Messages

31

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 29, 2024, 1225 UTC »

27.015 MHz (Channel 5) is almost as bad as Channel 6.

Also see: 

26.585 MHz AM
26.595 MHz AM
26.705 MHz AM
26.715 MHz AM
27.065 MHz AM (Channel 9)

26.585 MHz AM is a very popular Mexican trucker frequency.  The nearby channels, especially 26.565 MHz AM, 26.575 MHz AM, 26.595 MHz AM are also very popular, especially when the band is open.  Other honorable mentions include 26.475 MHz AM, 26.405 MHz AM, 26.375 MHz AM, 26.105 MHz AM..but 26.585MHz is a good place to start. 

CB Channel 9 as well as 26.705 MHz AM and 26.715 MHz AM are very popular calling frequencies for Spanish speaking stations.  Puerto Rico is often heard on 26.705 and 26.715.  They'll pop up on 26.695 MHz AM, 26.725 MHz AM and other nearby frequencies too. 

and, as far as SSB goes:

26.555 MHz LSB - Latin American SSB calling - see also: 26.540 MHz LSB, 26.545 MHz LSB, 26.570 MHz LSB
27.455 MHz USB - Latin American SSB calling
27.515 MHz LSB - Caribbean calling frequency
26.225 MHz USB - Latin American SSB calling - see also: 26.235 MHz USB, 26.240 MHz USB, etc.

26.285 MHz USB is designated as an alternate calling frequency, but it is rarely used for that purpose, at least in the Americas.  I've heard more AM mode chatter on 26.285 MHz (out of the Americas - including truckers - since 26.285MHz is Channel 19 down two bands) and FM mode chatter (out of Europe and Asia) then I've heard SSB DXers.   I'm listening to 26.285 MHz right now (1226 UTC on March 29th, 2024) on the G8JNJ online SDR and there is a very loud and very clear Russian land mobile system on the frequency in NFM mode.  26.285 MHz FM.  Taxi cab radio system, radio taxi dispatcher / taxi controller, YL dispatcher "Olga" RU taxi cab dispatch on 26285 FM.

32

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 24, 2024, 1827 UTC »

Sadly a lot of radios have suffered the same fate ("big-truck-itis").  Lots of vibration over the years just wrecks the solder joints.  Sadly that issue is well enough known to operators and techs alike that some CB operators I've known have cautioned against using certain radios for heavy duty service because of the poorer quality of the solder and a resulting tendency to fail quickly due to the constant vibration.

The radio in question was a Voyage VR9000, which is better known as the Galaxy DX 88HML or Superstar 3900F.  It's a Superstar 3900 with a built-in frequency counter. 

I never had that issue with that particular radio, I used it mobile for many years (in a sedan though) and used it as a base station.  I sold it when I liquidated my collection of CB/11m equipment several years ago (along with several nice examples of older generation Superstar 3900 radios) and now I really hate myself for having done that.  I wish I had held onto my Superstar 3900 or my Superstar GR (which was a rebranded President Grant Export with low/mid/high bands, 26.515 MHz - 27.855 MHz, AM/FM/SSB and a 6-digit frequency counter).

33

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM 26765 kHz Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch Land Mobile Comms 03/24/2024

« on: March 24, 2024, 1822 UTC »

26.765MHz AM 26765 kHz AM 26,765 AM taxi dispatch, YL dispatcher - Spanish language.

Started coming in somewhat early today, around 1300 UTC or so.  Good signals at 1430 UTC and now at 1820 UTC locally and on various U.S. East Coast SDR receivers.  Also was able to copy the dispatcher (but not the drivers) on SDR receivers located in the UK.  Fair to good signals. 

34

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 23, 2024, 2154 UTC »

Yep, most drivers stay below 28 MHz. 

Those Galaxy rigs are nice.  I’ve had both the DX 949 and later a DX 959.  The 959 had a nice 120 channel “channel kit” installed, making it a 3-band radio low channels/mid channels (legal CB band) and high channels.  26.515 - 27.855 MHz.  It also had an opened clarifier +10 kHz/-5 kHz transmit and receive, some parts of the receiver updated…and so on.  No, the modulation limiter was not removed. 

I ran it with an Astatic M6B-D104 power mic and an Astatic 636L mic. 

The 949 and 959 are the same radio, the only difference is the 959 has a built in frequency counter.  I know the Galaxy rigs aren’t the best SSB rigs, but they absolutely scream on AM.  With the power mic, I would run the radio’s mic gain setting at 50% or so and the modulation peaks would still be slightly over 100%.  With the 636L, I would set it at 75% or so and it would give me that nice loud punchy audio without distortion. 

Real classic AM “trucker radios” - like the Cobra 25, Cobra 29 and Uniden PC66/PC68/PC76/PC78.  The Galaxy radios have lots of audio and really punchy if you set them up right with a quality microphone.  Same with the classic Cobra and Uniden rigs. 

CB is very much a useful tool for over the road work.  Just being able to listen to channel 19 is quite useful, especially during adverse conditions. 

In the state I live in, the state DOT roadside assistance trucks all have Uniden CB radios and K40 antennas as part of their standard radio setup.  Many of the other DOT vehicles have CB equipment as well, but the motorist assistance guys see the CB as a requirement to do their job.

Many loading facilities, etc. require that all trucks have CB gear for the dispatcher (“guard shack”) to talk to the trucks directly.  I know that one of the local quarries they have the “DISPATCH OFFICE CB CH 23” sign right at the main gate where dump trucks come in to get loaded.  The dispatch office has a nice 5/8 wave base antenna and a very commanding signal. 


They also have their company radios (VHF high band) for talking to their company trucks.  Ironically enough, all the company trucks have CB gear in them as well as company radios. 


Just like the DOT trucks, the CB gear is used for talking directly to private contractors on site, listening to truckers on 27.185 MHz AM (CB Channel 19) and talking to truckers on the same.

35

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Asian Fishermen Fisheries Chatter 31.000 MHz FM [CSQ] 1615 UTC 03/22/24

« on: March 22, 2024, 1617 UTC »

Hearing the usual chatty fishermen on 31.000 MHz FM [CSQ] at 1215 local time / 1615 UTC.  31.0 MHz NFM 31000 FM carrier squelch (no squelch tone used). 

Interesting time for these guys to be coming in, usually they're stronger in the morning or evening, vs. middle of the day.  Chances are the other frequencies may start becoming active shortly too.

Fishing trawlers high HF band / VHF lowband FM radiotelephone system, originally out of China:


Original specification:
27.500 MHz to 39.475 MHz - 27.5MHz - 39.5MHz
25 kHz spacing, FM voice 16K0F3E emission
Channelized
480 channels, straight sequence

27.500 MHz FM - Channel 001
27.525 MHz FM - Channel 002
27.550 MHz FM - Channel 003
27.575 MHz FM - Channel 004
and so on (up through 10 meters) up to

39.425 MHz FM - Channel 478
39.450 MHz FM - Channel 479
39.475 MHz FM - Channel 480

Power output 25w.  Dual mode signalling, 300 baud and 1200 audio-frequency shift keying for individual calling, ship to ship call, emergency call, ship to shore station call, group call, fleet broadcast signal and other purposes.  System is entirely carrier squelch operated.

There are modified variants sold out of Taiwan and other places that use 12.5 kHz spacing to increase the number of channels to 960, and use the same selective calling systems.  Lots and lots of these radios around, likely in use worldwide.  31.000 MHz is one of the more popular frequencies, I've heard them down below 28.000 MHz, inside 10 meters, and on 29.750 MHz FM, 29.775 MHz FM, 29.800 MHz FM, 29.825 MHz FM, 29.850 MHz FM, 29.875 MHz FM and many others, including 30.000 MHz FM.  29.825MHz and 29.875MHz are very popular ones.  The 12.5 kHz "extra channels" aren't as busy but they are certainly in use.  I've logged 29.9375 MHz, 29.9625 MHz, 29.9875 MHz, 30.0125 MHz, 30.1875 MHz, 32.1125 MHz, 32.1375 MHz, and many many others.  Seems like the FM deviation is lowered when operating on the 12.5 kHz channels...except on some radios its not. 

36

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM 26765 kHz Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch Land Mobile Comms 03/22/2024

« on: March 22, 2024, 1604 UTC »

Nice signal from the taxi lady Juanita on 26.765 MHz AM 26765kHz AM 26.7650 MHz AM late this morning (U.S. East Coast). 

SIO 333 or so at 1555 UTC / 1600 UTC or 1155 / 1200 noon local time.  Local receive in Richmond, Virginia.

Checking the W3HFU and N1NTE SDRs, her transmitter seems to be a bit more off frequency than usual...carrier offset 26764.4 kHz 26.764.4 MHz.  On the N1NTE SDR, one of the drivers replying to the taxi dispatcher is off-frequency in the other direction, carrier on 26765.6 kHz. 

Of all the Spanish language taxi cab radio systems operating in the 25-50 MHz range, this one is one of the most consistent, right up there with 31.200 MHz FM 203.5 Hz PL tone and the Costa Rican taxi cab radio dispatch system out of Alajuela Costa Rica on 32.180 MHz and 32.940 MHz 77.0 Hz PL and 141.3 Hz PL. 

37

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 22, 2024, 1548 UTC »

Hearing truckers on 26.735 MHz AM right now 1130 local / 1530 UTC.  Multiple carriers noted on frequency.

And yep, they're all over the band.  Some activity on 27.905 MHz AM and 27.915 MHz AM, U.S. stations, but could be base stations vs. mobiles. 

Most export rigs are 6-band radios (25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz) with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F, and a band switch in addition to the usual 40 channel selector.  There's usually also a +10 kHz switch that allows access to the 5 skipped channels in each band.

The legal CB band is "Band D", so there's more available channels below channel 1 vs. above channel 40.  Since there's more SSB activity above channel 40, it makes sense that more activity is on bands A/B/C. 

This is true for the classic export radios like the Connex 3300 series, General Lee, General HP40W, Galaxy DX29, Galaxy DX33, Superstar 3900 etc.  Some of the nicer radios like the Galaxy DX99 are 8 band radios (25.165 MHz - 28.755 MHz), either with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H and the legal CB band being Band E.  Some of these rigs have a LOW BAND/HIGH BAND switch plus a band switch (A/B/C or A/B/C/D or A-D/B-E/C-F).  The Galaxy DX99 is a good example of this, with the legal CB band being High Band A. 

Other radios, like the Superstar 121, General Grant Export, Superstar GR, etc. are 3-band radios.  That is, LOW/MID/HIGH (or C/D/E).  Mid band is the legal CB band, 26.965 MHz - 27.405 MHz.  High band (Band E) is 27.415 MHz - 27.855 MHz and low band (Band C) is 26.515 MHz - 26.955 MHz. 

There are variants of the Superstar 121 that were sold to the hunting market, the Connex Deer Hunter and Connex Coyote Hunter.  The Deer Hunter is a three band radio, with the bands labeled B/C/D.  So that highest band is the legal CB band - coverage being 26.065 MHz to 27.405 MHz.  The Coyote Hunter is identical except it has four bands, A/B/C/D, you guessed it, D is the legal CB band, coverage is 25.615 MHz to 27.405 MHz.  This fits with hunters and truck drivers and other users usually using the lower channels (as there are more channels to work with - 120 channels (3 bands of 40 channels, 3 bands of 45 channels if you count the +10 kHz switch), vs. around 65 channels available on the higher bands (and more SSB QRM). 



Confusing, I know.  Extra confusing when the radio does not have a frequency counter or frequency display.  The standard 6-band 25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz format is common enough that it's become the de facto standard. 


There are, or were, truckers involved with logging in my area that hung out on 25.835 MHz AM.  That's Channel 19 on band A.  Local operators often use their home channel up or down one band as a "secret" channel...examples include using 26.885 MHz AM instead of 27.335 MHz AM (Channel 33 down one band).  Another one is locals who use "Channel 50" (27.505 MHz AM) as a "side channel".  Of course, its actually Channel 8 up one band. 

Really helps to have a frequency display...or at least a printout of the channel plan.   

I've been listening to two groups of truckers on 26.735MHz AM as I've been typing this.  It's now 1147 local time - 1547 UTC and 26735 is very much active. 

38

10/11 meters / 26.805 MHz FM Activity 1430 UTC 22 March 2024

« on: March 22, 2024, 1434 UTC »

26.805 MHz FM very much alive this morning (U.S. East Coast). 

39

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 22, 2024, 1321 UTC »

What are they talking about on 26.735? 

40

10/11 meters / Re: UK / European Paging 26.750 26.745 26.695 26.650 MHz 21 March 2024

« on: March 21, 2024, 1713 UTC »

26.695 MHz and 26.745 MHz are the strongest at my local receive location as well. 

They're both "offset" frequencies, 26.695 MHz being the offset for 26.700 MHz (26.700 MHz and 26.705 MHz are also used for paging), 26.745 MHz being the offset for 26.750 MHz. 

41

10/11 meters / UK / European Paging 26.750 26.745 26.695 26.650 MHz 21 March 2024

« on: March 21, 2024, 1700 UTC »

I can hear 26.755, 26.745 and 26.695 locally in Richmond VA using a handheld.

On the W3HFU SDR - specifically the one with the 900 foot sky loop antenna

26.950 MHz FM - Weak paging signals
26.900 MHz FM - Pager signals, POCSAG - barely above the noise
26.855 MHz FM - Pager signal bursts, likely offset freq for 26.85 MHz
26.850 MHz FM - Paging bursts, severe QRM from CB traffic on 26.845 MHz and 26.855 MHz
26.755 MHz FM - POCSAG bursts, sporadic
26.750 MHz FM - POCSAG signals, other data bursts (same data signals noted on 26.65 MHz)
26.745 MHz FM - Constant paging signals, first tuned in around 1600 UTC.  Signal strength increased around 1630 UTC
26.695 MHz FM - Constant pager signals, POCSAG
26.650 MHz FM - Paging bursts, narrow band (4-5 kHz wide BW), similar to some of the signals on 26.750 MHz
26.600 MHz FM - Paging signals noted around 1650 UTC and 1655 UTC
26.500 MHz FM - Constant FM "idle" signal, reminds me of 26.200 MHz and 27.450 MHz (both European paging systems)
26.500 MHz FM - POCSAG paging signals
26.450 MHz FM - POCSAG - narrowband signals, weak to fair at 1650 UTC - 1655 UTC
26.250 MHz FM - POCSAG paging signals, mostly narrowband, sporadic, wide band (12 kHz BW) noted at 1658 UTC
26.200 MHz FM - Constant FM "idle" signal, being sent even when paging transmissions are sent - POCSAG (12 to 14 kHz bandwidth!)

42

10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM 1855 UTC 15 March 2024

« on: March 21, 2024, 1239 UTC »

They seem to be coming in more frequent this solar cycle, that or I'm simply hearing them more. 

27.635 MHz AM is another popular one (channel 19 up one band, so Band E on most export radios).

I've noticed a fair amount of U.S. based chatter, some of it base stations but most of it mobiles...up in the higher part of the 27.415 MHz - 27.855 MHz band (Band E) and the lower part of the 27.865 MHz - 28.305 MHz band (Band F).  27.885 MHz, 27.905 MHz, 27.915 MHz and 27.925 MHz seem to be the most popular ones. 

The lower channels - 25.615 MHz to 26.955 MHz...lots and lots of U.S. based users, mostly truckers but also random business land mobile users, freebanders and so on.   There's also the popular DX frequencies on the lower channels, below CB radio channel 1.

26.915 MHz AM - Band C Channel 36 - AM calling frequency (alternates: up or down 10 kHz to 26.955, down to 26.515)
26.805 MHz FM - Band C Channel 23 - FM calling frequency
26.715 MHz AM - Band C Channel 17 - AM calling channel DX frequency for Latin America
26.705 MHz AM - Band C Channel 16 - AM calling channel DX frequency for Latin America
26.585 MHz AM - Band C Channel 7 - Mexican truckers / truck drivers (see also: 26.565 MHz, 26.575 MHz, 26.595 MHz)
26.555 MHz LSB - Band C Channel 4 - SSB Calling DX frequency for Spanish language, see also 27.455 MHz USB
26.285 MHz USB - Band B Channel 19 - Alternate calling frequency to 27.555 MHz USB 27.555 USB
26.285 MHz AM - Band B Channel 19 - AM mode, U.S. truckers / truck drivers noted on this frequency
26.225 MHz USB - Band B Channel 14 - SSB activity, Mexico / Latin America
25.835 MHz AM - Band A Channel 19 - US truckers truck drivers, also see 26.285 MHz, 26.735 MHz, 27.635 MHz all AM

Of course there are tons of Latin American users on those frequencies too. 

43

10/11 meters / 27.661 FM Church Broadcast or ??? 1600 UTC 20 March 2024

« on: March 20, 2024, 1705 UTC »

Received locally in Richmond, VA with a PNI Escort HP 82 handheld CB radio with a telescopic whip antenna (Cobra HA-TA). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG9v8Jc4NgY

^quick video clip of it.  Very heavy fading.

UK FM CB channel 7, frequency 27.66125 MHz FM 27661 FM CADS WPAS LW07 frequency 27.661 MHz FM

44

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM 26765 kHz AM Taxi Cab Comms (Again) 1940 UTC 19 March 2024

« on: March 19, 2024, 1953 UTC »

26.765 MHz AM - likely Mexico location Mexican taxi cab dispatcher YL "Juanita" coming in nicely at 1940 UTC.  Tuned in earlier at approx 1800 UTC with a SIO 333 signal.  Other taxi cab comms coming in all over the band, as it to be expected:

YL dispatcher - taxi cab company land mobile radio, Spanish language radio taxi for all frequencies below

25.625 MHz AM
25.695 MHz AM
25.795 MHz AM
25.835 MHz AM
25.875 MHz AM
25.945 MHz AM - STL carrier (unmodulated FM signal) on 25.950 MHz coming in with it
25.965 MHz AM
25.995 MHz AM
26.035 MHz AM
26.065 MHz AM
26.115 MHz AM
26.145 MHz AM - with sporadic QRM from strong FSK bursts on this frequency 26145 kHz
26.165 MHz AM
26.175 MHz AM - QRM from FSK signals on this frequency too 26175 kHz
26.185 MHz AM
26.255 MHz AM
26.335 MHz AM
26.405 MHz AM
26.505 MHz AM
26.515 MHz AM
26.655 MHz AM
26.685 MHz AM
26.695 MHz AM - noting some stronger QRM from UK based paging systems on here POCSAG
26.755 MHz AM
26.765 MHz AM
26.795 MHz AM
26.935 MHz AM
26.945 MHz AM - QRM from US freeband stations

27.485 MHz AM - severe SSB QRM
27.515 MHz AM - severe SSB QRM
27.525 MHz AM - severe SSB QRM
27.735 MHz AM
27.755 MHz AM
27.765 MHz AM
27.775 MHz AM
27.785 MHz AM - QRM with UK FM CB
27.805 MHz AM
27.815 MHz AM
27.835 MHz AM
27.855 MHz AM severe QRM
27.875 MHz AM

45

10/11 meters / UK FM CB + UK 26MHz Paging Signals Heard On East Coast 1930 UTC 19 March 2024

« on: March 19, 2024, 1939 UTC »

UK paging systems coming in (barely) on 26.695 MHz, 26.745 MHz, 26.750 MHz and 26.755 MHz.  26745 is the best signal at 1930 UTC.

Nothing noted on the lower 26 MHz paging frequencies, including 26.200 MHz, 26.220 MHz, 26.250 MHz, 26.300 MHz, 26.350 MHz, 26.400 MHz, 26.450 MHz, 26.500 MHz, 26.550 MHz (26.555 MHz LSB is going nuts), 26.600 MHz...26.650 MHz has some very weak POCSAG

UK FM CB:

27601 FM - UK FM CB Channel 1 - freq 27.60125 MHz FM - very dramatic fading
27611 FM - UK FM CB Channel 2 - freq 27.61125 MHz FM - noted UK accents, severe SSB QRM
27631 FM - UK FM CB Channel 4 - freq 27.63125 MHz FM - weak, severe QRM from 27.630 MHz and 27.635 MHz
27731 FM - UK FM CB Channel 14 - freq 27.73125 MHz FM - weak, but there, QRM from taxi cab on 27.735 MHz AM and SSB freebanders
27781 FM - UK FM CB Channel 19 - freq 27.78125 MHz FM - oh yeah, the busy one.  Taxi cab dispatcher YL QRM from 27.775 MHz AM and 27.785 MHz AM
27841 FM - UK FM CB Channel 25 - freq 27.84125 MHz FM - noted activity on this frequency quite often, taxi cab QRM from 27.845 MHz AM
27851 FM - UK FM CB Channel 26 - freq 27.85125 MHz FM - severe QRM from 27.855 MHz LSB
27891 FM - UK FM CB Channel 30 - freq 27.89125 MHz FM - some activity, as expected lots of Spanish language QRM
27911 FM - UK FM CB Channel 32 - freq 27.91125 MHz FM - some activity, U.S. truckers on 27.905 MHz causing issues
27951 FM - UK FM CB Channel 36 - freq 27.95125 MHz FM - FM carrier on frequency, American freeband CB on 27.955 MHz AM
27961 FM - UK FM CB Channel 37 - freq 27.96125 MHz FM - very heavy accents
27991 FM - UK FM CB Channel 40 - freq 27.99125 MHz FM - some very sporadic activity noted