Messages

1

General Radio Discussion / Re: Dangers posed by the increasing availability of low cost Software Defined Radio

« on: February 15, 2012, 0423 UTC »

You would think a "director of wireless security specialist" would have a little bit better understanding of technology he is apparently a specialist in. As the poster above has already mentioned, more of the same. Security through obscurity is not security. If you are counting on physical manufacturing lockouts on receivers/transmitters to portions of spectrum to protect you, you probably deserved to get compromised. There have been plentiful mods available on various non SDR equipment for decades for those with a desire for that. Not to mention the ability to just build your own. It always strikes me when people think of "wireless" in terms of being a modern technology, what you call 4G is really like 112G.

4a.

2

General Radio Discussion / Re: F.C.C. Bars the Use of Airwaves for a Broadband Plan

« on: February 15, 2012, 0403 UTC »

That is interesting. I can see both sides. I think what the FCC needs to focus on now is better part 15 regulation. As SWL's or Ham's we have all been affected by crappy electronics that are "Unintentional Radiators". Just because the widget does what it advertises to its intended user doesn't mean its "working well". If your crap isn't sufficiently filtering or suppressing as much as it should, just so you can shave some parts (and a few cents) off the device. People get so worried about cell phones and brain cancer but what about that plasma your plopped down in front of or that laptop you've got on your lap.

With the pressure on spectrum being what it is, you have to tighten up the ship. I guess what it comes down to is what the crap is interfering with, as always. If its some lowly HF band or some nothing VHF range, "oh well". If its a portion of the spectrum with industry behind it your crappy electronics aren't going to stay crappy long.

On the other hand to whine about the FCC stopping you from doing what you want as preventing private enterprise and harming jobs is just silly. When your product is vaporware and the incumbent industry is responsible for plenty of private enterprise and jobs of its own.

4a.

3

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: 6925AM XFM 0400 02/06/2012

« on: February 06, 2012, 0422 UTC »

Hearing the Mazzy Star tune "Fade Into You". Then id and signoff at 0420z. Pretty good signal, fought with a little bit of fade and a slightly above average interference. Been too much of that around here lately.

4a.

4

HF Beacons / 4079khz TMP beacon

« on: January 29, 2012, 1704 UTC »

Checked on the 4079khz Temperature beacon this morning. Good signal and clear copy. 55-56 degree temp.

HFUnderground Beacon wiki states this is a 1W beacon out of SW Arizona.

Short recording from this morning, approx 1700Z, location is Phoenix, AZ metro area. Icom 718 with 40m dipole not up very high.

4a.

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HF Beacons / Re: Beacon "A" 2097 khz

« on: January 29, 2012, 1640 UTC »

I've recorded the 4096.25 pretty consistently in my logs the last several months. Checked on it again this morning and created a new topic with the details.

Listened for the others in that frequency range but no luck.

4a.

6

HF Beacons / Dasher on 4096.25

« on: January 29, 2012, 1636 UTC »

Hearing the 4096.25, 1 second dasher fairly well this morning. Good signal above the noise most of the time.

The HFUnderground Beacon Wiki states this is a 400mW out of Joshua Tree Natl. Park.

Short recording from this morning, approx 1600Z, location is Phoenix, AZ metro area. Icom 718 with 40m dipole not up very high.

4a.

7

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: 21849.9 AM RTN?

« on: January 21, 2012, 1755 UTC »

Tuned in just in time to hear them end transmission at 1752UTC.

Signal was decent, not much noise, and average amount of fading.

4a.

8

HF Beacons / Re: Beacon "A" 2097 khz

« on: January 21, 2012, 0909 UTC »

I hear it as well, very strong, well above the noise, S9 with very little fade.

HF Underground Wiki says its located in Arizona and lists it as 15W. That would seem accurate as I'm getting it quite well here in Mesa,AZ.

4a.
 

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North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Unid, 6930.3 kHz AM

« on: December 01, 2011, 0311 UTC »

Just tuned it in here. Caught what I thought sounded like a Crystal Ship ident, so it likely is NRS. ~0305z

I'm hearing Tom Petty / I Won't Back Down. It's got a little bit of sharp fade. Noise is moderate tonight. Much better than it has been here lately, the local noise has been fierce the last few days. It's good to hear something on 43m again.

4a.

Edit:
NRS morse ident at ~0325z
The Who \ Won't Get Fooled Again ~0330z

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North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Junk Radio, 6930.47 AM, presumably via NRS

« on: November 20, 2011, 0445 UTC »

Pretty rough here tonight, I think I'm battling some local interference. About the only thing I've been to able to reliably hear are the NRS CW idents.

4a.

11

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6925.15 AM

« on: November 19, 2011, 0433 UTC »

Been listening since a little after 0400z. Pretty rough signal, down in the noise. I've also got a carrier just under 6928 which isn't making it any easier. 

Obvious music and dialog on USB, but almost nothing on AM. Atmosphere is pretty fickle though. Caught a nice sharp peak at 0417z with armchair listening on AM, however it lasted all of 30 seconds and didn't recognize the music at the time. Sounds like quite the eclectic show, wish I could hear it better.

4a.

12

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Northern Relay Service, 6930.3 AM

« on: November 18, 2011, 0324 UTC »

Signal coming in fair here, Midnight Oil / Beds Are Burning at 0317z then into talk about value of the dollar. NRS CW ident at 0323z. Talk before the ident and the Punk(?) tune afterwards are pretty rough.

4a.

13

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Ga-Ga 6930

« on: November 16, 2011, 0406 UTC »

Quick show! Decent peaks, was quite audible most of the time. Was fiddling with the knobs trying to get it just right when I caught the Radio Ga-Ga sign-off.

Regardless it was good, hadn't caught Radio Ga-Ga locally before so it's a winner none the less.

Thanks!
4a.

14

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Somebody now on 6930 am

« on: November 13, 2011, 0449 UTC »

Caught the tail end of Radio Free Manitoba with sign-off at 0445z, NRS still seems to be going, another relay may be coming.

Pretty rough signal here in AZ. Made it through on USB, AM isn't very good. I think there might also be a AM station a little higher up that was interfering a little.

4a.

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North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: 6.925 USB Wolverine Radio

« on: November 13, 2011, 0441 UTC »

Awesome. Thanks HTP and Textim.

I have to get better about setting my recorder or leaving and SSTV up in the background. I've been caught flat footed a couple times now.

Thanks,
4a.