Messages

2236

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: 6870 AM TCS 0016z 5/18/17

« on: May 18, 2017, 0030 UTC »

Playing Nirvana at tune-in at 0029 UTC.  Decent audio quality, right now signal strength S3 to S4 with strong static crashes QRN and some minor ute QRM on the LSB (around 6867 kHz or so).  The Crystal Ship ID at 0030 UTC.

Signal improved substantially with Bob Segar song around 0037 UTC.  Still some static crashes and fading but TCS is now a solid S5 signal.

0108 UTC - Tom Petty - American Girl, wavering around S4-S5.  Signal went up a lot right before this song started, but then dropped right back down

2237

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6905 kHz LSB 0030+ UTC 18 May 2017

« on: May 18, 2017, 0028 UTC »

6905 kHz LSB / 6.905 MHz LSB Spanish speaking freebanders or outbanders.

Here we go.  After nearly a week away from the radio and the web SDRs, the usual 6900 kHz stomping grounds traffic is back.  Several Spanish speaking OMs chatting away "ragchew" style.  Likely the same group of freebanding stations often heard around 6900 LSB, 6895 LSB, 6915 LSB, etc. 

Previous monitoring indicates that these stations are land based freebanders or bootleggers operating outside the regular 40 meter ham radio band, and not fishing fleet pescadore radio signals.

2238

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6960 kHz USB 0020+ UTC 18 May 2017

« on: May 18, 2017, 0025 UTC »

Hearing several stations talking over each other on 6960 kHz USB.  Sounds like the traffic usually heard on 6925 kHz LSB and nearby frequencies.  Possibly two conversations going on at once.  When I first tuned in, it sounded like Portuguese, now the traffic almost sounds like it could be Spanish.

SIO 333 due to non stop static crash QRN.

2239

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6915 kHz LSB 0020 UTC 18 May 2017

« on: May 18, 2017, 0024 UTC »

Despite strong static crashes QRN from thunderstorm / lightning interference and data bursts on 6912 kHz USB, Spanish language traffic going strong on 6915 kHz LSB / 6.915 MHz LSB.  Reminds me of traffic usually heard around 6900 kHz LSB and nearby frequencies.  Right now (0023 UTC) 6900 kHz is clear.

2240

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6858 kHz USB 0000 UTC 18 May 2017

« on: May 18, 2017, 0020 UTC »

Spanish pescadore "peskie" 6858 kHz 6.858

Hearing some Spanish language chatter on 6858 kHz USB starting around 0000 UTC May 18th, 2017.  Unfortunately heavy static crash QRN is making copy difficult. 

2241

Shortwave Broadcast / Radio Romania International 11810 kHz AM 1700 UTC 12 May 2017

« on: May 12, 2017, 1708 UTC »

Radio news in English, YL announcer with OM interjecting.  SIO 444 signal, signal strength S5-S6.  Discussion of European Commission and Romania's role at 1708 UTC.

This is a new one for me, apparently they only transmit from 1700-1757 UTC which would explain why I often miss them despite hanging out on 25 meters quite often. 

2242

General Radio Discussion / Re: Solar Minimum

« on: May 12, 2017, 1650 UTC »

Not looking forward to 2019-2020 then. 

Looks like 11 meters is going to be sporadic-E only for a while, if anything at all.  I wonder if sales of export radios and modified CB equipment will slow down with the solar minimum.

2243

Utility / Re: "A4A" "AA4AL" "AL" "FLX" as ID's. 6968.50 USB 1515 UTC 12 May 2017

« on: May 12, 2017, 1647 UTC »

It's MARS, in other words, ham operators passing military traffic on out of band frequencies using (modified) amateur radio equipment.  6968.5 kHz USB is one of their favorite frequencies.  You'll find them on several frequencies above and below 40 meters.  They almost always use a frequency ending in .5 for some reason.  They also make heavy use of encrypted data modes - listen to them long enough and you'll eventually hear a request to re-send a file.

Its fun listening to MARS on 6968.5 kHz USB while Portuguese speaking pescadores chat away on 6969 kHz LSB or 6970 kHz LSB.

2244

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Caribbean Beacon-11775 kHz-Distorted Audio

« on: May 12, 2017, 1627 UTC »

It sounds like she's talking with a sock in her mouth on 11775 kHz.

What a shame.  Such a strong signal today too.

2245

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: 7493 khz 2350 UTC 5/11/2017

« on: May 12, 2017, 1620 UTC »

Looks like 7490 kHz is used by WBCQ and WWCR only.  However, 7495 kHz is    VOA RADIO ASHNA (transmitters in Kuwait and Udon Thani) and Radio Algeria - see http://www.short-wave.info/?freq=7495

2246

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 10465 kHz USB 1730 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 1737 UTC »

Hearing faint pescadore like voice traffic on 10465 kHz USB / 10.465 MHz USB, sounds like fishing fleets (lots of noise in the background).  Closer to the voice traffic heard on the 6.6-7.0 MHz region (Portuguese language) frequencies such as 6925 kHz LSB. 

Traffic seems to have disappeared at 1737 UTC. 

2247

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

« on: May 11, 2017, 1455 UTC »

Sounds like we've heard the same group of statons.  I can't put my finger on the language (I know accents make things even harder to really nail down).  Heavy storm static seems to be the norm late night this time of year but if 4630 kHz is anything like the other pescadore fishing fleet frequencies we've found, they'll be hanging out there all year. 

Certainly a frequency worth continuing to check out in the future. 

2248

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6925 kHz LSB 0000 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 0018 UTC »

6925 kHz / 6.925 MHz LSB.  Not as busy now as it usually is, but propagation seems odd tonight.  Must be the full moon. 

Anyway, hearing sporadic (but strong) Portuguese chatter on 6925 LSB.  First noticed traffic around 0000 UTC.

2249

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6940 USB 0015 UTC 11 May 2017

« on: May 11, 2017, 0015 UTC »

Massive signal on 6940 kHz USB.  S5-S7 on peaks.  

2250

Peskies / UNID Portuguese Language 6940 kHz LSB 2345+ UTC 10 May 2017

« on: May 10, 2017, 2348 UTC »

6940 kHz LSB / 6.940 MHz LSB

Portuguese speaking stations heard at 2345 UTC, 2347 UTC on.  Weak signals, weather than similar traffic logged on 6965 LSB.