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1246

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6789 kHz USB 0415+ UTC 8 May 2017

« on: May 08, 2017, 0419 UTC »

Checked the 6-7 MHz region and it is surprisingly quiet this evening (er, morning, in UTC terms).  However, I am hearing some faint Spanish chatter on 6789 kHz USB.  Reminds me of the traffic noted on 6900 kHz and other nearby frequencies, perhaps a bit faster paced, maybe indicating fishing fleets vs. freebanders?  Hard to say since the signals are so weak. 

1247

Peskies / UNID Unknown Language 4600 kHz LSB 0405+ UTC 8 May 2017

« on: May 08, 2017, 0408 UTC »

I think we've found another "peskie" frequency choice. 

Other stations and myself have now logged 4630 and 4646 in addition to this one, 4600 kHz.  Considerably weaker than the stations heard on 4630 kHz and 4646 kHz, these stations also appear to be speaking Portuguese.  "Peskie-like" operating procedures noted as well.

1248

Peskies / UNID Possible Italian / Portuguese 4630 kHz USB 0400+ UTC 8 May 2017

« on: May 08, 2017, 0405 UTC »

Tuned back to this frequency after listening to 4646 kHz USB.  Hearing at least 3-4 different stations chatting away, very similar to the Portuguese traffic heard on 6925 LSB, 6919 LSB, etc.  Closer to the Portuguese speaking peskies than the Spanish speaking stations on 6900 LSB, 6895 LSB, etc.  My instinct is telling me this is Italian but I really don't know.  Could still be Portuguese.  Its not Spanish (at least not right now, at 0404 UTC).  Like the other frequencies commonly monitored, I'm sure there are several different groups using the same or similar frequencies.

SIO 333 at best due to static crashes / QRN.

1249

Peskies / UNID Unknown Language 4646 kHz USB 0400+ UTC 8 May 2017

« on: May 08, 2017, 0401 UTC »

Noticed activity on this frequency while listening for traffic on 4630 kHz USB.  Seems to be similar signal strength as the possible Portuguese / Italian / Spanish () language signals heard on 4630 kHz.  Aircraft traffic on nearby frequency 4666 kHz USB.  

I think what I'm hearing is Italian or maybe Portuguese with a different accent than I'm used to hearing.  I don't think its Spanish (if it is, I've never heard this accent before).  

1250

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6827 kHz LSB 0200+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0200 UTC »

More weak Spanish speaking stations on a newly-logged frequency 6827 kHz LSB / 6.827 MHz LSB.  Sounds like two stations having a casual QSO.  This is the first log for tonight in this portion of the band, which seems to be one of the least-popular areas for whatever reason.  Weak signals but strong enough for me to ID the language as Spanish.  Two stations heard with very little pause / break time between transmissions, likely indicating that this is not a ragchew type net but simply two stations talking to each other.  Causal chatter means its probably not military or government...

1251

Peskies / UNID Unknown Language 6980 kHz LSB 0130+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0137 UTC »

Likely Spanish given the odd lack of Portuguese traffic this evening.  Too weak to get a positive ID on language though...

1252

Peskies / UNID Spanish Langauge 6990 kHz USB 0130+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0134 UTC »

Doing another quick band scan...came across 6990 kHz USB.  Spanish speaking OMs talking (hearing two stations having a QSO right now).  Lots of space between transmissions indicating a possible third (unheard) station in rotation.

1253

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6708 kHz USB 0100+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0107 UTC »

Spanish language speaking stations on 6708 kHz USB / 6.708 MHz USB.  

At least three different stations heard, considerably weaker than traffic heard in the 6900-7000 kHz range at the same time, indicating that these stations are possibly coming from a different enough location.  As Old Time Radio is readable on 6770 kHz AM, I will deduce that lower-power stations are still able to make it "out" tonight - which would probably explain the busier higher frequencies.  I know this is Spanish, but unfortunately it is too weak and obscured by the just-now-returning thunderstorm and lightning QRN noise static crashes  Heard a mention of "California" at 0107 UTC followed by a mention of Juarez (presumed reference to the city in Mexico).  

SIO 111 or so.  Several stations talking, but no sign of them talking over each other like the usual pescadores do.  Doesn't mean they're not fishermen though, especially considering how far away they are from the usual freeband nets on 6900 LSB and nearby frequencies.  

Tuned back in at 0118 UTC.  Stations still chatting away, signal strength has not improved like it has on the 69xx frequencies. 

1254

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6977 kHz USB 0100 UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0101 UTC »

Possibly QSYed from 6978 USB (activity noted on this frequency roughly 1 hour ago).  Heard a mention of Virginia. Mention of "52", possibly a callsign or handle-like identifier. Similar to traffic heard lower in frequency (see 6900 LSB, 6905 LSB, etc).  Not sure if this is the same group of stations as accents seem to be different, although this could be due to stations being slightly-off frequency or my not-that-great Spanish or likely a combination of the two.  SIO 222.

1255

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6915 kHz LSB 0055+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0056 UTC »

Spanish speaking traffic with an off-frequency voice signal and a very strong data burst signal (possibly coming from 6912.5 or 6913 USB) causing significant QRM at 0056 UTC.

1256

Peskies / 6905 kHz LSB Spanish Speaking Freebander Net 0050 UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0052 UTC »

6905 kHz LSB - 6.905 MHz LSB Spanish speakers freebander net alternate frequency for primary 6900 LSB frequency.

Two OMs chatting on 6905 LSB at 0050 UTC (tuned in at 0048 UTC).  Mention of Dominican Republic, California, United States (in general) and Mexico.  Similar traffic to QSOs heard on 6900 LSB, 6895 LSB, 6910 LSB and other nearby frequencies, usually +/- 5 kHz steps.  Very similar to 11 meter freeband traffic, previous analysis of traffic on these frequencies indicates at least a casual connection to 11 meter freeband operators.  Casual chatter about Mexicans and Americans.  One station is a solid S9 the other is a S5-S6, both very good signals.  Louder station has very hot audio with some background noise.  0052 UTC - chat about people migrating to the United States for work.  Mention of Virginia at 0052-0053 UTC.  Mention of the President of the United States at 0053 UTC as well.  Political discussion (have heard similar traffic on 6900 LSB previously).  Always interesting to hear the "other side" talk about American political discourse...anyway...

QSO still going strong with traffic popping up on 6900 LSB, 6910 LSB and other frequencies, indicating a busy band this evening.  Storm static has subsided over the past hour or so (which is good). 

1257

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6910 kHz LSB 0000+ UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0005 UTC »

6910 kHz LSB / 6.910 MHz LSB Spanish language freebanders possibly related to the group usually heard on 6900 LSB.  Tuned in at 0000 UTC May 2nd, 2017. 

6910 kHz LSB.  Spanish logged here in the past, although this frequency (and nearby frequencies) have been used by the typical "peskie" pescadore fishing fleet radio chatter.  Sounds like Spanish but I can't be 100% sure.  Tell-tale "holaaa!!!" etc heard at 0002 UTC - 0003 UTC. Operators whistling into microphones and keying up carriers on 6910 kHz likely tuning antennas and doing other radio checks. Thunderstorm lightning QRN static crashes and noise levels have gotten considerably worse over the past 10-15 minutes.

1258

Peskies / 6978 kHz USB UNID Unknown Language 1 May 2017

« on: May 02, 2017, 0000 UTC »

Very weak SSB traffic noticed on 6978 kHz / 6.978 MHz USB mode just before the 0000 UTC mark.  As with other logs this evening, heavy thunderstorm QRN all over the band.  90% sure its Portuguese as far as the language goes but it could be Spanish...the frequency and mode don't help with the ID this time (as both groups seem to have discovered the USB mode recently...and a nearby log on 6972 kHz USB was Portuguese, however many nearby frequencies using both USB and LSB have been logged in the Spanish language.

So, with that in mind, I'll leave the language part as unknown.

Nothing heard since 2359 UTC.  Possibly lost in the thunderstorm static crashes 

1259

Peskies / 6972 kHz USB UNID Portuguese Chatter 1 May 2017

« on: May 01, 2017, 2356 UTC »

6972 kHz USB heavy static crashes due to heavy local (and distant!) thunderstorm and lightning activity.  Portuguese chatter heard 6972 kHz 6.972 MHz USB mode.  SIO 111 to SIO 222 at best due to the heavy lightning QRN static crashes.  I've noticed increased use of USB mode by pescadore fishing fleet radio nets in the 6-7 MHz region lately.

1260

Peskies / 6900 kHz LSB Spanish Speaking Freebander Net 2350 UTC 1 May 2017

« on: May 01, 2017, 2354 UTC »

First tuned in at 2350 UTC frequency 6900 kHz mode LSB.

Unusually weak signals for this frequency although it is still relatively early in the evening for monitoring the peskies.  Heavy thunderstorm static crashes making listening very difficult.  

EDIT:  Tuned back in at 0110 UTC.  Listening is considerably easier now due to a slight reduction in storm QRN and a significant increase in signal strength of the received signals.  Net-like "ragchew" format, roundtable discussion involving several stations, similar to identified use of this frequency in the past.  Likely the same stations received night after night on 6900 kHz LSB and alternate frequencies (6905 LSB and 6910 LSB are both very busy at the same time).  Mention of Mexico on 0111 UTC, followed by musings on stations contacted in both the United States and Mexico, followed by a station intentionally jamming/causing QRM over another....sounds like 11 meters to me.