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196

Utility / UNID Radio Checks 8000 kHz USB - 1805 UTC 26 October 2021

« on: October 26, 2021, 1810 UTC »

8000.0 kHz USB 8000 kHz USB 8.000 MHz USB 1805 UTC 26 October 2021

Tuned in to hear the very tail end of

"...PAPA on frequency eight thousand...how copy? over"


I know that the frequency 8000 kHz is part of the larger 7300 kHz to 8195 kHz fixed/mobile allocation (yes, I know the lower portion is heavily used by broadcasting and other things and 8000 kHz to 8195 kHz is a shared allocation with maritime mobile / marine mobile radio service - usually simplex operations...)

Could have been a marine operator?  Sounded very professional, more like military or similar.  Have been sitting on frequency for 5 minutes or so and haven't heard a peep after the "how copy? over." transmission

197

10/11 meters / 27.815 MHz Taxi Dispatcher Mexico City DF Mexico

« on: October 25, 2021, 2217 UTC »

Huge band openings lately - tons of taxi dispatchers from 25.615 MHz up through the legal 40 CB band into the uppers 27.415-27.855 MHz and the 27.865 MHz - 27.995 MHz region.

27815 AM 27.815 MHz Spanish lady reading numbers is a taxi cab dispatcher radio dispatch taxi controller - confirmed in Mexico City Mexico DF Mexico.  Useful point of reference when the band is open and the activity on 27.815 mhz is there.  Also our friends on 25.695 MHz 26.105 MHz 26.175 MHz 26.765 MHz 27.215 MHz 27.235 MHz 27.245 MHz 27.255 MHz 27.275 MHz 27.755 MHz 27.765 MHz 27.775 MHz 27.785 MHz 27.825 MHz and others are coming in.

This is a good ballpark point of reference for when 11 meters is open.  Similar to, say, 26.585 MHz AM and nearby frequencies like 26.595 MHz 26.565 MHz etc

198

10/11 meters / 11 meter opening 1630 UTC 21 Oct 2021

« on: October 21, 2021, 1635 UTC »

Hearing lots of Spanish language DX coming in on 26.585 MHz AM (the usual Mexican and Caribbean and other locations) coming in on top of each other.  Lots of music, sound FX, roger beeps/noise toys, etc. as well

Noting activity on some of the other 26 MHz band freeband frequencies.  Haven't checked 26.805 MHz yet, or 26.555 MHz LSB but I presume 26.555 LSB and 27.455 USB will be active too.

199

10/11 meters / Hasenberg Switzerland KiwiSDR 11 Meter Logs 1315 UTC + 21 October 2021

« on: October 21, 2021, 1328 UTC »

Hasenberg Switzerland
Grid: JN47ei
47°22'41.7"N 8°21'53.9"E GPS lat/long minutes seconds
47.378250 N, 8.364972 E GPS lat/long coordinates decimal degrees

KiwiSDR URL:  http://hasenberg700m.ddns.net:8073/

Antenna: SIRIO GAIN-MASTER ⅝ wave 5/8 wave 11m 10m CB antenna 25.5-30 MHz
700 meters 2300 feet above sea level

11 meter logs 


25775 FM 25.775 MHz FM - FSK data stream - noted pager frequency
26150 FM 26.150 MHz FM - POCSAG pager - weak, heavy fading QSB at 1316 UTC
26555 FM 26.555 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, numerous signals on frequency
26607.5 FM 26.6075 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, offset frequency (see also: 26.600 MHz, 26.605 MHz)
26650 FM 26.650 MHz FM - Pager or data link, only a few sporadic data bursts noted
26670 FM 26.670 MHz FM - Pager or data link, only a few data bursts noted
26705 FM 26.705 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, some very strong (S7-S9) - nearly constant activity on frequency
26745 FM 26.745 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, numerous signals on frequency
26750 FM 26.750 MHz FM - Pager or data link - weak
26755 FM 26.755 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, numerous signals on frequency
26855 FM 26.855 MHz FM - Pager - data bursts, numerous signals on frequency
26920 FM 26.920 MHz FM - FSK data bursts, weak/fair signal at 1325 UTC
27095 FM 27.095 MHz FM - Strong data link data stream, about 2.5 kHz wide, S8-S9 very strong
27350 FM 27.350 MHz FM - Weak paging signal - 7-8 kHz wide, heavy QSB

The UK paging systems seem to make more extensive use of the oddball offsets, including 26.6075 or 26.608 MHz.  Could be heard tuned to 26.610 MHz as well.  Checked a couple UK-based SDRs and noted paging signals all over the 26 MHz band - including on odd offset channels and the usual -5 kHz or +5 kHz offsets (such as 26.695 MHz and 26.705 MHz for the 26.700 MHz center frequency, the 26.845 MHz and 26.855 MHz frequencies for the 26.85 MHz center frequency, and so on.

26.920 MHz is a new one I believe.  Likely a European-based paging system.  The UK SDRs showed at least 10 different paging systems on at once. 

200

10/11 meters / 11 meters is opening up again 1345 UTC 20 Oct 2021

« on: October 20, 2021, 1351 UTC »

11 meters is starting to wake up

201

10/11 meters / 27.255 MHz - RadioShack On-Site Paging System Waveform (Waterfall) Test Video

« on: October 20, 2021, 1211 UTC »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrtAHDOtVII

It seems that the data transmissions heard on 27.255 MHz (and the other RC channels) during band openings are not from these paging systems...at least not the Radio Shack PG-99 17-6020 or 17-6023 (which is a 4-watt transmitter, and may work on 26.995 MHz instead of 27.255 MHz...not 100% sure there).

Thanks to Chris S. for providing the SDR and the test transmissions from the RadioShack 7 watt paging transmitter pager system (with stock back of set CB radio antenna). 

Unlike the signals noted on 27.255 and 27.195 lately (27.195 only during band openings) - this system transmits a single FSK signal about 500 Hz from center frequency 27255.0 kHz.  Center of the FSK signal is 27.2545 or 27254.5...usually there are two FSK signals - usually about -2.5 kHz or -3 kHz from center frequency and + 2.5 kHz or +3 kHz from center frequency.

202

10/11 meters / FM CB Channels / Frequencies 11 Meter US FM Calling Channels

« on: October 19, 2021, 1932 UTC »

Now that FM mode is legal in the USA for CB purposes.  Is FM CB legal in the USA?  Yes, it is. 

I fully support designating in-band and out-of-band calling channels.  26.805 FM and 27.600 FM.  Legal CB Channels 27 FM, 29 FM, 30 FM and 31 FM.  27.600 MHz FM is right next to UK FM CB Channel 1 - 27.601 FM or 27.60125 MHz FM. 

26.805 MHz FM is already in use, as is 27.600 MHz FM. 

So 26.805 FM and 27.600 FM.  In-band CB channels 27, 29 and 31 - 27.275 MHz FM, 27.295 MHz FM and 27.315 MHz FM. 

FM CB Working Channels

26.805 MHz FM 26.805 FM 26805 FM - The original 26 MHz freeband 11m FM calling channel (USA)
27.295 MHz - 27.295 FM - CB Channel 29 FM - FM CB Radio Trucker Channel
27.275 MHz - 27.275 FM - CB Channel 27 FM - USA FM CB Radio Working Channel
27.315 MHz - 27.315 FM - CB Channel 31 FM - FM CB Radio Calling and Working Channel
27.305 MHz - 27.305 FM - CB Channel 30 FM - FM CB Radio Calling and Working Channel
27.600 MHz FM 27.600 FM 27600 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.6 MHz FM 27.600 FM
27.650 MHz FM 27.650 FM 27650 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.65 MHz FM 27.650 FM
27.575 MHz FM 27.575 FM 27575 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.575 MHz FM 27.575 FM


Note:  Channel 27 (27.275 MHz) is used for SSB calling in the UK, specifically 27.275 USB (CB Channel 27 USB). 

European FM CB DX channels are


27.305 MHz FM 27.305 FM - CB Channel 30 FM
27.315 MHz FM 27.315 FM - CB Channel 31 FM
26.565 MHz FM 26.565 FM - German 80 Channel CB Channel 41
27.601 MHz FM 27.601 FM 27.60125 MHz FM 27.60125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 1 - will work with 27.600 FM!
27.781 MHz FM 27.781 FM 27.78125 MHz FM 27.78125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 19
27.971 MHz FM 27.971 FM 27.97125 MHz FM 27.97125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 38
27.981 MHz FM 27.981 FM 27.98125 MHz FM 27.98125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 39
27.991 MHz FM 27.991 FM 27.99125 MHz FM 27.99125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 40
27.125 MHz FM 27.125 FM - also used for AM calling in Europe CB Channel 14

203

10/11 meters / 11 meters is opening up again 1045 UTC 19 Oct 2021

« on: October 19, 2021, 1048 UTC »

Looks like we might be in for another busy day:

At 1045 UTC:

Hearing two English-speaking OMs on 26.885 MHz AM...heard a third station break in, request radio check...sounds like a local channel (where these guys are, I don't know...) but they've got decent modulation.  Third station is considerably weaker...now a 4th station.  IDs include Jaybird, Tomcat, and others.   "I've got the preamp on and I still can't hear you as well..." "If I can hear you down here, I know they can hear you up there!" "We gonna talk to Possum" "Did you hear Ramblin' Man in The Carolina?"

This is almost certainly a local (regional) channel...

Weak signal noted at 1046 UTC on 26.875 MHz

1049 UTC I heard mention of "500 watts" on 26.885 MHz AM - and now they're working a station in Florida. 

1050 UTC - "he's on one of them big fancy radios" (more English speaking stations) on 26.675 MHz AM

1140 UTC - 27.505 MHz AM and 27.605 MHz AM active
1142 UTC - guys on 27.605 MHz AM switched to FM mode (sounds like they're doing testing) - 27.605 FM...then the frequency went quiet - some weak SSB QRM in the background

1145 UTC - 26.885 MHz AM - US stations still very strong
1145 UTC - 26.675 MHz AM - US stations also good signals
1145 UTC - 26.805 MHz AM - US stations active
1147 UTC - 27.505 MHz AM - confirmed truckers on 27505 - "she got her own policy on the other truck" "primary driver" and other trucker-specific chatter

I checked the legal 40 channels locally with my handheld CB and almost all 40 channels were active.  Channels 6, 11, 20, 21, 24, 25 and others were all quite active.  Some sporadic signals coming in and out on channel 26 and 28.  Heard some SSB activity on 38 and 39.

204

10/11 meters / 26805 FM 26.805 MHz FM - US FM Calling Channel FM 11m Freeband Channel

« on: October 18, 2021, 1152 UTC »

Good morning,

I stumbled upon a Facebook page dedicated to promoting the use of 26.805 MHz FM as a FM calling/working channel, much like 26.915 MHz (and nearby frequencies like 26.885, 26.955, etc) are used for AM calling/working on the lower channel side. 

This matches up with the station I heard transmitting the audio recording loop yesterday "Big Grandpa...this is Big Grandpa calling...Las Vegas!" on 26.805 MHz FM 26805 kHz FM 26805 FM.  It was clearly a loop or maybe a voice keyer set up...but the guy was transmitting FM! 

Yet another frequency to keep an eye out for/ear out for.  They actually picked a pretty good frequency too.  26.815 and 26.835 are sometimes really busy...but 26.805 not so much.

Maybe we will see more FM usage within the CB band as well as outside the FM band as time goes on.

205

10/11 meters / 11 meter activity 11m DX via W3HFU KiwiSDR 1900 UTC 17 Oct 2021

« on: October 17, 2021, 1923 UTC »

Lots of stuff on the band this afternoon:


25695 AM 25.695 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
25775 AM 25.775 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
25965 AM 25.965 MHz AM - Hearing OM talking, lots of noise in background ?? - Spanish language
25985 AM 25.985 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
25995 AM 25.995 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
26045 AM 26.045 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
26205 AM 26.205 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
26305 AM 26.305 MHz AM - OM Spanish language chatter
26355 AM 26.355 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher mixing with other stations on frequency
26375 AM 26.375 MHz AM - Hearing Spanish speaking OMs on frequency
26475 AM 26.475 MHz AM - Spanish language, OM heard...heavy fading
26475 LSB 26.475 MHz LSB - Heard "Puerto Rico" very clearly at 1925 UTC
26555 LSB 26.555 MHz LSB - Spanish language Latin American DX frequency
26575 AM 26.575 MHz AM - Spanish language, busy
26585 AM 26.585 MHz AM - Spanish language - trucker and freebander frequency, similar 26.575 MHz, 26.595 MHz, etc.
26605 LSB 26.605 MHz LSB - "HOLLAAAAA QUE TALL!!!???" at 1926 UTC - heard the same in English and then French
26665 AM 26.665 MHz AM - Spanish language, lots of noise toys, etc. heard
26675 AM 26.675 MHz AM - Spanish language
26685 LSB 26.685 MHz LSB - Spanish language, lots of QRM
26695 AM 26.695 MHz AM - Spanish, getting OBLITERATED by splatter from 26.705 AM 26.715 AM etc
26705 AM 26.705 MHz AM - Just as insane as 26.715 AM - sometimes going at the same time
26715 AM 26.715 MHz AM - Insanely busy, lots of big splatterbox radios, like 27.025 is during a band opening
26725 AM 26.725 MHz AM - Spanish - heavy QRM and lots of signals at points
26765 AM 26.765 MHz AM - Possibly a taxi dispatcher?  Lots and lots of QRM...
26785 AM 26.785 MHz AM - Spanish - heard "85"
26805 FM 26.805 MHz FM - "hello hello, this is Big Grandpa...Big Grandpa, Las Vegas" - recording played over and over
26835 AM 26.835 MHz AM - Spanish language
26885 AM 26.885 MHz AM - Weak AM signals noted
26895 AM 26.895 MHz AM - Spanish language, heard "Alberto"
26905 AM 26.905 MHz AM - Spanish, possibly taxi dispatcher
26915 AM 26.915 MHz AM - Spanish language, usually US based stations are found here
26935 AM 26.935 MHz AM - Spanish language, OM and YLs heard
26935 LSB 26.935 MHz LSB - Spanish language, mixing with AM signals on same frequency
26955 AM 26.955 MHz AM - Spanish language, weak

Activity on nearly all 40 legal channels.  Noted a taxi cab dispatcher on 27.195 MHz and FSK data bursts mixing in with AM voice on 27.255 MHz (channel 23)

27415 AM 27.415 MHz AM - Heard a roger beep - AM, not SSB
27420 USB 27.420 MHz USB - Spanish language
27435 AM 27.435 MHz AM - Spanish language, possibly a taxi dispatcher mixing with other signals
27440 USB 27.440 MHz USB - Spanish language
27445 USB 27.445 MHz USB - Spanish language
27447 USB 27.447 MHz USB - Spanish language, yes, they're using 27.447 MHz, not 27.450 MHz or 27.445 MHz
27455 USB 27.455 MHz USB - Spanish language - very busy DX channel, see also: 26.555 MHz LSB
27465 USB 27.465 MHz USB - Spanish language
27470 USB 27.470 MHz USB - Spanish language
27475 USB 27.475 MHz USB - Spanish language
27485 USB 27.485 MHz USB - Spanish language
27500 USB 27.500 MHz USB - Spanish language
27505 AM 27.505 MHz AM - Weak Spanish language chatter heard with SSB QRM
27505 USB 27.505 MHz USB - Spanish language, weak
27515 USB 27.515 MHz USB - Portuguese??
27525 AM 27.525 MHz AM - Spanish, very weak
27540 USB 27.540 MHz USB - Spanish language
27555 USB 27.555 MHz USB - Heard stations calling CQ, including "CQ Europe, QSY to 27.570"
27570 USB 27.570 MHz USB - Numerous stations on frequency
27575 USB 27.575 MHz USB - numerous stations on frequency
27580 USB 27.580 MHz USB - numerous stations on frequency
27590 USB 27.590 MHz USB - French language
27600 LSB 27.600 MHz LSB - Spanish language
27600 USB 27.600 MHz USB - Spanish language - very strong at 1941 UTC
27605 AM 27.605 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher?  AM signal getting slammed by SSB QRM
27615 USB 27.615 MHz USB - Spanish language - very strong
27625 LSB 27.625 MHz LSB - Spanish language, very very strong signals
27630 FM 27.630 MHz FM - French language !!!! - first noted at 1919 UTC
27630 USB 27.630 MHz USB - Spanish language at 1942 UTC, heard "Santo Domingo" (Dominican Republic)
27640 USB 27.640 MHz USB - Spanish language
27650 USB 27.650 MHz USB - French language, good signals at 1945 UTC
27655 USB 27.655 MHz USB - Weak signal - sounds like French or maybe Portuguese
27665 USB 27.665 MHz USB - Spanish language, very very strong
27670 USB 27.670 MHz USB - Hearing French and Spanish at the same time it sounds like
27695 USB 27.695 MHz USB - "HOOLLLLAAAAA!!!!" over and over again
27710 USB 27.710 MHz USB - Strong FSK or RTTY signal
27725 LSB 27.725 MHz LSB - Spanish language very strong
27735 AM 27.735 MHz AM - Weak AM signal noted with roger beeps
27765 AM 27.765 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
27785 AM 27.785 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
27785 USB 27.785 MHz USB - Spanish language chatter - mixing with AM signal, often stronger than taxi cabs
27805 AM 27.805 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
27815 AM 27.815 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
27815 USB 27.815 MHz USB - Stations using SSB on top of the AM taxi cab dispatcher
27845 AM 27.845 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish
27885 AM 27.885 MHz AM - "HOLA!" "HOLA!" heard at 1949 UTC
27985 AM 27.985 MHz AM - Taxi cab dispatch YL dispatcher taxi lady - Spanish

206

10/11 meters / Big Grandpa 26.805 MHz FM 1857 UTC

« on: October 17, 2021, 1858 UTC »

"Hello hello, this is Big Grandpa..Big Grandpa...." heard several times over on 26.805 MHz 26805 FM 26.805 MHz FM...

207

10/11 meters / 26715 AM 26.715 MHz AM Super Busy 1850 UTC 17 Oct 2021

« on: October 17, 2021, 1850 UTC »

Lots of signals all over the band but 26.715 MHz AM is just as insane as channel 6 / The Superbowl 27.025 MHz AM is.

Spanish language chatter...tons of QRM and splatter.

208

10/11 meters / 27095 AM 27.095 MHz AM Channel 11A R/C Radio Checks 1917 UTC 15 Oct 2021

« on: October 15, 2021, 1919 UTC »

R/C channel (Class C) voice activity...somebody dropping a very strong carrier (S6-S7) for 10-20 seconds, unkeyed, then keyed up again...noted microphone key moving noises and then the carrier disappeared.

Probably somebody tuning up a radio or checking SWR on a "vacant" channel 

209

10/11 meters / 11 meter activity Latin American DX via W3HFU KiwiSDR 1900 UTC 15 Oct 2021

« on: October 15, 2021, 1916 UTC »

W3HFU KiwiSDR, starting at 1500 local / 1900 UTC


Lots and lots of signals coming in this afternoon, within the legal CB band, including lots of SSB activity on 27.355 MHz LSB, 27.385 MHz LSB and others - and numerous SSB signals above channel 40.  Noted AM activity on 27.505 MHz, 27.625 MHz, 27.815 MHz, 27.895 MHz and a couple others.  Lots of SSB activity between 27.410 MHz and 28 MHz.

SSB signals every 5 kHz or so starting at 27.415 MHz USB

Below channel 1 - 26.715 MHz AM is going absolutely nuts right now.

Also activity on 26.305 MHz AM, 26.625 MHz AM, 26.665 MHz AM and a couple others.  CB channel 9 - 27.065 MHz AM is blowing the doors off right now (at 1915 UTC).

Spanish language - Latin American activity

210

10/11 meters / 26.585 MHz AM 26585 AM + Others Very Busy 1620 UTC 13 Oct 2021

« on: October 13, 2021, 1622 UTC »

Lots of 25 MHz and 26 MHz activity - the Mexican/Caribbean/Latin American calling frequencies, especially 26.585 MHz AM and the nearby AM channels are alive.  Some SSB activity especially on 27.455 MHz USB. 

Noted activity on the 25 MHz band including taxi dispatcher on 25.695 MHz AM