHF-high band and scanner antennas...one wonders what the radiation patterns for those types of setups are. 

I even remember seeing a military convoy driving down 95 and the lead humvee had a Wilson 5000 CB antenna slapped on the roof (as well as VHF FM SINCGARS antennas).  Interoperability, yo.

2325

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Clever Name Radio 6940 USB 2255 UTC 26 Jun 2017

« on: June 26, 2017, 2316 UTC »

They went off the air right after I tuned in at 2311 UTC.  

Back on the air with "She Hates Me" at 2319 UTC


2322 UTC - Robot YL ID Clever Name Radio with email address
2322 UTC - Nirvana - Rape Me