Messages

331

10/11 meters / 11 meter band activity 14 June 2022 - N1NTE KiwiSDR

« on: June 14, 2022, 1556 UTC »

Via N1NTE KiwiSDR1
Starting at 1545 UTC, noting the taxi cab dispatch ladies are coming in

27.815 MHz AM 27815 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs
27.795 MHz AM 27795 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs
27.785 MHz AM 27785 AM - Weak AM signals noted, UNID
27.765 MHz AM 27765 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs
27.745 MHz AM 27745 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs
27.695 MHz LSB 27695 LSB - Very busy with Latin American freebanders
27.455 MHz USB 27455 USB - Very very busy, Latin American 11m free band calling frequency
26.945 MHz AM 26945 AM - Spanish language chatter noted, heavy fading (OM stations, not taxi cabs)
26.915 MHz AM 26915 AM - US stations - AM 11M "low channel" DX channel, 915 AM - busy
26.885 MHz AM 26885 AM - Truckers, American accents - English language truckers using export radios
26.765 MHz AM 26765 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs
26.585 MHz AM 26585 AM - Spanish language, heavy QRM at points, well known Latin American 11m freq
26.555 MHz LSB 26555 LSB - Very very busy, Latin American 11m free band calling frequency
26.035 MHz AM 26035 AM - Spanish language OM and YL heard - possibly taxi dispatch radio or other land mobile user
25.705 MHz AM 25705 AM - Taxi cab dispatch lady - Spanish language YL dispatching taxi cabs

Also want to note that the legal 40 CB channels were pretty busy as well, including 27.255 MHz 27255 CB channel 23 with FSK data bursts and the usual SSB fun on and around channel 38 LSB (27.385 MHz LSB, 27.390 MHz LSB and others)

332

10/11 meters / Re: UNID 26585 AM 2044-55 4 March, 2022

« on: March 11, 2022, 2103 UTC »

26.585 MHz AM is a popular frequency for Latin American truckers and freebanders, and will often be active when the band is open.  When it is really booming in, all the nearby frequencies (26.565 MHz, 26.575 MHz, 26.595 MHz, etc. will also usually be busy). 

If you're hearing activity on 26.585 AM, check 26.555 LSB and 27.455 USB.  If 26.555 LSB is super busy, sometimes you'll hear other SSB activity on 26.540 LSB and other "zeros" frequencies.

333

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meter activity 11 Mar 2022

« on: March 11, 2022, 2101 UTC »

Awesome, more FM 11m CB activity out of Latin America!

At 2050 UTC, checked the band for the usual indicators (paging signals, data links and telemetry and the taxi ladies - YL dispatchers on 25 MHz, 26 MHz and 27 MHz.

Noted activity:

27.630 MHz USB 27630 kHz USB - Spanish language chatter
27.665 MHz USB 27665 kHz USB - Spanish speaking freebanders, very strong signals, similar to 26.555 LSB and 27.455 USB
27.685 MHz LSB 27685 kHz LSB - Spanish language
27.685 MHz AM 27685 kHz AM - OMs - Spanish language, possibly truckers or just out banders using AM instead of SSB
27.685 MHz USB 27685 kHz USB - Spanish speaking freebanders
27.695 MHz LSB 27695 kHz LSB - Spanish speaking freebanders
27.700 MHz LSB 27700 kHz LSB - Spanish speaking freebanders, noted use of the 27700 SSTV frequency, but they're on LSB
27.745 MHz AM 27745 kHz AM - YL taxi dispatcher, SIO 222, weak, but readable
27.755 MHz AM 27755 kHz AM - YL taxi dispatcher, very strong at 2055 UTC
27.765 MHz AM 27765 kHz AM - YL taxi dispatcher, reading numeric taxi IDs and trip numbers, good signals
27.785 MHz AM 27785 kHz AM - YL taxi dispatcher, same lady as usually heard on this frequency
27.790 MHz USB 27790 kHz USB - Spanish speaking freeband chatter, fair to weak
27.815 MHz AM 27815 MHz AM - YL taxi dispatcher, I believe this has been identified as being in Mexico City

334

10/11 meters / 11m DX Band Opening Activity 2 March 2022

« on: March 02, 2022, 1340 UTC »

1335 UTC noting activity on 27555 USB as well as QSO on 27520 USB, 27535 USB and 27525 USB

French language on 27520 USB at 1339 UTC, fair to good signals

"it was the 28th of February, Monday, we did that....on frequency 27.540 MHz, Andy, you're right here" on 27.525 MHz USB, mention of '26 division' (UK)


Paging signals on
26.150 MHz, 26.200 MHz, wide POCSAG on 26.250 MHz, 26.635 MHz, 26.650 MHz, 26.695 MHz, 26.745 MHz at 1340 UTC 

Now some weak FM on 26.655, some QRM from the data signal on 26.650 MHz.  26695 and 26745 both getting stronger

Now hearing SSB voice on 26.450 MHz USB with some POCSAG or FSK data underneath it.  26.445 USB also active.  Possibly Polish language?  Could be indicators of a European band opening.  FM signal on CB channel 3 - 26.985 MHz fading in at 1350 UTC, sounds like UK? 

Italian on 27.645 USB at 1351 UTC

"CQ West Indies, do QSY on 27495, 27.495, thank you" - 1352 UTC on 27.555 MHz USB

Narrowband FSK signals noted on 26.850 MHz, 26.730 MHz, 26.710 MHz, 26.620 MHz and 26.670 MHz.

1530 UTC:

26135 kHz 26.135 MHz AM - Spanish language, radio checks
26150 kHz 26.150 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26250 kHz 26.250 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26375 kHz 26.375 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26450 kHz 26.450 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26575 kHz 26.575 MHz AM - Spanish language
26635 kHz 26.635 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26635 kHz 26.635 MHz - FSK data signal, similar to signal logged on 26.750 MHz, 26.850 MHz and others
26650 kHz 26.650 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26695 kHz 26.695 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26695 kHz 26.695 MHz AM - Spanish language mixing in with pager signal
26730 kHz 26.730 MHz - Narrow FSK signal, 26730 kHz 26731 kHz
26745 kHz 26.745 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26750 kHz 26.750 MHz - FSK data signal - bursts, similar to signals often heard on 27.195 during Latin American openings
26755 kHz 26.755 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26825 kHz 26.825 MHz FM - FM voice noted on waterfall, didn't get a chance to tune in to hear language
26833 kHz 26.833 MHz - Narrow FSK signal
26835 kHz 26.835 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz (the 26833 signal is much stronger)
26850 kHz 26.850 MHz - FSK data signal, very similar to signal noted on 26.75 MHz
26858 kHz 26.858 MHz - Narrow FSK signal
26900 kHz 26.900 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26935 kHz 26.935 MHz AM - Spanish language chatter, possibly taxi dispatcher
26935 kHz 26.935 MHz - Paging wide POCSAG signal pager 26 MHz
26950 kHz 26.950 MHz - Wide FSK signal (7-8 kHz wide, similar to POCSAG signals noted on other 26 MHz freqs)
26950 kHz 26.950 MHz - Another odd signal, sounds like 3 beeps every few seconds, 26950.5
26963 kHz 26.963 MHz - Narrow FSK bursts
27020 kHz 27.020 MHz - Narrow FSK signal
27175 kHz 27.175 MHz FM - Spanish language FM heard mixing with AM signals - CB channel 18
27275 kHz 27.275 MHz FM - Spanish language FM heard - CB channel 27
27325 kHz 27.325 MHz FM - Spanish language FM CB channel 32
27635 kHz 27.635 MHz USB - ROS data mode noted - good signals!

1930 UTC:

25895 kHz 25.895 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26005 kHz 26.005 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26055 kHz 26.055 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26375 kHz 26.375 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26445 kHz 26.445 MHz AM - Spanish language, busy at points
26475 kHz 26.475 MHz AM - Spanish language chatter, probably same group of guys usually heard on 26585 AM, etc.
26500 kHz 26.500 MHz USB - Spanish language, noted in use previously Caribbean 11 meter DX frequency
26505 kHz 26.505 MHz AM - Spanish language taxi dispatcher lady taxi dispatch
26540 kHz 26.540 MHz LSB - Spanish language chatter, very busy - likely QSY from 26.555 LSB
26555 kHz 26.555 MHz LSB - Spanish language chatter, also very busy
26555 kHz 26.555 MHz AM - Noted AM carrier and what sounded like a YL taxi dispatcher - poor frequency choice!
26565 kHz 26.565 MHz AM - Busy with Latin American DX - Spanish language
26575 kHz 26.575 MHz AM - Busy with Latin American DX - Spanish language
26585 kHz 26.585 MHz AM - Mexican trucker 26 MHz frequency, very busy

27990 kHz 27.990 MHz - Narrow FSK data burst signals
27995 kHz 27.995 MHz USB - Spanish language chatter

335

10/11 meters / 11m DX Band Opening Activity 1 March 2022

« on: March 01, 2022, 2150 UTC »

25615 AM 25.615 MHz AM - Weak AM voice here, with roger beeps - presumed taxi cab dispatch
25635 LSB 25.635 MHz LSB - Spanish language chatter, two OMs having a casual CB-like QSO (not a taxi dispatcher)
25695 AM 25.695 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady YL speaking Spanish (taxi ID numbers) taxi dispatcher
25985 AM 25.985 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady YL speaking Spanish (taxi ID numbers) taxi dispatcher
26055 AM 26.055 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady YL speaking Spanish (taxi ID numbers) taxi dispatcher
26105 AM 26.105 MHz AM - Spanish language CBers
26175 AM 26.175 MHz AM - Spanish language CBers
26405 AM 26.405 MHz AM - Spanish language CBers
26515 AM 26.515 MHz AM - Spanish language CBers
26540 LSB 26.540 MHz LSB - Spanish language, likely QSY'ed from 26.555 MHz LSB
26555 LSB 26.555 MHz LSB - Spanish language, similar to 27.455 USB
26565 AM 26.565 MHz AM - Heard mention of "Puerto Rico"
26585 AM 26.585 MHz AM - Commonly used Mexican trucker/CB frequency, very busy
26605 AM 26.605 MHz AM - Spanish language CBers
26705 AM 26.705 MHz AM - BIG signals - lots of splatter from 26.715 MHz and 26.725 MHz
26715 AM 26.715 MHz AM - More big signals, similar to 27005 27015, 27025, 27035, 26705, etc.
26725 AM 26.725 MHz AM - 11 meter Spanish language version of channel 6

336

10/11 meters / 11m DX Band Opening Activity 17 February 2022

« on: February 17, 2022, 1911 UTC »

Mostly Latin American in origin at tune-in at 1800 UTC:

25710 FMCW 25.710 MHz - Center frequency, OTH Radar
25725 AM 25.725 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
25875 FMCW 25.875 MHz - Center frequency, OTH Radar
25965 AM 25.965 MHz AM - Weak chatter heard, likely two-way land mobile users, taxi or trucking company 25 MHz
25985 LSB 25.985 MHz LSB - Portuguese chatter noted at 1901 UTC, decent signals, informal chatter
26005 AM 26.005 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
26100 FMCW 26.100 MHz - Center frequency, OTH Radar
26165 AM 26.165 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
26205 AM 26.205 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
26365 AM 26.365 MHz AM - OMs speaking Spanish, lots of music and noise toys
26375 AM 26.375 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
26445 AM 26.445 MHz AM - Spanish language, sporadic signal
26475 AM 26.475 MHz AM - Spanish language chatter, similar to other 25 MHz and 26 MHz 11m stuff
26500 LSB 26.500 MHz LSB - Spanish language, active frequency
26515 AM 26.515 MHz AM - Several stations mixing together, lots of noise toys/recorded sounds on frequency
26525 AM 26.525 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher, mixing with SSB QRM from 26.530 MHz LSB
26530 LSB 26.530 MHz LSB - Spanish language QSO
26540 LSB 26.540 MHz LSB - Spanish language activity, QSY'ed from 26.555 LSB almost certainly
26555 LSB 26.555 MHz LSB - Latin American DX calling frequency, very busy at points
26565 AM 26.565 MHz AM - Lots of signals from Latin America booming in
26575 AM 26.575 MHz AM - Lots of signals from Latin America booming in
26585 AM 26.585 MHz AM - Very busy, tons of signals on top of each other, similar to 26.575 AM, 26.605 AM, etc.
26595 AM 26.595 MHz AM - Similar to 26.585 MHz, lots of QRM, music, sound effects, etc.
26605 AM 26.605 MHz AM - Spanish language, some very strong signals
26610 FSK 26.610 MHz FSK bursts, narrowband FSK signals, would have been closer to 26.609 MHz maybe
26625 AM 26.625 MHz AM - OM working at least one other station, Spanish language
26625 FM 26.625 MHz FM - FM signals mixing in with AM QRM - confirmed active FM at 1908 UTC (Spanish language)
26635 AM 26.635 MHz AM - OM doing radio checks, lots and lots of echo (Spanish)
26705 AM 26.705 MHz AM - BIG RADIOS channel, very busy
26765 AM 26.765 MHz AM - Spanish language, possibly taxi cab dispatcher
26785 FM 26.785 MHz FM - FSK signal, 6-8 kHz wide, sounds a lot like POCSAG - likely a pager system
26785 AM 26.785 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch with roger beeps
26820 FM 26.820 MHz FM or CW - Carrier signal dropped in, and then out again, UNID
26845 AM 26.845 MHz AM - Taxi or trucker?  Weak signals, with roger beeps noted
26925 AM 26.925 MHz AM - Several signals mixing in with each other, reminds me of the activity usually heard on 26.935 MHz
26935 AM 26.935 MHz AM - Numerous signals mixing together, Spanish language
26945 AM 26.945 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch, good signals
26955 AM 26.955 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish with roger beeps
Nearly all 40 legal channels active, some notes:
27095 AM 27.095 MHz AM - RC Channel "11A" - YL taxi dispatcher mixing with some faint FSK data bursts
27195 AM 27.195 MHz AM - RC Channel "19A" - strong YL taxi dispatch lady, the usual FSK in the background
27255 AM 27.255 MHz AM - Several AM signals mixing with at least two different data signals

Above 27365 or so, tons and tons of SSB activity, including somewhat oddball frequencies, like 27.710 MHz LSB, 27.730 MHz LSB and others.
27715 AM 27.715 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher mixing in with SSB QRM from 27.710 LSB, 27.715 USB and others
27755 AM 27.755 MHz AM -  Taxi dispatcher YL in Spanish on 27.755 AM, can hear taxi drivers replying to her!
27765 AM 27.765 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
27775 AM 27.775 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
27775 LSB 27.775 MHz LSB - SSB freebanders mixing in with the taxi dispatcher
27785 AM 27.785 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
27800 LSB 27.800 MHz LSB - Spanish language chatter
27815 AM 27.815 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL - noted Mexico City taxi cab radio taxi 27.815 AM
27885 AM 27.885 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch
27925 AM 27.925 MHz AM - Heard the intro to "Bad To The Bone" and Spanish language chatter
27965 AM 27.965 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher YL reading numbers in Spanish - taxi cab dispatch

337

10/11 meters / 11m Pager Data and other activity 10 February 2022

« on: February 10, 2022, 1731 UTC »

More 11 meter action today:

25695 kHz / 25.695 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher - indicating a band opening to Latin America - YL dispatch taxi lady
25735 kHz / 25.735 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady - Spanish language YL reading numbers - YL dispatch taxi lady
25745 kHz / 25.745 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady - Spanish language YL reading numbers - YL dispatch taxi lady
25950 kHz / 25.950 MHz FM - Studio Transmitter Link - 25.950 FM, fading in and out
26005 kHz / 26.005 MHz AM - YL dispatcher, weak, presumed Latin American taxi dispatch
26035 kHz / 26.035 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch lady, very strong at points - Spanish
26250 kHz / 26.250 MHz - FM carrier, closer to 26.251 (sort of).  - This is a known UK hospital paging frequency
26415 kHz / 26.415 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher, Spanish language with roger beeps
26455 kHz / 26.455 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher, Spanish language - female dispatcher YL dispatch lady
26475 kHz / 26.475 MHz AM - Spanish language chatter, lots of noise and sound effects at points
26505 kHz / 26.505 MHz AM - Spanish language, possibly also taxi cab dispatcher
26515 kHz / 26.515 MHz FM - There seems to be an FM signal mixing in with the AM activity, may be a pager?
26515 kHz / 26.515 MHz AM - Lots of roger beeps and noise toys heard, presumably Latin American origin
26585 kHz / 26.585 MHz AM - Very very busy, Mexican trucker channel, heavy QRM
26635 kHz / 26.635 MHz - European paging frequency, FSK signals noted
26665 kHz / 26.665 MHz USB - Spanish language chatter heard
26730 kHz / 26.730 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, would be 26.728 MHz USB or 26.729 MHz USB
26805 kHz / 26.805 MHz AM - Spanish language, likely taxi cab dispatcher
26805 kHz / 26.805 MHz FM - FM voice activity noted around 1730 UTC / 1735 UTC
26830 kHz / 26.830 MHz - Strong carrier, no modulation...then disappeared, seemed like a pager
26833 kHz / 26.833 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals
26835 kHz / 26.835 MHz- FSK paging signal - 6-7 kHz wide, can be tuned in 26.835 MHz LSB or USB mode
26859 kHz / 26.859 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, similar to the ones on 26833 kHz
26892 kHz / 26.892 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals
26935 kHz / 26.935 MHz AM - Very strong signals from Latin America booming in
26954 kHz / 26.954 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, possibly off-frequency 26.955 MHz 26955 kHz 26950 kHz
27195 kHz / 27.195 MHz - FSK signal burst, every 3-4 seconds, previously monitored, multiple transmitters on frequency
27255 kHz / 27.255 MHz - FM FSK Data Bursts, known US-based data link 27 MHz based system 27.255 FM
27256 kHz / 27.256 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, off-frequency from 27.255 MHz 27.255
27333 kHz / 27.333 MHz (would be 27.331 MHz USB or 27.332 USB) - FSK strong - mixing with QRM from 27.335
27685 kHz / 27.685 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, would be 27.684 MHz or 27.683 MHz in USB mode
27765 kHz / 27.765 MHz LSB - Spanish language, very good signals
27815 kHz / 27.815 MHz AM - Spanish speaking taxi dispatcher lady, good signals - likely Mexico City (confirmed user)
27882 kHz / 27.882 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals, might be closer to 27.880 MHz or 27.881 MHz
27885 kHz / 27.885 MHz AM - Taxi dispatcher, Spanish language
27893 kHz / 27.893 MHz - Narrowband FSK signals

338

10/11 meters / 11m Pager Data and other activity 1600+ UTC 9 February 2022

« on: February 09, 2022, 1634 UTC »

Noting FSK signals on numerous frequencies in the 26 MHz region, as well as:

26569 FM - Narrow FSK bursts
26610 FM - 26.610 MHz or 26.609 MHz, very strong FSK signal
26635 FM - POCSAG
26695 FM - POCSAG
26705 FM - FSK signal
26710 FM - Narrow FSK bursts
26730 FM - Narrow FSK bursts
26745 FM - Nice paging signal faded in
27195 FM - Very strong data signal - seemed like an AM-modulated series of tones


Also, lots and lots of Spanish language taxi dispatch ladies, including 25.695 MHz, 26.935 MHz, 27.365 MHz (CB channel 36, in-band, nice!), 27.745 MHz and our friends in Mexico City on 27.815 MHz / 27815 AM

At 1630 UTC, some data mixing in with AM voice - another taxi cab dispatcher YL operator reading numbers (taxi IDs) on CB channel 23 - 27.255 MHz / RC Channel.

27755 AM - Taxi dispatcher
27935 FM - French language (yes, in FM mode, and not on UK FM CB CH 34 27.931.25 FM, they're on 27.935 MHz!)

27255 AM - a different taxi dispatcher, multi-tone roger beep, mixing with some (weak) FSK
26.745 MHz at 1638 UTC, the signal is still there, roughly 6 kHz wide, you can tune it on either 26745 USB or 26745 LSB (like many of the paging signals coming out of Europe).  At the same time, the paging or data signal on 26.695 is getting stronger....then both 26695 and 26745 faded almost completely out for a few moments and then came back in.

26665 USB - somebody doing radio tests, whistling
26695 fading in and out
26800 FM - narrow FSK signal
26837.5 or 26838 - narrow FSK signal, would probably tune on 26.840 MHz LSB
27705 AM - Taxi dispatcher
27725 AM - Taxi dispatcher
27775 AM - Taxi dispatcher
27785 AM - Taxi dispatcher
26859 or 26860 - narrow FSK signal, center frequency is just a bit below 26.860 MHz
27900 USB - very strong QSO in Spanish, two OMs having casual QSO, 27.900 MHz USB 27.9 MHz 27.9 USB
25875 USB - center frequency 25.876 MHz or maybe 25876 kHz, another strong data signal

339

10/11 meters / Re: 11m Activity 3 Nov 2021

« on: November 03, 2021, 1746 UTC »

Chris, that 27.030 MHz signal could be an Eastern European or Russian paging pager system or telemetry/datalink system. 


At 1730 UTC:

Lots of SSB activity in the 27.355 MHz to 27.995 MHz region. 

FSK data signal narrow band POCSAG 27833 kHz 27.833 MHz  center frequency every 5-7 seconds, good signal.  Another signal that also appears to be narrow band POCSAG noted on 27.029 MHz

26.689 MHz - narrow POCSAG - could call this 26.690 MHz too.. 26689 kHz 26690 kHz
27.029 MHz - could be your 27.030 MHz signal - narrow POCSAG 27030 kHz
27.833 MHz - narrow POCSAG  27833 kHz - I've noted identical signals on 27.838 MHz too. 
As to be expected, numerous FSK signals on 27.255 MHz, various waveforms

Other monitors have decoded numeric POCSAG signals on 27.002 MHz and 27.007 MHz - both of which could be considered offset frequencies from 27.000 MHz 27.005 MHz and 27.010 MHz.  27002 kHz 27007 kHz 27000 kHz 27005 kHz 27010 kHz

Spanish language DX booming in on 26.575 MHz, 26.585 MHz, 26.605 MHz, 26.635 MHz and several other frequencies in the 26 MHz band

Also noting taxi dispatchers on:

27.815 MHz AM
27.785 MHz AM
27.765 MHz AM
26.455 MHz AM
26.445 MHz AM
26.415 MHz AM
26.205 MHz AM
26.175 MHz AM
26.035 MHz AM
25.695 MHz AM

Also a nice strong studio to transmitter audio link on 25.950 MHz 25.95 MHz 25950 kHz FM 25.950 FM - probably WBAP AM, their STL on 25.95 MHz FM uses a 85.4 Hz CTCSS tone PL tone if I remember correctly. 

And... WWV coming in nice and strong on 25000 kHz AM 25.000 MHz AM

340

10/11 meters / Re: 10M Contacts

« on: October 29, 2021, 2313 UTC »

There's one repeater on 29.620 MHz I believe...and I think it's in New York or the northeast USA anyway...during one of the bigger band openings we've had in the past weeks I heard traffic on 29.620 FM as well as 29.600 FM simplex.

Also when the band is opening there's the land mobile users on 29.710 MHz FM, 29.730 MHz FM, 29.750 MHz FM, 29.770 MHz FM and 29.790 MHz FM.  I know there are car service dispatchers and taxi dispatchers in New York City on 29.770 and 29.790...plus school buses and rideshare buses on 29.79 MHz or 29.77 MHz.  There are several other users of the 29.710, 29.730, and 29.750 frequencies in that part of the country.  If you can hear those repeaters, you can hear the land mobile systems on 29.71-29.79

341

10/11 meters / Re: Local CB activity Morning 29 OCT 2021

« on: October 29, 2021, 1935 UTC »

Indeed.  There are several variants of the EPT3600 board.  A lot of the AM/FM export rigs like the Connex 3300, Superstar 3000, the various Galaxy rigs, General Lee, etc. I think have the same board, but with the SSB portions removed. 

I need to check CBtricks.com and take a look at those radios PCB layout compared to the all-mode exports.  I do want to say all the alignment points and adjustment points are in the same spot though. 

Yep, the Galaxy DX88 is the EPT3600-14B.  That's the same as the Superstar 3900F, Voyage VR-9000, Voyager VR-9000, etc.  The Galaxy DX77 is also the EPT3600-14B.  They're identical radios except the DX77 (and the Superstar 3900 and various clones) don't have a frequency counter.  The Connex rigs have another variant, the EPT3600-15C (I'm sure there are variants of that too)

Doing a little bit of digging, there are some Ranger/RCI rigs that use the similar, but not identical, EPT6900 series board. 

342

10/11 meters / Re: Local CB activity Morning 29 OCT 2021

« on: October 29, 2021, 1909 UTC »

I am originally from Cleveland. About 20-30 miles east of Chattanooga.

Still have my old Dirland SS-3900B. Probably a EPT360013B, EPT360014B/C, or similar board used by Connex, Galaxy, etc.

Have an AnyTone AT-6666 for the off-chance of actually talking these days.

The "18' End-Fed Vertical" in my forum sig is a Shakespeare 318-GBT grounded mounted over eight 9' radials and with a (W2DU-style) MFJ-915 1:1 choke at the feedpoint.

Ah, yes, Dirland!

I used to have one of the original (made in Taiwan) Superstar 3900 radios, with the EPT360011B board.  The newer Superstar 3900s had (or have?) the EPT360014B or EPT360014C board depending. 

Tons and tons of radios have the EPT3600 series board or just 3600 chassis EPT3600 chassis. 

343

10/11 meters / 11 meter activity 29 October 2021

« on: October 29, 2021, 1905 UTC »

At 1900 UTC, hearing some US stations working DX on the good old' 26.915 MHz AM frequency.  Sporadic, but its there.  Sounds like numerous stations on top of each other.  Channels 6 is busy.

Also, hearing FM on CB channel 30 at 1905 UTC - 27.305 MHz FM 27.305 FM

344

10/11 meters / Re: Local CB activity Morning 29 OCT 2021

« on: October 29, 2021, 1834 UTC »

The few locals here are mostly on one frequency and talk a lot about their radios.

Back in the 1990s when I was in east TN, the locals would park on the mountain tops and try to shout down others with their usual Cobra 29s and "300-watt" amps. It could be an amusing diversion for awhile, though I tended to continue talking DX over the top of them.

Ah, yes, the AM "peak" or "swing" watts.  Real men measure power output at carrier power (or RMS!).  So when I said "300 watts" I meant 75-100 watts (carrier power). 

Cobra 29s, Galaxy DX 66Vs or Connex 3300s.  Or General Lees!  Which are, of course, identical to the Connex 3300.

I can remember when I was in my teens running dogs - Raccoons/Hogs, sometimes I would get into an older guys truck and they would have an RCI2950 or Emperor TS-5010 etc and I was wowed by it. I told them, hey you can talk to people around the world with this and they were just like, oh I just leave it on channel 3 in the woods. They had no idea that it was a much more advanced radio than most people had.

Rob, you mentioned East Tennessee. My dads side of the family is from up there. Johnson City, Flag Pond, Jonesboro, Kingsport etc. The Maco 5/8 antenna I had was picked up at a garage sale near Bristol.

There are a lot of huntin' trucks with similar setups around here (Virginia).  More often than not, the CB is something like a RCI-2950 or RCI-2970, a Connex 3300, Galaxy, Superstar or similar.  I know one guy who has a Galaxy DX66V plus a Texas Star amplifier (I believe its a DX350)  as well as an older Uniden Solara VHF marine radio in his hunting truck.  According to him, he and his hunt club buddies usually use the CB radio for comms, AM mode only, in the "low channels" unless they're talking to somebody who has a regular 40 channel CB in his truck, then they simply use one of the normal channels. 

It's funny because he complained about how the CB has "more static" and of course the radio not only has FM capability but has this magical feature called squelch (that I don't think he or his hunting club friends ever used). 

Maybe that will change now that FM is a thing.

345

10/11 meters / Re: Local CB activity Morning 29 OCT 2021

« on: October 29, 2021, 1358 UTC »

I think CB sales might have been driven by the prepper crowd for awhile, but now it seems a little more widespread for whatever reasons. I have noted some of the popular CB shops no longer are even taking in radios for service due to existing service backlogs. o.0

Oh yeah. reminds me, my Radio Shack clone of an A99 is in storage. Need to check it, as I am thinking about using it for portable or stationary mobile ops.

Yep, that's certainly part of it.  I'm encouraging everyone I know with a truck, van or SUV to install a CB.  I actually was able to get one guy into freebanding and DXing in the process.  He bought a AnyTone AT-6666 all-mode AM/FM/SSB mobile transceiver and a Hustler IC-20 through-hole roof-mount antenna.  After a couple weeks of use, he decided that he wanted something that would "talk further".  I told him the next step would be to get the "real thing" (a 102" stainless steel antenna with a 6" stainless steel spring).  He did that, and then bought an amplifier (RM Italy KL503HD to be exact).  Now he's pushing 250-300 watts into a true 1/4 wave antenna, which, as you can imagine, means significant (local) range improvement. 

The Hustler IC-20 antenna was donated to one of his friends (it's now installed on the roof of another pickup truck) and I donated a Luiton LT-298 40-channel AM only mobile CB (a Chinese knockoff of the Uniden PRO510XL / PRO520XL series) to the cause.  There are several other folks who I've convinced that installing even a bare bones CB in their truck is worth the cost. 

Local CB here can be split into three categories:

-Local CB operators that talk on the radio on a regular basis and have home channel(s)
-Local business users, including job sites, trucking terminals and distribution warehouses, logging companies, quarries/crushed stone facilities with a coordination channel, hunt clubs, etc.
-Truckers using channel 19 and similar users, including flag car, chase car companies based in my area that use CB for car-to-car comms. 

The logging companies, truckers working for the same company and hunt clubs are big fans of the "extra channels" - for obvious reasons.