Messages

2611

Other / Re: UNID 8000 LSB 2229 UTC 2017-03-18

« on: March 19, 2017, 1821 UTC »

8000 kHz lies in the same "allocation type" as 6765-7000 kHz ("fixed/mobile") which means a grab bag of all sorts of stuff.  The pescadores seem to like these allocations (or bands, I should say) so that would support Chris' theory.  The use LSB mode sort of does as well.

Also, 8000 is an easy-to-remember frequency.  It seems like the pescadores/freebanders like to do this.  6919 kHz, 6900 kHz, 6888 kHz, 8000 kHz, etc.

Wouldn't surprise me if there's fishermen using 7777 kHz and 8888 kHz somewhere

2612

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 AM 1503 UTC 19 Mar 2017

« on: March 19, 2017, 1513 UTC »

Hearing what sound like test tones at 1510-1511 UTC.

Utility two-tone signal on 6925 USB (I would say "dial frequency" for the ute signal is 6925.5 kHz or 6926 kHz) but either way its right in the middle of the upper side of 6925 kHz AM.

Carrier disappeared at 1515 UTC.

2613

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6905 kHz LSB 1500+ UTC 19 March 2017

« on: March 19, 2017, 1510 UTC »

Hearing two-way communications in Spanish on 6905 LSB, sounds like two OMs talking.  One of them in quite long-winded.  Also heard a couple radio tests on this frequency.  SIO 222 at best (just above the noise floor at 1500 UTC).  At 1508 UTC, heard two stations talking over each other.  No callsigns/names/handles/identifiers heard so logging this as a pure UNID.

Conversation seems pretty informal.  Hearing one of the ops laughing at what the other op said.  Kind of early for these sort of logs (usually these guys don't show up until the afternoon/evening East Coast of USA time).

Given the proximity to 6900 kHz LSB and the fact that that seems to be the "standard" frequency for Spanish-speaking stations (as opposed to 6925 kHz LSB for Portuguese-speaking stations), I would venture a guess that these operators simply QSYed from 6900 LSB to 6905 LSB. 

2614

10/11 meters / Re: Chanel 6 am

« on: March 19, 2017, 0514 UTC »

"No Excuses On The Bowl" is the motto of CB channel 6 - 27.025 MHz (27025 kHz since this is HF Underground ).

Even 1 kilowatt stations are considered "mud ducks" on channel 6.  Next time you hear lots of activity on channel 6/27.025, check out the following "big radio" channels:

26.555 MHz / 26555 kHz (LSB) - Spanish-speaking stations from Mexico, Miami, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, etc
26.585 MHz / 26585 kHz (AM) - Mexico's version of CB Channel 6 (see also: 26705 AM, 26715 AM, 26725 AM, etc)
26.705 MHz / 26705 kHz (AM) - "La 705" (mostly Spanish-speaking stations from Puerto Rico, Miami, Dominican Republic, etc)
26.715 MHz / 26715 kHz (AM) - "La 715" see 26705 AM
26.725 MHz / 26725 kHz (AM) - "La 725" see 26705 AM and 26715 AM
26.915 MHz / 26915 kHz (AM) - often referred to as "915" or "36 low" - very active in the Southern USA
26.955 MHz / 26955 kHz (AM)
27.085 MHz / 27085 kHz (AM) - CB Channel 11 - the original CB calling channel back in the 23-channel days
27.265 MHz / 27265 kHz (AM) - CB Channel 26 - very active in the Southern USA
27.285 MHz / 27285 kHz (AM) - CB Channel 28 - very active in the Southern USA


When the skip is really rolling, you'll find the guys with the "big radios" on all sorts of frequencies...within the legal 40 channel, below channel 1, and above channel 40.  26915 AM is one of the most popular ones, at least when it comes to out-of-band (aka "freeband") frequencies.

2615

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6950 AM 1700 UTC 18 March 2017

« on: March 18, 2017, 1712 UTC »

YL talking to several OMs.  Sounds like audio from a movie.  S5 signal

About SIO 333 or so

2616

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 6895 kHz LSB 2300+ UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 2347 UTC »

Two ops chatting away (one considerably stronger than the other) on 6895 kHz LSB.  Some minor QRM from strong signals on 6900 LSB.  Talking about antennas, weather, and other "ham radio like" topics.  Possibly QSYed from the more busier frequencies of 6900 kHz LSB or 6915 kHz LSB.

SIO 444 for the strong station, SIO 333 for the weaker one.  Both entirely readable though.  

2617

Other / UNID 4947 USB 1600 UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 1628 UTC »

Re-transmission of Declaration of War against Japan, very faint voice signal heard on remote SDR.  4947 kHz USB.  Appears to be on some sort of a loop... about 4-5 minutes long.

  
Loop restarted at 1630 UTC.  
Loop restarted at 1635 UTC. 

SIO 222 at best.

2618

Peskies / Re: UNID 6928 LSB 0220+ UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 1602 UTC »

I've noticed that a lot of the time there will be both USB and LSB traffic on the same frequency.  As TheRelayStation mentioned, assuming b/w is within reasonable limits, this entirely possible (as is 3 kHz steps vs. 5 kHz steps).  6900 kHz is a great example.  I've logged 6900 LSB and 6900 USB at the same time many many times. 

The other obvious example is 6925 kHz

2619

Peskies / Re: UNID [Spanish] 6790 kHz USB 0315-0323 UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 1554 UTC »

they might be using split-bands.
for example, unit 1 TX is 6790, RX is 6800 - unit 2 TX is 6800, RX is 6790

That was my conclusion as well.  That, or somebody is running a directional antenna pointed at me and the other guy isn't.  But split frequency operation is entirely possible. 

Glad to hear I'm not the only one listening to these guys 

2620

Peskies / UNID [Spanish] 6790 kHz USB 0315-0323 UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 0325 UTC »

Been listening to a Spanish-speaking OM on 6790 kHz USB for the past 5 minutes or so.  It sounds like he's talking to another station, but no other traffic is heard and there was long pauses between transmissions.  Good signal strength but QRM from nearby data signal on 6791.5 kHz or so is making copy difficult.  I heard a mention of "change frequency?" and "I copy that".  No transmissions heard from 0320 to 0323.  Traffic came back at 0324 UTC, but considerably weaker.  Still only hearing one side of the conversation.

SIO 222 at best. 

2621

Peskies / Re: UNID QSO 6948 kHz USB 2210 - 2220? UTC 7 DEC 2016

« on: March 16, 2017, 0304 UTC »

Very interesting information Pigmeat!

I remember reading about Boston fishermen chatting away on 6951 kHz USB or 6953 kHz USB or something like that...but this is much more interesting.  The fact that they're using a mixture of several languages and able to move back and forth between them fluidly always fascinates me.  6765-7000 kHz really is "the funny band".  The fact that the Nicaraguan Coast Guard chats to these guys on these technically "illegal" bands further testifies the heavy usage of these frequencies.

Just like 25615-30105 kHz (or, for simplicity's sake, 12, 11 and 10 meters) is more or less "the funny band", heavily used by stations in that part of the world.  Next time the band is open, park a radio on 26555 LSB and 27515 LSB.  You'll hear very similar communications, especially on 27515 kHz LSB.

2622

Peskies / UNID Spanish Language 11900 kHz USB 1400 + UTC 15 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 0244 UTC »

Forgot to log this earlier, heard during the day.  11900 kHz is almost right in the middle of the 25 meter shortwave broadcast band (officially 11650 kHz - 11975 kHz, de facto its more like 11600 kHz - 12200 kHz considering the number of legal/licensed broadcasters that operate above and/or below those limits).  However, these guys were operating on an empty frequency (but quite close to the super flamethrower signal from WRMI on 11825 kHz) and using USB mode.  Spanish language, similar conversational topics as I run into in the 6700-7000 kHz and 25615-28000 kHz ranges.  Sounded like two, possibly three operators having a casual conversation.  SIO 333 at the very best.

Very interesting frequency choice.  Seemed like land-based transmissions given the fact that they were mentioning Mexican cities (although that doesn't rule out marine-based transmissions talking about things going on on land).

2623

Peskies / UNID Spanish Freebanders 6965 LSB 2200 UTC++ 15 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 0232 UTC »

Several Spanish-speaking operators talking on 6965 kHz LSB.  This frequency has been active for many hours.  Similar to 6900 LSB and the other common ones.  Heard names/callsigns "Juan", "Raul" and others.  No numerical callsigns heard. OMs whistling into microphones, yelling "HOLA! HOLA! HOLA!" and general chatter off and on all evening. Heard one op address another as "cabron" (rough translation would be "bastard" or "a**hole" in English) so chances are these guys know each other well enough to use such "terms of endearment".   Weak signals, but mostly readable.  SIO 222 or so.  

2624

Peskies / UNID 6973.5 kHz USB 0200++ UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 0229 UTC »

Weak voice two-way traffic heard here with very strong OTH Radar buzz burst QRM.  Sounds like Portuguese, but I'm not 100% sure due to the weak signals and heavy QRM.  This is a new frequency for the "peskie logs" too. 

Two stations heard chatting away.  No names, handles or callsigns heard.  SIO 111.

2625

Peskies / UNID 6928 LSB 0220+ UTC 16 March 2017

« on: March 16, 2017, 0223 UTC »

6925 kHz LSB is extremely loud tonight, and is splattering over to the other side band pretty often.  However, I am able to copy a QSO in what sounds like Spanish on 6928 kHz LSB, with heavy QRM from 6925 kHz LSB.  6928 LSB is weaker, but there is certainly a QSO there.  This is an interesting example of the "peskies" using 3 kHz steps instead of their usual 5 kHz steps.

S2-S3 signal levels.  Just above noise floor with very heavy QRM from 6925 LSB and 6930 LSB.