Messages

1

10/11 meters / 27.255 MHz AM Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch 1620 UTC 24 April 2025

« on: April 24, 2025, 1625 UTC »

Receiver location: Richmond VA

Receiver(s) used:  PNI HP 82 "Escort" handheld AM/FM CB radio (CB walkie-talkie) with telescopic base loaded antenna. 

CB radio channel 23, frequency 27255 kHz 27,255 27.255MHz.  Shared with data (RCRS), telemetry, etc.  Strong signals but with some dramatic fading / QSB.  YL dispatcher.  SIO 333 at 1620 UTC tune in time (12:20 PM local). 

2

10/11 meters / Fishnet Beacons (Radio Buoys) Long Keydown + Morse IDs 9 April 2025 [G8JNJ SDR]

« on: April 09, 2025, 1317 UTC »

Received via G8JNJ SDR today 9 April 2025, around 1300 UTC - 1305 UTC.

Frequencies given are carrier frequencies, if you're tuning in USB mode, its 1.4 kHz or 1.5 kHz down in frequency (or 2 kHz down, to make things easier) - so 26.878 MHz or 26.879 MHz instead of 26.880 MHz).  I've heard of these things being heard on the 26 MHz NZ CB band (26.330 MHz - 26.770 MHz - the NZ 26 MHz band follows the regular 26.965 MHz - 27.405 MHz CB band plan, just all channels are -635 kHz).  Given that these things seem to mostly follow a 5 kHz step band plan, that makes sense. 

All the signals feature a multi-second tone burst (or just carrier keydown), followed by a CW identifier.  The signals are all regular old CW, not modulated CW.  I should just call them Morse code fishing net driftnet beacons.   There are several FSK beacons also active, which are likely the same concept only they're transmitting a GPS location via fast FSK.

26.350 MHz - UNID driftnet beacon, unable to copy due to POCSAG paging signals on frequency

26.788 MHz - FSK driftnet beacon (FSK bursts)

26.822 MHz - FSK driftnet beacon (FSK bursts, exact same time as the 26.862 MHz signal)

26.838 MHz - FSK driftnet beacon

26.840 MHz - MI in Morse Code

26.862 MHz - FSK driftnet beacon (FSK bursts, exact same time as the 26.822 MHz signal)

26.880 MHz - Long keydown, followed by "NMN" in Morse (poor copy)

26.880 MHz - Long duration tone burst, followed by "UTS" in Morse Code

26.885 MHz - Long duration tone burst, followed by "RR" in Morse Code

26.890 MHz - Long duration tone burst, followed by "PCE" in Morse Code (possibly multiple beacons on this frequency)

26.890 MHz - Long duration tone burst, followed by "ECE" in Morse Code (this could be a copying error on my part)

26.895 MHz - Shorter duration keydown, followed by "IU IU" in Morse Code
short short    short short long
26.965 MHz - Long duration tone burst, followed by "PCE" in Morse Code (very similar to the 26880 signal, likely part of the same network?)

3

10/11 meters / 27.195 MHz AM Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch 1645 UTC 4 April 2025

« on: April 04, 2025, 1647 UTC »

This is another good frequency to check, first to see if there's any voice traffic on the frequency...and second to hear the various data signals on here.  There is usually a constant or nearly constant data stream when the band is open to points south of the border. 

I can hear a YL taxi cab dispatcher on frequency, Spanish language, likely Mexico, possible CDMX (Mexico City) based on the taxi ID number formats.  Mexico City uses alphanumeric IDs, other places do not (or this is at least what I've read and have been told).  As of 1644z, the data signals are there, but extremely weak, much weaker than usual.  The taxi cab dispatcher lady is also considerably weaker than her counterpart down on 26.765 MHz AM / 26765 kHz AM. 

EDIT:  At 1645 UTC, a different data signal appeared...sounds like a FFSK burst, duration maybe 1 second, with a very distinct "BEEP" (lower-frequency than most "Roger Beeps").  Reminds me of the AX.25 packet I've heard on 27.235 MHz (CB Channel 24) and 27.245 MHz (CB Channel 25).

4

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatcher "Juanita" CDMX 1637 UTC 4 April 2025

« on: April 04, 2025, 1641 UTC »

Tuned in locally (on a handheld scanner with a base loaded CB antenna) on 26.765 MHz AM, the taxi lady Juanita is coming in quite nice just after 12:30pm Eastern Time. 

Checking the online receivers, the W3HFU SDRs are hearing her even better. 

Juanita either got her radio aligned or the temperature is being nicer to her transmitter, it is much closer to being on frequency today.  AM carrier on 26764.8 kHz at 1639z.  Not bad considering she's been down closer to 26764.4 or 26764.5 kHz several other times when I've tuned them in via the SDR receivers.  She's got the signature single-tone end of transmission BEEEEEEP.

Typical taxi cab dispatch traffic, alphanumeric taxi identifiers in Spanish, addresses, etc.  Can hear some of the drivers replying to hear at 1640 UTC.  OM drivers, noted one of them on 26765.1 kHz, the other on 26765.05 kHz, which is pretty decent considering.  Another driver (at 1641 UTC) down on 26764.7 kHz.  But, its all close enough for sure. 

5

Peskies / 6960 kHz LSB French Fishing Boats 1630 UTC 4 April 2025 [Via G8JNJ SDR]

« on: April 04, 2025, 1634 UTC »

Very good signals at 1630z tune in time.  Two OMs chatting away in French, can hear background noise on one of the signals.  Heard several mentions of Marseille. 

The 6765 - 7000 kHz band is very busy in/around Europe, lots of fishing fleet comms outside the legal marine bands.  Bigger picture, there are a lot of freebanders on/around the "Echo Charlie" 6.6 MHz ballpark, 6633 kHz LSB, 6643 kHz LSB, 6650 kHz LSB and several others - including French language comms on 6678 kHz USB are active just as I type this and tune through the bands via the UK based SDR receiver.

6

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch CDMX 26 March 2025

« on: March 26, 2025, 2241 UTC »

Taxi dispatch lady out of Mexico City coming in very nicely today / this afternoon.  26765 AM, Spanish language.

7

10/11 meters / 28.0625 MHz FM - Asian Fishermen In 10 Meters 1410z 13 March 2025

« on: March 13, 2025, 1418 UTC »

Received via the Wessex SDR (G8JNJ SDR) located in the SW UK.  Very strong signals around 1410 UTC - 1415 UTC.  12.5 kHz channel spacing, dedicated fishery radio.  I've noticed these guys in 10 meters before, but usually they leave the (roughly) 28.000 MHz to 28.500 MHz or so portion alone.  Not this time. 

Also noted activity on 29.8250 MHz FM CSQ, 29.8750 MHz FM CSQ, 30.0375 MHz FM CSQ, 27.7500 MHz FM CSQ, 28.8250 MHz FM CSQ, and several others in 10 meters and above/below 10 meters.  Mostly

8

10/11 meters / More 11 Meter Paging Signals From Europe - 7 March 2025

« on: March 07, 2025, 2100 UTC »

Receiver:  W3HFU SDR (with 900 foot sky loop antenna)
Tune In Time - start: 2040 UTC

26.250 MHz 26250 kHz - POCSAG paging signals
26.450 MHz 26460 kHz - Narrowband MFSK data bursts, POCSAG and CCIR multi-tone paging signals,
26.645 MHz 26645 kHz - UK on site hospital pager frequency, numerous paging signals on top of each other
26.650 MHz 26650 kHz - Narrowband MFSK data bursts, quite frequent
26.695 MHz 26695 kHz - UK on site hospital pager frequency,
26.745 MHz 26745 kHz - UK on site hospital pager frequency, severe QRM with German FM CB radio chatter
26.750 MHz 26750 kHz - Paging signals, also narrowband data bursts
26.755 MHz 26755 kHz - Narrowband MFSK data bursts, CCIR paging signals
26.850 MHz 26850 kHz - Paging signals, MFSK data bursts, sometimes at the same time
26.900 MHz 26900 kHz - POCSAG pager signals, often stepping on top of each other - very active frequency
26.950 MHz 26950 kHz - Paging signals, various bandwidths, also data packet bursts
26.955 MHz 26955 kHz - Data bursts, mixing in with FM voice comms (German CB radio channel 80)
26.995 MHz 26995 kHz - On off keying data or R/C signals [RCRS frequency]
26.995 MHz 26995 kHz - Paging signals
26.995 MHz 26995 kHz - Tone-modulated AM data bursts
26.995 MHz 26995 kHz - Packet radio bursts, very short duration, "chirpy" sounding
27.003 MHz 27003 kHz - POCSAG paging signals, center frequency 27.0025 MHz 27.003 MHz, 15 kHz wide
27.045 MHz 27045 kHz - Packet bursts, similar to those heard on 27.195 MHz
27.045 MHz 27045 kHz - Tone-modulated AM mode bursts, with FM voice mixing in underneath
27.195 MHz 27195 kHz - Numerous data modes at once, nonstop MFSK data stream, MFSK bursts
27.195 MHz 27195 kHz - Typical RCRS "brrrttttt" packet burst transmissions (usually heard on 27.255) too many to count
27.195 MHz 27195 kHz - Latin American "band opening indicator" data stream also active starting around 2050 UTC
27.255 MHz 27255 kHz - Nonstop data bursts, very very busy RCRS (as to be expected), lots of AM and FM voice comms
27.535 MHz 27535 kHz - Paging signals, with FM carrier "idle" "preamble" for a few seconds before paging burst is sent
27.550 MHz 27550 kHz - Data bursts and paging signals, with all the QRM you'd expect from 27.555 MHz USB
27.600 MHz 27600 kHz - Numerous data bursts and paging signals noted on frequency
27.600 MHz 27600 kHz - Narrowband MFSK bursts
27.635 MHz 27635 kHz - ROS datamode / digimode, severe QRM from American truck drivers using 27.635 MHz AM
27.640 MHz 27640 kHz - Narrowband MFSK bursts
27.750 MHz 27750 kHz - Paging signals, getting obliterated by UK FM CB signals on 27.75125 MHz FM
27.775 MHz 27775 kHz - Multi-tone polytone data signals (in FM mode)
27.900 MHz 27900 kHz - Paging signals - sounds like POCSAG
27.950 MHz 27950 kHz - Paging signals - on site pager systems - CCIR or POCSAG (narrowband)

9

10/11 meters / CB radio repeater 26.815 MHz FM Germany English / German Voice ID

« on: March 07, 2025, 2037 UTC »

"hello and welcome to the CB repeater located near Cologne - 27225 megahertz (I think - I could be wrong about the input, not sure if they said 27.225 MHz, 27.275 MHz...or another frequency), output 26.815 megahertz you need the CTCSS tone on the input channel" (in German and then in English) at 2030 UTC, heard on 26.815 MHz (German CB Channel 66). 

I believe the CTCSS tone is 77.0 Hz.  The voice ID was first in German, and then in English.  Very nice and clear signal, basically full quieting.

Received locally (Richmond Virginia) using my PNI Escort HP 82 handheld CB transceiver CB walkie talkie with the radio set to DE mode (German 80 channel mode, which works great, because Channels 1-40 are identical to the U.S. FCC band plan channels 1-40 and the European CE/EU/CEPT band plan mid band channels, both AM and FM being legal on channels 1-40.  Channels 41-80 are the German channels 41-80, FM mode only, 26.565 MHz to 26.955 MHz in straight 10 kHz sequence (no skipped channels at 26.595 MHz / 26.645 MHz / 26.695 MHz / 26.745 MHz and no out of sequence numbering for 26.775 MHz / 26.805 MHz / 26.785 MHz / 26.795 MHz). 

10

10/11 meters / European FM CB Signals [W3HFU SDR] 7 March 2025

« on: March 07, 2025, 2032 UTC »

Hearing FM activity on the 26 MHz channels, mostly German language comms - German 80 channel allocation (40 standard channels + 40 FM only channels).

AM, FM and SSB modes, plus digital modes are permitted on channels 1-40.  Only FM mode and digital modes are permitted on channels 41-80. 

26.965 MHz - Channel 01
26.975 MHz - Channel 02
...
27.375 MHz - Channel 37
27.385 MHz - Channel 38
27.395 MHz - Channel 39
27.405 MHz - Channel 40
26.565 MHz - Channel 41
26.575 MHz - Channel 42
26.585 MHz - Channel 43
26.595 MHz - Channel 44
26.605 MHz - Channel 45
26.615 MHz - Channel 46
26.625 MHz - Channel 47
26.635 MHz - Channel 48
26.645 MHz - Channel 49
26.655 MHz - Channel 50
...10 kHz spacing...
26.925 MHz - Channel 77
26.935 MHz - Channel 78
26.945 MHz - Channel 79
26.955 MHz - Channel 80

LOGS:

26.585 MHz FM - German CB Channel 43 - yep, getting obliterated by AM QRM, but there is FM activity on frequency as well
26.645 MHz FM - German CB Channel 49 - with sometime severe paging / pager QRM

26.685 MHz FM - German CB Channel 53 sporadic activity with AM QRM
26.695 MHz FM - German CB Channel 54
26.745 MHz FM - German CB Channel 59, FM voice comms mixing in with the UK hospital paging POCSAG signals
26.765 MHz FM - German CB Channel 61, active, Mexican taxi cab on 26765 AM owning the frequency though
26.785 MHz FM - German CB Channel 63, severe QRM from AM signals on frequency
26.815 MHz FM - German CB Channel 66 "hello and welcome to the CB repeater located near Cologne - 27225 megahertz, output 26.815 megahertz you need the CTCSS tone on the input channel" (in German and then in English) at 2030 UTC. 
26.845 MHz FM - German CB Channel 69, very active, some QRM from paging / data bursts on 26.850 MHz
26.875 MHz FM - German CB Channel 72, dramatic fading, faded back up around 2027 UTC
26.905 MHz FM - German CB Channel 75, QRM from odd data signals on frequency, plus paging on 26.900 MHz
26.935 MHz FM - German CB Channel 78, very good signals, German language QSO at 2021 UTC
26.945 MHz FM - German CB Channel 79, sporadic signals
26.955 MHz FM - German CB Channel 80, full quieting signal strength with minor QRM from 26.950 MHz paging signals

11

10/11 meters / 26.800 MHz USB vs. 26.805 MHz FM vs. 26.800 MHz FM

« on: March 07, 2025, 2015 UTC »

2013 UTC
7 March 2025
Via the W3HFU SDR.

Spanish language comms on 26.800 MHz USB, very strong.  Two OMs talking about prices at the supermercardo. 

Spanish language chatter on 26.800 MHz FM as well, not nearly as strong as the SSB guys. 

26.805 MHz FM activity as well, very messy frequency. 

12

10/11 meters / 26.765 MHz AM Mexican Taxi Cab Dispatch CDMX 2005 UTC 7 March 2025

« on: March 07, 2025, 2012 UTC »

Nice signals this afternoon here on the U.S. East Coast.  Received using portable radios, nothing fancy.

Checked some East Coast SDRs, "Juanita" is coming in very nicely via the W3HFU SDRs, with some minor QSB / fading at points.   Her transmitter is slightly off-frequency, carrier on 26764.55 kHz at 2008 UTC.  Decent AM modulation, very distinctive end of transmission tone "Roger Beep", seems to be (roughly) 1900 Hz or so frequency (the end of transmission tone). 

Noting taxi cab radio transmissions (drivers replying to the dispatcher) at 2011 UTC.   

Mobiles' carrier frequencies:

26765.1 kHz
26764.7 kHz
26764.8 kHz
26765.2 kHz

at least so far, I'm sure there are additional mobiles on frequency that I just can't hear..

13

10/11 meters / Re: UK FM CB Activity Heard In USA - 6 March 2025

« on: March 07, 2025, 2002 UTC »

March 7, 2025

Tune in time (start) 1950 UTC / 2:50pm local time:

UK FM CB activity:

27.60125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 1 - Faint FM activity noted, just so much SSB QRM
27.63125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 4, severe QRM from 27.635MHz AM
27.64125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 5, getting clobbered by American truck drivers on 27.635 MHz AM and 27.635 USB ROS datamode
27.65125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 6
27.66125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 7
27.71125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 12 - multiple signals on top of each other
27.73125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 14 - some very strong signals
27.74125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 15, very busy, QRM from 27.745 MHz LSB and 27.745 MHz AM
27.76125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 17, severe QRM from Mexican taxi cab dispatch lady on 27.765 MHz AM
27.78125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 19 - very busy, a real mess
27.79125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 20 - UK truckers or farmers active on frequency
27.81125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 22 - Several "dead key" transmissions aroiund 2001 UTC
27.82125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 23, very weak, lots of AM and SSB QRM
27.84125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 25, full scale at 1951 UTC, very thick accents
27.85125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 26 - QRM from POCSAG paging signals on 27.850 MHz FM
27.87125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 28
27.89125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 30 - possible church broadcast, QRM from 27.900 MHz USB and 27.905 MHz USB
27.90125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 31 tons of SSB QRM
27.92125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 33, UK farmers, lots of signals mixing together at 1955 UTC
27.94125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 35, another unmodulated carrier right on 27941.35 kHz
27.95125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 36, very deep fades, severe QRM from 27.945 MHz USB, 27.950 MHz USB
27.96125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 37, French language QRM on 27.960 MHz USB
27.97125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 38
27.98125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 39 - carrier with very weak audio, another group of stations mixing in
27.99125 MHz FM - UK FM CB Channel 40 - several QSOs going on at once

14

10/11 meters / UK FM CB Activity Heard In USA - 6 March 2025

« on: March 06, 2025, 2245 UTC »

Received locally via my PNI Escort HP 82 handheld CB walkie talkie (AM/FM dual mode) multi-norm CB radio. 

Lots of activity on 27.781 FM (as to be expected).  Carrier noted on 27.941 MHz FM (UK FM CB channel 35).  Another weak carrier, possibly a church broadcast…on 27.991 FM, with severe fading.  27.94125 MHz FM carrier may have been the paging system out of Finland and the like on 27.940 MHz.  I recorded a short clip of me scanning the UK FM band. 


Video link:

https://youtu.be/lX_LK6KDEIw?si=epcLnqwakqjJzXpJ

15

10/11 meters / 26.885 MHz AM Talk Radio Simulcast 6 March 2025

« on: March 06, 2025, 2241 UTC »

UNID talk radio station, heard reference to New York. 

Receiver is the excellent Wessex UK receiver [G8JNJ]. 

Video links below, recorded in three parts:

Part 1:

https://youtu.be/Fjt94gqzQVo?si=xaNQ_KrRDhrFEiHw


Part 2:

https://youtu.be/0QgFIUG_BN0?si=Lt88_K08mjjGh2kt


Part 3:

https://youtu.be/ShH9Z9mWRtI?si=Xyli1KfoH-L6X400

In part 3, American freeband CBers start coming in on frequency on top of the broadcast…when had some pretty dramatic fading.