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Messages - R4002

Pages: 1 ... 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 [162] 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 ... 208
2416
With all the other dozens of active frequencies in the 26-28 MHz range today, one of them sparked my interest, and that one is 27505.  This frequency is actually sporadically used in my local area as a "private" or "outband" (read: freeband) frequency for local AM CBers to get away from the usual crowd on their usual frequency (in this case, the frequency is 27125 / 27.125 MHz, or CB channel 14).

Anyway, I heard two OMs chatting on 27505 for well over an hour.  Topics included finding cover, hiding behind walls, and other things that made me think these stations weren't the usual AMers heard in this part of the band (often when AM traffic is heard above CB channel 40, its truckers).  Hunters usually hang out below CB channel 1, with some exceptions.  Judging by the topic of conversation, the fact that neither station had roger beeps, noise toys or anything else - indicating that they're using the radio for some practical purpose and not just for fun, I think they were either hunters or poachers.  An export radio or 10-meter radio is (along with a VHF radio of some kind, often a VHF marine radio or modified 2 meter ham radio) is often a requirement for a hunting club.  Modified 11 meter equipment is often synonymous with hunting radio.

FWIW, 27505 is CB channel 8 "up one band" (real CB channel 8 = 27.055 + .450 = 27.505).  I have a feeling these operators usually use 27055, but due to heavy QRM from 27025 and 27085 (both of which were booming in with massive overmodulated and splattering signals), they simply flipped the band switch up one band to get a clear frequency.  

I love these Sporadic-E openings.  You never know what you're going to hear.  Chances are the two stations I heard on 27505 were right next to each other.

2417
10/11 meters / Data Link 27270 kHz / 27.270 MHz 22 May 2017
« on: May 22, 2017, 1733 UTC »
Just below CB Radio Channel 27 - 27.275 MHz / 27275 kHz.  11 meters equals 27.2727272... MHz so 27.270 is about as close to exactly 11 meters as you can get.  Anyway....

I have often logged paging and other data link signals on 27255 kHz / 27.255 MHz (CB channel 23) but never on 27270.  It's possible this is coming from outside the US, given the large amount of international, specifically Latin American,DX traffic heard during today's band opening on 27 MHz.  Fair amount of domestic (US stations) heard all around the band as well.  

The band has been opening most of the morning into the early afternoon (it is currently 1330 local time, 1730 UTC).  First noticed data link around 15-20 minutes ago and it has been on and off ever since.  Strong, often overmodulated signals on 27265 (CB channel 26) and 27285 (CB channel 28).  Sounds like FSK signal to me, often S9+ so very strong.  


2418
10/11 meters / 27025 and 26715 insanity 22 May 2017
« on: May 22, 2017, 1617 UTC »
Hearing wall-to-wall overmodulated signals on 26705 (Spanish language) and 27025 (English language, if you could call it "English").  Some of the signals on 27025 are so terribly overmodulated and distorted that I can't understand anything.  S9 all day long, up to S9+30 or more. 

Watching on the waterfall, some of these channel 6 superbowl signals 27.025 MHz are 40-50 kHz wide.  I feel sorry for the stations trying to talk on 27005 or 27035.

2419
10/11 meters / Re: Activity 22 May 2017
« on: May 22, 2017, 1605 UTC »
Hearing Spanish language traffic on:

26575 AM
26585 AM
26705 AM -
26715 AM - BOOMING IN (S9++ signals)
27605 AM

Domestic US stations coming in loud and clear on 26865 AM and 26915 AM, as well as the usual channel 6/11/26/28 high power stuff, and strong signals on channel 21 (27215 AM)

AM/SSB traffic on

27385 LSB
27395 LSB
27415 AM
27425 LSB
27430 USB
27445 LSB
27455 USB - Spanish language calling frequency

2420
CB Channel 11 - 27.085 MHz - or 27085 kHz to match HFU's policy on frequencies :D, was the original calling channel back in the 23 channel CB days when licenses were required.  Like channels 6, 26 and 28, it is often full of high power (and sometimes obscenely overmodulated and distorted) signals during band openings.  I've noticed several instances where stations flip back and forth between 27025 (channel 6) and 27085 (channel 11).

On that waterfall display, channel 6 / 27.025 MHz has a pretty decent signal on it as well.  It's interesting to see the various carriers on channels 14, 16 and 19.  Channel 14 seems to be a common "local" AM channel and 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23 seem to be common channels for truckers to use then why QSY from 27.185 MHz / 27185 kHz [CB channel 19]. 

That is, if they don't just use the band switch and drop down to 26735 or jump up to 27635 to carry on a "private" conversation.   ;D

2421
Announcing future show times on a regular basis, somebody isn't afraid of the FCC (especially considering he's already gotten the knock)....

2422
Peskies / Re: UNID 3118.7 USB 0741 UTC 18-May-2017
« on: May 18, 2017, 2016 UTC »
First time I've seen a log for the 3 MHz band.

Nice catch, RST111.  I'm glad posters are finding peskie / pesky / pescadore / fishing fleet / freebanders / outbanders on other bands besides the 6-7 MHz region. 

For what its worth, 3118.7 kHz USB is within the 2850 kHz - 3150 kHz aeronautical aircraft MF-SSB and HF-SSB (usually called MF/HF or just HF, even though it crosses the 3000 kHz or 3 MHz boundary area from medium frequency to high frequency) band.

I have logged several peskie transmissions in the 6525 kHz - 6765 kHz aeronautical aircraft HF band (in addition, it is also home the 6.6 MHz band or 45 meter band "Echo Charlie" pirate stations commonly heard in Europe using LSB mode around 6600 kHz / 6.6 MHz.  Doing some Googling shows several radio listeners in Europe have logged two-way pirate traffic similar to other freeband chatter on 6670 kHz LSB / 6.670 MHz LSB and other nearby frequencies, often with 3 kHz steps or 5 kHz steps like our Spanish speaking friends that hang out on 6895 kHz, 6900 kHz, 6905 kHz, etc.

I found the old "RF Man" site (based out of the UK) and freebanding.co.uk that contains information about various legal and illegal radio services, and a page exists for Echo Charlie and similar freeband "services" in different HF bands. They seem to follow the amateur radio practice of using LSB below 10 MHz and using USB above 10 MHz.

These include:

86 meters or 85 meters: 3000 - 3500 kHz - calling frequency 3470 kHz LSB (the 3000 kHz to 3400 kHz portion is often called 90 meters)
45 meters: 6530 - 6700 kHz - calling frequency 6670 kHz LSB (some sources say 6500 to 6700 kHz)
29 meters: 10400 kHz USB (only one frequency listed for this "band")
21 meters: 13500 - 14000 kHz - calling frequency 13970 kHz USB, South American calling frequency is 13555 kHz USB
16 meters or 15 meters: 18000 kHz - 18050 kHz - calling frequency 18030 kHz USB
14 meters: 20900 - 20980 kHz - calling frequency 20930 kHz USB

With this information in mind, it could be possible that you were hearing freeband activity.  Of course, by the very nature of freebanding...operators tend to make up things as they go along.  I've heard of the 6670 kHz frequency and nearby frequencies being used, in addition to the usual 6765-7000 kHz range for freebanders, fishing fleet communications, and of course pirates and military voice and data traffic. 

With this log being for a frequency so close to the 3000 kHz / 3 MHz MF/HF border, I begin to wonder if there are peskies operating in the 2000-3000 kHz range as well.

2423
AM carrier popped up, then modulated with AC/DC's "Back In Black" S3 signal level at 0013 / 0014 UTC

Unknown Name Radio Network ID at 0019/0020 UTC.  Signal strength has increased significantly since sign-on.  At 0022 UTC, signal now S7 peaking to S8.

2424
Red Dragon 3710 working White Peak 4 [or possibly White King 4], calling another station for relay.  The third station's suffix is "52" and they have a roger beep or end-of-transmission EOT beep. Sort of reminds me of a Civil Air Patrol net, possibly a military net though.  Extremely strong static crash QRN at 0048 UTC.  EDIT:  Some quick Googling reveals this is a known CAP frequency.  

0048 UTC - "any other stations wishing to check in?"
0049 UTC - White Peak 81 checking in.
0049 UTC - "this net is shut down now, something-something 52 out"
0050 UTC - tuning up sounds (carrier squeal) followed by several beeps
0052 UTC - repeat of transmission heard at 0050 UTC
0053 UTC - weak transmission heard "Red Dragon 3710, test, test [carrier tone]...Red Dragon 3710 test [carrier tone] [beep]"
0055 UTC - more of the same (Red Dragon 3710 transmitting tones, carriers, etc) - probably tuning up radio or testing

2425
Just checked the 4630 kHz USB frequency in the 0040 UTC to 0045 UTC time frame (18 May 2017) and heard nothing.  Seems like this frequency does not become active until later on in the evening.

2426
Its like somebody flipped a switch.  30-40 minutes ago the band was quiet, now it seems like every 5-10 kHz has a SSB two way radio conversation QSO on it. 

Spanish speaking stations 6910 kHz LSB / 6.910 MHz LSB.  Similar to traffic heard on 6858 kHz, 6900 kHz, 6905 kHz and 6915 kHz.  Follows 5 kHz channel step commonly found in this region, especially with land-based freebanders.  The fishermen pescadores (the "real peskies") tend to follow a less rigid frequency or channel step plan.  Busy frequency at 0035 UTC.  Station laughing, mention of Venezuela at 0035-0036 UTC.

2427
6900 kHz 6.900 MHz the unofficial 43 meter frequency for Spanish language freebanders.  Several other frequencies are active right now in addition to 6900 LSB.  Hearing at least three different stations chatting on frequency this evening.  Standard (for this freq anyway) "roundtable" or "ragchew" net style QSO with stations checking in and giving remarks, very ham radio or even 11 meter freebander like communications.  SIO 222 or maybe SIO 333 at the very best due to heavy QRN from static crashes.

2428
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

2429
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.

2430
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.

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