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« on: April 24, 2017, 0252 UTC »
43 meters, roughly defined as 6765 kHz to 7000 kHz, or 6.765 MHz to 7.000 MHz is an interesting piece of frequency spectrum. In addition to military and government users, these frequencies are home to various types of "pirate" radio activity. Some of it is pirate broadcasting, and some of it is "bootleg" two-way radio communications chatter, often in Spanish or Portuguese. Today I'm focusing on the Spanish voices heard in this area, specifically on 6900 kHz, or 6.900 MHz, LSB mode. My theory is that these operators are not actually fishermen (Spanish for "fishermen" is pescadores, which is where the popular SWL and shortwave pirate listener term "peskies" or "peskys" comes from). While the Spanish language traffic on 6900 LSB and other frequencies may indeed be an annoyance, chances are they're land-based transmitters operating in a "freeband" manner similar to the way freeband 11 meters is done.
6900 kHz LSB - 6.900 MHz LSB is one of the busier "peskie" frequencies on 43 meters. The indications are, however, that the operators heard on 6900 (and nearby frequencies, especially 6905 LSB and 6895 LSB) are actually "freebanders" or "outbanders" radio operators, both unlicensed and those who hold radio licenses (probably ham licenses) but prefer to operate out of band, that are operating from land-based stations. Below is an extensive analysis of one of their evening nets on 6900 kHz LSB. Most of what I say about these guys applies to traffic heard in USB mode as well. Often I'll hear 6900 USB active at the same time as 6900 LSB. Since they're using modified amateur radio equipment, its simply a question of flipping the mode switch, I have a feeling this is done as a way to find another clear channel / frequency.
Disclaimer before you read this whole thing: I know I've made a lot of posts about these guys, but this is one of the first times I've actually sat down and listened to their chatter for longer than 5-10 minutes. My Spanish is a "conversational level", that is, I have ~2 years university-level Spanish language study plus extensive real-life practice speaking and writing it and am familiar with the terms used in two-way radio by Spanish speakers. I don't speak it fluently, but I understand enough to understand what is being said and carry on a conversation with a native speaker without trouble. On to the logs...
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Strong stations chatting on 6900 kHz LSB. Station taking check-ins for Jalisco, Matamoros, Texas, "el centro de Mexico", California, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, etc. Stations exchanging signal reports and talking about equipment. Long-winded ragchew-like chatter. Extended QSO about 11 meter band conditions earlier today, about "Carlos de Matamoros", conditions on 15 meter band (likely indicating that these stations are in fact licensed ham operators - or they're operating around 15 meters illegally as well). Changed to political banter, talking about Facebook, and other long-winded "ragchew" like talk. Several references to Matamoros, cities in Texas, Mexico City (Federal District), Costa Rica, and other places in Latin America.
New stations checking into net following similar procedures. "Hola!" "CQ 43 metros" "estas llamando" (Hello CQ 43 meters! I am calling!") followed by discussion about transceiver (un Alinco!, "tiene un yagi de tres elementos" ["I'm running an Alinco radio with a three element Yagi antenna"] etc) and antenna equipment and signal reports. Once a new station is introduced into net, other stations give him signal reports, and he is entered into the rotation. Several instances of stations calling "HOLA!" over each other, but generally more civilized than Portuguese-speaking traffic heard on 6925 LSB, 6919 LSB, etc. Specifically calling net control stations "Carlos en Matamoros" or "Juan en Tejas" which means Carlos (or Juan?) is possibly net control...Juan likely secondary or backup net control station. Carlos (I think) mentioned this as "the frequency of North America" which backs up my theory that 6900 LSB is the "primary" 43 meter freebander frequency (for Spanish speakers anyway).
At 0256 UTC, mention of interference from boats (likely a reference to the "real" pescadores). Radio check 1, 2, 3, 4...followed by "Echo Mike Sierra" (possibly a radio club identifier). 0304, more QRM from another net on frequency (stations in California).
0308 UTC - Carlos requested a new station identify his name, his location, and his equipment. Repeated back name "Martin" but could not hear location due to QRM. 0309 UTC, Carlos introduces Martin to other stations on frequency. Then all hell broke loose (5-6 stations all replied to Martin at once). 0310-0311 UTC, Martin thanked stations for the good wishes and made several comments about the quality DX contacts he made earlier today on 11 meters.
0313-0314 UTC - Juan called Carlos back about Javier, made some comment about Costa Rica. Around this time, 6905 kHz LSB became active again. Possible stations moved from 6900 LSB up to 6905 LSB due to heavy use of 6900 LSB.
0316-0317 UTC - Two QSOs going at once. Carlos working another, much weaker station while an UNID station talked over Carlos. Carlos repeated request to "change" (meaning "change your frequency" or a request to QSY due to QRM).
0318-0319 UTC - new station on frequency asking for signal reports. Net control answered and requested location information, etc. New station calling from Costa Rica with a Yaesu, then requested if Carlos could hear him in Matamoros....followed by silence and new station saying "negativo" (meaning negative contact with Carlos in Matamoros). New station then called Juan, who replied with signal report. New station requested "repeat" (likely so other stations, or at least Carlos, could hear). Very professional net control/traffic handling procedures going on at this point.
0321 UTC - Comments made about FT-757GX HF radio and another piece of equipment that I couldn't identify (read: translate). Long winded chatter about equipment/antennas, at 0322, another station called CQ over this. Chatter about 11 meter equipment "Superstar 3900" and comments about the excellent performance of the Yaesu FT-757 radio on 11 meters and 43 meters as well as his Superstar 11 meter radio.
0323 UTC - station IDed as "Jalisco" answered by net control (not sure which one) who requested "more information" (net control severely fading at this point). Clarification about where Jalisco is, more chatter [then heavy QRM]. At 0325 UTC, station said hello to Javier, mentioned something about his cellular phone, then more unreadable chatter.
0326 UTC - "El Centro de Mexico" and "Jalisco" signal reports, mention of Manuel and propagation conditions.
0328 UTC - switching back and forth between 6900 LSB and 6905 LSB. 0328 UTC - very strong station came on and said "GOOD CONDITIONS, GOOD EVENING!" followed by reply by a half dozen stations (reminded me of a HF ham band pileup). 0329, more signal reports (likely a new station checking in to net). Station identified as being in Costa Rica and complimented stations on frequency on good signals and mentioned hearing Mexico, California, general chatter about "good people on frequency".
0331 UTC - another strong station came on and said "hey what's up frequency 6900?!", followed by more stations checking in. Band must be going long as I'm having trouble copying stations that were earlier SIO 444/SIO 555.
0333 UTC - Much weaker station now talking to another [unheard] station. Strong net control stations have either disappeared, QSYed or the band has gone long enough that I can no longer hear them.
0336 UTC - After several minutes of silence, a station from Costa Rica called CQ and did the usual "good evening everyone" greetings but was not replied to (or at least I couldn't hear anybody reply to him). Either the band has gone very long, everybody has gone QRT and/or they've QSYed up to 6905 LSB (the alternate frequency).
See also the thread regarding Spanish language chatter on 6905 kHz LSB. Seems like the same group of stations.
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