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796

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6950.1 from 6949.3 AM 2110 UTC 29 Oct 2017

« on: October 29, 2017, 2113 UTC »

Pirate Log 29-OCT-2017
UNID pirate
Frequency: 6949.3 kHz 6.949.3 MHz 6.9493 MHz
Mode: AM
Start Time: 2110z

2110 UTC - several tune up carriers, changed frequencies by .1 kHz up and down a few times
2112 UTC - spooky music into "Don't Fear The Reaper" mash up/remix with "Highway To Hell"
2115 UTC - another mash-up playing, but due to fading I can't readily ID it
2116 UTC - S4 signal with peaks at S5, vocals with echo heard, unable to ID
2119 UTC - OM talking with lots of echo, possible ID??
2119 UTC - off the air / QRT

[came back on the air at 2126 UTC on 6950.1 kHz - see new log further down the thread]

797

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6955 AM 1700 UTC 29 Oct 2017

« on: October 29, 2017, 1714 UTC »

Carrier popped up around 1700z, haven't heard any modulation yet though.  Some fading, but ranging from S3 to S5 signal strength on the carrier.    Lots of fading, some of it quite rapid, but good signal on the peaks.  Sounds best in AMN / narrow AM mode 5 kHz bandwidth.

1715 UTC - some modulated noted, with tropical sounding dance music
1718 UTC - signal jumped up from S5 to S7
1719 UTC - more Latin sounding music with Spanish speaking YL singer
1723 UTC - Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
1728 UTC - bits and pieces of modulation now, signal is back down to S3-S4 level
1732 UTC - checked NY SDRs and have better signal there
1733 UTC - Lou Reed - Makeup
1735 UTC - Steve Miller Band - The Joker
1736 UTC - S5 signal strength but much better copy than before
1738 UTC - some rapid fading
1739 UTC - several false starts, then into
1740 UTC - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere To Run
1742 UTC - The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice
1744 UTC - some sort of voice traffic QRM on top of audio
1745 UTC - Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (live version)
1750 UTC - Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
1755 UTC - OFF

798

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6880 kHz USB 1405 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1407 UTC »

Previously logged around 0000 UTC on 1 Aug 2017

Sounds like an operator doing radio checks.  "Holaaaa" and whistling into microphone heard between 1405 and 1407 UTC.  If he's talking to another station, I can't hear the other station.  6878 kHz USB was monitored as being active around 1 hour ago, it appears to have gone silent (or they've moved up 2 kHz to 6880 kHz).  Hard to say.  Chances are, however, that this is a different group of operators.

799

Shortwave Broadcast / Radio Taiwan International vs. Iran 11640 kHz AM 1358 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1401 UTC »

Hearing two stations (or maybe three) going on 11640 kHz 11.640 MHz 11.64 MHz.  25 meters is busier than normal this morning.  Both stations are equisignal but appear to be right on frequency as there is no het.

11640 kHz AM - Radio Taiwan International - Chinese - 100kW
11640 kHz AM - Voice Of The Islamic Republic Of Iran - Russian - 500kW

1359 UTC - Taiwan interval signal now heard mixing with Russian speaking YL
1400 UTC - 10 time blips, then Radio Taiwan International disappeared, leaving the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran
1401 UTC - VOTIROI interval signal now playing

800

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6980 kHz USB 1351 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1353 UTC »

Spanish language activity previously logged at 1343 UTC on 11 Oct 2017

Hearing Spanish language chatter on 6980 kHz 6.980 MHz, "its dangerous" heard at 1351 UTC.  Mention of "the war" at 1352 UTC.  Short transmissions, compared to the long-winded ham radio ragchew like chatter usually heard by Spanish speaking operators in this band. 

801

Peskies / 6905 kHz LSB Spanish Freebanders (were on 6900 LSB) 1342 UTC+ 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1351 UTC »

See log for 6900 kHz LSB 1300 UTC + 26 Oct 2017:
https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,38242.0.html

It appears that the antenna discussion that was previously heard on 6900 LSB has QSY'd up one channel (5 kHz channel steps anyway) to 6905 kHz LSB.  The stronger station (we'll say "Station A") is talking very fast.  His accent is hard for me to recognize but does not sound like the usual slower Mexican accents usually heard on 6900 kHz LSB.  It appears that right now (1344-1345 UTC) he is reading his cell phone number over the air (!!!) to continue this antenna conversation.  This guy is Elmering for another freeband operator, helping him with his antenna problems.  At 1346, "el Antena Tuner" heard.  Then, also at 1346, the second, slower speaking station "Station B" is slowly reading through what sounds like a manual or instructions on using an antenna tuner.  Fascinating stuff.   Station B is now talking about his radio (Yaesu mentioned, didn't catch model number).   

As of 1350 UTC, the QSO is continuing.  They likely moved off 6900 LSB due to heavier traffic on that frequency.

Not only is Station A helping Station B (as of 1348 UTC, no names or other IDs have been heard) with his antenna setup, but they have QSY'd from the primary frequency of 6900 kHz LSB in order to continue their technical conversation.  This is very professional and I can't say the same about some ham operators operating within the ham bands.  Start your QSO on the calling frequency...and then QSY!  These guys may be looked down upon by ham operators because they're operating out of band and by US based listeners in general as more of an annoyance speaking a foreign language, but the more I listen to the 6900 kHz group, the more I respect them as radio operators. 

802

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6942 kHz LSB 1338 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1342 UTC »

This almost sounds like a mixture of English and Spanish, shall we say, Spanglish?

1339 UTC - "the west side" heard in clear English
1340 UTC - mention of Puerto Rico
1341 UTC - "yo! yo!" then nothing

803

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6878 kHz USB 1335 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1336 UTC »

Hearing weak Spanish two-way traffic, likely bootleggers freebanders or outbanders going below 6900 kHz.

1335 UTC - hearing Spanish voices, people whistling into microphones, etc
1335 UTC - strong data burst obliterating all voice traffic on frequency
1336 UTC - data gone, QSO continuing, although, like log made this morning for activity 6923.3 kHz, signals are fading into the noise

804

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6923.3 kHz USB 1332 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1334 UTC »

Interesting frequency choice...


1331 UTC - traffic noticed on frequency (originally thought it was 6924 kHz, then 6923 kHz..but it looks like its 6923.3 kHz)
1333 UTC - QSO has dropped down into the noise.  I can hear it at noise floor level now...

805

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6900 kHz USB 1320 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1322 UTC »

While two stations chat away on 6900 kHz LSB, seems like two more operators who wanted to use the frequency have "changed" (translated) to 6900 kHz USB.  That's right, flip the mode switch.

As of 1320 UTC, there are two distinct QSOs going on on 6900 kHz.  One on 6900 LSB and the other on 6900 USB.  Both in Spanish and both are involving a pair of stations with roughly equal signals. 

See my log for the traffic on 6900 LSB that was going on while 6900 USB was busy:

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,38242.0.html

806

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6900 kHz LSB 1300 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1315 UTC »

UNID freebander ragchew net Spanish speakers North American pirates
6900 kHz LSB 6900 LSB 6.900 MHz LSB


6900 LSB is busy in the morning, in the afternoon...and often all night.  It's the watering hole, or, dare I say, calling frequency..for Spanish speaking freebanders operating below the 40 meter band.

1304 UTC - station wishing good morning to the frequency, several references to mobile phones
1310 UTC - mention of Quito
1313 UTC - "everyone listening!" heard, then nothing.  Strongest station was roughly S4 but decent copy
1314 UTC - strong utility data burst - sounding like ALE sounding on 6898 kHz USB
1315 UTC - a new station [SIO 333] calling CQ "hola hola!" "hello North America!" "hello Mexico!"
1316 UTC - no response to station calling CQ, possible that stations heard earlier have gone QRT
1317 UTC - ...and maybe not.  "New Station" now talking to Quito, talking very rapidly, but the usual good wishes, good contacts
1318 UTC - Quito mentions issues with "conditions" (probably propagation?), other station continues chatting away
1318 UTC - UNID station (possibly Ernando? Fernando?) talking about antennas
1319 UTC - "Quito" talking about antenna direction, both stations now S5-S7
1319 UTC - mention of Antonio, my brother - possible that this is an informal greeting and he's not actually his brother
1320 UTC - now one of the stations is trying to reassure the other about something
1320 UTC - noticing activity on 6900 kHz USB at the same time...
1322 UTC - flipped up to 6900 USB to make a quick log of that activity, then back to 6900 LSB
1323 UTC - [I've lost track of who's who now] but "good morning!" mentioned several times, frequency seems to be waking up
1323 UTC - mention of "11 meters", not sure the context...but I think there's now more than two stations working on freq now
1324 UTC - weaker station, having issues hearing it
1324 UTC - stronger station, still talking about "antenna problems" - hard to pin down this guy's accent but it doesn't sound Mexican
1325 UTC - now talking about 11 meter antennas...pretty standard "ham radio like" chatter
1325 UTC - "listen, 78, 78, 78" repeated by the stronger of the stations...not sure if this is an ID or callsign...
1326 UTC - weaker station now talking...very poor copy of the weaker station
1326 UTC - stronger station talking much faster...but appears to be continuing to talk about antennas
1327 UTC - new station joins the net, is introduced...good morning everyone! etc
1328 UTC - yet another station (Juan, I think) checks into the net
1328 UTC - Juan, we're talking about antenna problems! Good morning to everyone on the band
1329 UTC - now at least 3-4 different stations, one IDs as "Marcelo" [name repeated twice]
1329 UTC - Carlos also mentioned, not sure if Carlos is the [weaker] station having "antenna problems"
1330 UTC - QSOs continue on frequency, very active channel this morning

807

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6870 kHz USB 1300 UTC 26 Oct 2017

« on: October 26, 2017, 1311 UTC »

6870 kHz 6.870 MHz 6.87 MHz
6870 USB Spanish speakers, possible phone patch

Sounds like another phone patch type conversation...except this time I'm only hearing one side of it. One of the stations sounds like his audio is run through a "ring modulator", that, or they're experiencing connection issues.  At 1310 UTC, another station finally replied to the original station, meaning this is a regular simplex frequency (maybe!).  The "primary" UNID station still has some really terrible audio...sounds like his microphone is cutting out.  The station he's talking to is not having this issue. 

808

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6900 kHz LSB 2240 UTC 25 Oct 2017

« on: October 25, 2017, 2248 UTC »

The 6900 kHz 6.900 MHz 6.9 MHz Spanish speaking freebander ragchew net Spanish ragchew net is very active tonight.  Several stations in roundtable discussion.  Appears to be both US and "south of the border" stations involved in the net. 

2241 UTC - mention of San Antonio Texas
2242 UTC - "net control" station (strongest station?) is SIO 444 - new station "Antonio" checks in, then is welcomed by a long dialogue by a station that identifies as being in California.  Then
2243 UTC - mention of the "People of the Dominican Republic" and "Rancho de San Antonio" - not sure if that's the same San Antonio mentioned earlier...mention of "Roberto"...
2244 UTC - roundtable ragchew net continues with another new station checking in, SIO 544 due to noisy band, but good copy
2244 UTC - discussion of radio operating conditions and antenna system of the transmitting station.  Mention of "Armando", possible that Armando is net control station OR he is the new station that checked in...or he's simply the station that the "mic was passed to".  Difficult to tell. 
2245 UTC - Says hello to Enrique and Armando.  Mention of "the northern part of Houston".
2246 UTC - roundtable continues.  operators talking about equipment, mention of "Hermando, Julio, Roberto, Enrique" and other names (likely operator names)
2247 UTC - "Fredericksburg City" mentioned
2255 UTC - several stations talking over each other, followed by "Hola....Holaaaa....Holaaaa..."
2255 UTC - mention of "the family".  This is becoming more "CB like"

809

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6974 kHz USB 2235 UTC 25 Oct 2017

« on: October 25, 2017, 2238 UTC »

Spanish language chatter
6974 kHz 6.974 MHz
USB mode
SIO 555, very good signals.  3 kHz down from one of the more active frequencies in this range, which is 6977 kHz.

Operators talking about the number of nights the radio has been active, among other things.  Personal chatter, ragchew ham radio like chatter at 2235 UTC, 2236 UTC etc.  Mention of numerical bands, 25 meters, 11 meters, probably talking about propagation?  Two operators with same signal strength S5 to S9 peaks.  Good copy with quality SSB audio.  Possibly QSYed from 6977 kHz USB.

810

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6765 kHz USB 2220 UTC 25 Oct 2017

« on: October 25, 2017, 2221 UTC »

Spanish language
6765 kHz 6.765 MHz

The very beginning of everyone's favorite little slice of HF spectrum, the fixed mobile fixed/mobile fixed-mobile ITU allocation 6765-7000 kHz, also known as 43 meters.

While Old Time Radio (aka OTR) on 6770 kHz AM is actually coming in quite nicely (especially on remote receivers in New York and New England), the band is also open to points "South of The Border".  Hearing Spanish language QSO on 6765 kHz USB (a common "watering hole" frequency for everything from fishing fleets to freebanders to weather broadcasts from Bangkok to SHARES and FEMA) SIO 222 at 2220 UTC.