Messages

46

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: 650 AM music?

« on: April 25, 2020, 1538 UTC »

Anyone else hearing a fairly eclectic mix of music (no voice, no id's) on 650 kHz continuously over the past few days?  Seems to drown out WSM and I've heard harmonics on 1300, 1950, 2600, 3250, 3900, 4550, and 5200.  I'm listening on a KiwiSDR in Maryland via the web.

It wasn't on 650, but I heard something similar on 600 khz a couple of months ago. 

OK, here's a weird one for ya.  Pulled it in off the Hampton Bays, NY SDR.  Spanish-language music on 600 AM.....sounded like they were singing the same thing over and over, LOL. 

The station in question was overrunning WICC 600 (Bridgeport, CT).  I can't find any Spanish-language station in the area on that frequency....possible pirate, maybe? Little help?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pHAyQoVG8hlA7JUDYLFydJMtbP5f0Dwk

Could this be the same thing?

47

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: part 15 distance records

« on: April 25, 2020, 1528 UTC »

For am daytime use you might want to go vertical due the d layer absorption, d layer devours vertical polarity least. After sundown it doesn't make much diff save for in the near field when you want the rx and tx polarity to be the same as the losses from polarity mismatch can be high, d layer goes away with sunset.

Speaking of technical stuff.....my station can get out about 1400 feet, which covers a lot of potential listeners in my neighborhood (I live on what is basically my town's main street/commercial area).  I would love to get a bit more range, though....nothing like three miles, but maybe a mile to a mile and a half would work. 

Scratching my head as to how to do this.....my situation is such that I cannot put an antenna outdoors (I rent an apartment on the ground floor of my building).  Any thoughts?

48

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: part 15 distance records

« on: April 25, 2020, 1523 UTC »

I had an ersatz Part 15 in the 80s (an AM broadcast RAdio Shack P-box), and I ran higher power than the transistor was designed for (18V instead of 9V), and it was clearly audible on my portable radio over two blocks away. I had it tuned to an empty spot in the 1400's.

How'd you not fry the thing? LOL.

49

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: Part 15 AM and FM

« on: April 25, 2020, 1520 UTC »

If I didn't already mention it, I run a Part 15 AM station that I call "Radio Free Connecticut". 

Here's our Facebook page.  Facebook Site

And here's the web site.  Radio Free Connecticut

50

General Radio Discussion / Re: FCC To Hire ‘Substantial Number’ Of New Agents To Capture Radio Pirates

« on: April 09, 2020, 1108 UTC »

Screw this.  The FCC is nothing but a bunch of bullies.  They care nothing for free speech, due process, or the doctrine of "innocent until proven guilty".  That's not to mention their disdain for people's property rights.  Well....kiss my Bill of Rights, guys!

51

General Radio Discussion / Re: FCC Levies $18,000 Fine on Louisiana Amateur Radio Licensee

« on: April 09, 2020, 1105 UTC »

In an enforcement case prompted by complaints filed in 2017, the FCC has imposed an $18,000 forfeiture on Jerry W. Materne, KC5CSG, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, for intentional interference and failure to identify. The FCC had proposed the fine in a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) in the case in July 2018, and, based on Materne’s response to the NAL, the agency affirmed the fine in a March 12 Forfeiture Order (FO).

As the FCC recounted in the FO, an FCC agent “observed Materne causing intentional interference to a local repeater by generating digital noise into an analog radio.” The agent further reported that Materne failed to transmit his call sign, as required.

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-levies-18-000-fine-on-louisiana-amateur-radio-licensee

Hmmm.  I'm not a lawyer by any means....but I think the case against this guy is pretty weak.  The FCC is relying on circumstantial evidence.  What proof do they have that the radio possessed "was capable of operating on the frequency in question"? The only proof offered is the Commission's say so.  In a court of law, that wouldn't be enough on its own to get a conviction. 

I note that the two sides disagree as to what specific radio was being operated.  That being the case....SOMEBODY is lying here.  Is it the defendant, or the FCC agent? Assuming that the defendant has the right to appeal to the courts, I think he should do that. 

52

ID and Translation Requests / Re: UNID 930 khz 0825 UTC 5 Apr 2020

« on: April 07, 2020, 1634 UTC »

Its probably KKIN in Aitkin, MN. I've listened to the station before and the music you mention fits. Try to listen at the top of the hour (H +/- 5 minutes) for the station ID.

Another good station for music is 540 WXYG. They have no problem during the day making it to Minneapolis. During nighttime, they usually come in but may be some interference from a Canadian station.

KKIN is supposedly country music? Heart is definitely not country.

KKIN 930 isn't always country. I don't listen to them all the time, but they do switch a bit. The last song (up to 1900 GMT) was the Bee Gee's "Night Fever." At 1900 GMT, into news.

I have a feeling you're right, then.  Thanks!

53

ID and Translation Requests / Re: UNID 930 khz 0825 UTC 5 Apr 2020

« on: April 06, 2020, 0212 UTC »

Another good station for music is 540 WXYG. They have no problem during the day making it to Minneapolis. During nighttime, they usually come in but may be some interference from a Canadian station.

Could've been this, I suppose.  No idea why it would be on 940, though....unless I happened to tune into a repeater/translator. 

54

ID and Translation Requests / Re: UNID 930 khz 0825 UTC 5 Apr 2020

« on: April 06, 2020, 0208 UTC »

Its probably KKIN in Aitkin, MN. I've listened to the station before and the music you mention fits. Try to listen at the top of the hour (H +/- 5 minutes) for the station ID.

Another good station for music is 540 WXYG. They have no problem during the day making it to Minneapolis. During nighttime, they usually come in but may be some interference from a Canadian station.

KKIN is supposedly country music? Heart is definitely not country. 

55

QSLs Received / Re: Radio France International E-QSL

« on: April 05, 2020, 0909 UTC »

I can't tell you how many of my reception reports have gone for naught including one of the 2018 World Cup.  Congrats on your eQSL 👏.

Thanks much!

56

Other / Re: V2k Broadcasts

« on: April 05, 2020, 0907 UTC »

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12445512
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-certain-frequencies/
Last I heard was employ two u/vhf freqs and mix them inside the target brain.

Wow.  I have to hit the sack right now, but remind me to post about my own personal experience with this.  :-O

57

ID and Translation Requests / UNID 930 khz 0825 UTC 5 Apr 2020

« on: April 05, 2020, 0856 UTC »

OK, here's a new mystery for people to solve. 

Tuning in using an SDR based in Minneapolis, I was surprised to hear music on 930 khz.  There are several competing stations here (as my recording will show); the station in question was playing Heart's "These Dreams" (an MTV hit from 1986!).  Though not in this recording, a bit later I heard the beginning of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five. 

Now comes the tough part; station identification.  At first, I thought our mystery station might be Canadian; however, there are only three Canadian stations on 930 khz, none of them playing that kind of music.  A check of nearby stations was of no help to me.  I did find that there is an oldies station and an "adult standards" station on that frequency.  Nevertheless, I'm still stumped, as I don't think that a mid-80s hit would qualify as an "oldie"; at least, not yet (and "adult standards" are usually songs from the forties to the mid sixties). 

Anywho, here's my recording of 930 khz, as heard on this particular SDR. 

930 AM

Can anyone figure out what my "mystery station" might be? I haven't a clue. 

58

QSLs Received / Radio France International E-QSL

« on: February 17, 2020, 1753 UTC »

Pumped to receive one from these guys!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8zv1zu0shub2c1y/matt%20boland%20usa.jpg?dl=0

59

Other / Re: V2k Broadcasts

« on: February 16, 2020, 0719 UTC »

"Voice to skull"? There is such a thing?

60

Other / Cuban Spy Numbers

« on: February 16, 2020, 0718 UTC »

Sounds like the Cubans are up to something....the ol' numbers woman is active on 9328 khz.  Using the SDR located in Milford, PA.