616
10/11 meters / Re: Some 11m activity 1448 UTC 30 May 2019
« on: May 31, 2019, 1254 UTC »
Any out of band activity?
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Signals That Go Bump In The Night
We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.
Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissable in your locale.
I think the AM band will remain in use for niche purposes, much like shortwave broadcasting does now, at least in the parts of the world with relatively uncensored Internet access. I'm in my early 30s and my peers do listen to AM but only for the reasons I discussed previously (because sports broadcasts are on AM stations, and they spend a lot of time in the car). I've also pressed the importance of programming the other receivable [regional, in my case, East Coast flamethrowers, mostly out of New York, Baltimore and DC] clear-channel AM stations into the car radio as presets in the event of a local (or regional) emergency/disaster and knockout of traditional/local communications to them. Other than that, its local FM radio or streaming via cellular data or at home on WiFi when you want to "listen to the radio". I know the rollout of 5G and improved 4G coverage in rural areas and a move to smart phone based online audio streaming will probably take another bite out of that listener group sooner rather than later, however.
Even the more rural parts of Canada? Are they going to decommission the entire NDB network? I don't like the idea of relying entirely on GPS for airnav. Good to have a backup.
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617
Peskies / Re: Chanting Pesky 6990 LSB 1255 UTC 25 May 2019
« on: May 30, 2019, 1418 UTC »
Ahh, yes, and 6990 kHz seems to be his "home channel". Not sure if this is another chanting net (like the guys heard on 7000 kHz and other nearby freqs) or somebody messing around.
618
10/11 meters / Re: OTHR on 11m?
« on: May 30, 2019, 1417 UTC »
Indeed. I've never heard it inside the legal 40 channel US FCC CB band 26960-27410 / 26965-27405. Usually it pops up in the 27.5 MHz to 28 MHz region but sometimes its below channel 1 in the 26 MHz and 25 MHz bands. I'm not sure if the OTHR systems in use in the USA have the 26.960 MHz to 27.410 MHz band as one of the "locked out" bands or I've just missed it when OTHR is actually in-band. You're probably right about it not being as noticeable to AM operators vs. SSB. Strong OTHR can obliterate SSB voice on 11 meters. Not fun when you're trying to shoot skip on 27.555 USB 
619
Peskies / Re: Chanting Pesky 6990 LSB 1255 UTC 25 May 2019
« on: May 29, 2019, 1826 UTC »
Hola hola hola hola hoooollllaaaaaaa???
620
Utility / Re: RUAF Bomber/Escort flights
« on: May 29, 2019, 1816 UTC »
Nookleear combat toe-to-toe with the Rooshkees
sat_dxer,
Are you saying that the frequency list posted by Josh is out of date/inaccurate/was never accurate in the first place? I know that the Russian Air Force does like their CW. I don't have any frequency list to compare it to though.
Wish someone on the "NSRIC team" would proof read the above before allowing it to be spread around the internet second-hand.
sat_dxer,
Are you saying that the frequency list posted by Josh is out of date/inaccurate/was never accurate in the first place? I know that the Russian Air Force does like their CW. I don't have any frequency list to compare it to though.
621
10/11 meters / Re: OTHR on 11m?
« on: May 28, 2019, 1306 UTC »
I've heard OTHR on 11 meters several times before, sometimes even centered on 27.550 MHz (and naturally obliterating activity on the SSB freeband calling channel of 27.555 MHz USB). Usually the OTHR is 20-40 kHz wide and the bursts only last for a few seconds before it moves up or down in frequency.
622
VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: F-16 SATCOM
« on: May 24, 2019, 1502 UTC »
255.550 MHz, 256.850 MHz and several others (in FM mode) are often busy with Portuguese chatter (sometimes you'll hear Spanish too), most of it is coming out of South America, specifically Brazil. Modified 1.25 meter / 222 MHz amateur radios [they love the Alinco DR-235T / DR-235TG series] and the proliferation of mobile and portable VHF rigs that cover 200-270 MHz or similar coverage out of the box (there's a legit reason for these radios to be on the market aside from the 222-225 MHz amateur band, there's a huge market for the 245 MHz VHF CB band in Thailand) means that pirating the UHF military satcom systems that still use analog FM voice is popular.
623
VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: F-16 SATCOM
« on: May 23, 2019, 1454 UTC »
Link-16 is a UHF tactical datalink system, I know that Link-16 does support digital voice in addition to its primary purpose of linking air/ground/sea assets for a near real-time tactical advantage. My understanding was that most traffic on Link-16 is in the "tactical data link" category for improved situational awareness, as opposed to air-to-ground or air-to-air voice comms. It's UHF but not the 225-400 MHz band. Link-16 operates in the 960-1215 MHz band. My guess would be the F-16s you're hearing are referring to either a UHF SATCOM system (which would be in the milair band, but probably using either FM or digital voice modes) and/or a SHF/EHF SATCOM system.
624
Other / Re: Firedrake 9680 kHz 1330 UTC 18 MAY 2019
« on: May 21, 2019, 1436 UTC »
Nice catch, MDK2. I was under the impression that the Chinese stopped using the Firedrake audio loop for jamming and switched over to using the CNR1 audio instead.
625
General Radio Discussion / Re: All Digital AM Band? Um, maybe not.
« on: May 20, 2019, 1352 UTC »
With all due respect, the reality is that the AM band does not exist for us DXers. It exists for local listeners. If HD can improve that listening experience somehow, and increase the audience through better fidelity and overcome noise better -- and lengthen the life of the band, I'm all for it. If it doesn't, I'm still all for the option for those stations who feel the impulse to go digital.
My local splatterhouse on 710 wipes out 700 and 720 -- yet it is all analog. Another one on 570 makes mincemeat of 560 and 580. A station doesn't have to be HD to wipe out adjacent channels.
The fact is that the AM band is losing listeners because of fidelity reasons, the fact it is over the air and not a computer stream, and other factors (like ageout of listening demos). Religion and ethnic broadcasting -- along with various talk formats -- can only save it for so long. Eventually it will consist of a handful of HD signals mixed with a few analog holdouts, or it will be like most of the 31 meter band every evening or the 19 meter band every late afternoon -- mostly static.
Just my two cents.
I think the AM band will remain in use for niche purposes, much like shortwave broadcasting does now, at least in the parts of the world with relatively uncensored Internet access. I'm in my early 30s and my peers do listen to AM but only for the reasons I discussed previously (because sports broadcasts are on AM stations, and they spend a lot of time in the car). I've also pressed the importance of programming the other receivable [regional, in my case, East Coast flamethrowers, mostly out of New York, Baltimore and DC] clear-channel AM stations into the car radio as presets in the event of a local (or regional) emergency/disaster and knockout of traditional/local communications to them. Other than that, its local FM radio or streaming via cellular data or at home on WiFi when you want to "listen to the radio". I know the rollout of 5G and improved 4G coverage in rural areas and a move to smart phone based online audio streaming will probably take another bite out of that listener group sooner rather than later, however.
626
North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6933 AM 1640 UTC 19 May 2019
« on: May 19, 2019, 1643 UTC »
Hearing NOAA Weather Radio rebroadcast on 6933 kHz AM on the COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR on the CT/MA border. Good signal and strong modulation.
627
Shortwave Broadcast / WTWW 5085 kHz AM Retro Top 40 Daytime 60 Meters 1210 UTC 19 May 2019
« on: May 19, 2019, 1212 UTC »
Retro Top 40 on shortwave proudly coming to you on shortwave, WTWW
ZZ Top's "La Grange" Coming in nice and loud on the Tecsun PL-880 this morning 1210 UTC (0810 local/0710 central time) - listening via the Westminster, MD KiwiSDR (SIO 555 on both receivers). Can hear them with the stock telescopic whip no problem. 60 meters daytime woo
Noted some fading on 5085 kHz around 1220 UTC, checked 19 meter frequency 15810 kHz with SDR receiver while listening on the Tecsun and 15810 is beginning to come in via Westminster, MD (the Smolinski SDR) but 5085 sounds better at 1225 UTC. Sounds like the DJs are at the Dayton Hamvention?
ZZ Top's "La Grange" Coming in nice and loud on the Tecsun PL-880 this morning 1210 UTC (0810 local/0710 central time) - listening via the Westminster, MD KiwiSDR (SIO 555 on both receivers). Can hear them with the stock telescopic whip no problem. 60 meters daytime woo
Noted some fading on 5085 kHz around 1220 UTC, checked 19 meter frequency 15810 kHz with SDR receiver while listening on the Tecsun and 15810 is beginning to come in via Westminster, MD (the Smolinski SDR) but 5085 sounds better at 1225 UTC. Sounds like the DJs are at the Dayton Hamvention?
628
10/11 meters / 11 meters is active 1130 UTC 19 May 2019
« on: May 19, 2019, 1137 UTC »
Hearing activity below CB channel 1 on 26.885 MHz / 26885 kHz (AM mode). Several OM stations talking about the all-star break. Heard a weaker station break into the QSO. Maybe locals not realizing they're making it out into "DX land". Lots of activity on the legal 40 CB channels, especially the usual suspects (channels 6, 11, 26 and 28). Weak AM voice on 26.855 MHz and 26.835 MHz as well at 1135 UTC (0735 local time/eastern US time). Strong signals on channel 31 as well (27.315 MHz AM) - talking about "The Buckeye State and wearing a mustache, among other topics. FSK data signals noted on CB channel 23 (27.255 MHz) in addition to AM voice.
Received via COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR on the CT/MA border. Still listening to the chatter on 27315 AM...
Received via COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR on the CT/MA border. Still listening to the chatter on 27315 AM...
629
Longwave Loggings / Re: Take Off to the Great White North
« on: May 17, 2019, 1823 UTC »Log 'em while you can.
Looks like many Canadian NDBs are scheduled to be decommissioned
beginning in April and continuing in phases over the next seven years.
Log 'em while you can.
Even the more rural parts of Canada? Are they going to decommission the entire NDB network? I don't like the idea of relying entirely on GPS for airnav. Good to have a backup.
630
10/11 meters / Sporadic 11 meter CB activity 1745 UTC 17 May 2019
« on: May 17, 2019, 1811 UTC »
Checked the radios on the lunch break - hearing some activity on 27.025 MHz (CB channel 6), 27.085 MHz (CB channel 11) and the usual 26/28 crowd (27.265 and 27.285 MHz). Locals yakking away on 38 LSB (27.385 LSB), seem to be talking to each other vs. working DX (although they tend to do that even when the band is open...
Basically all AM activity out of the eastern half of the US, but rapid signal fading would indicate sporadic-E propagation. Receiver is a Galaxy DX 959 (heavily modified) and a PROCOMM PBC1500 (aka JBC1500) base-loaded CB whip on the trunk lip of my car (roughly 66" long with the loading coil and the spring). Most activity on channels 6 and 11.
Basically all AM activity out of the eastern half of the US, but rapid signal fading would indicate sporadic-E propagation. Receiver is a Galaxy DX 959 (heavily modified) and a PROCOMM PBC1500 (aka JBC1500) base-loaded CB whip on the trunk lip of my car (roughly 66" long with the loading coil and the spring). Most activity on channels 6 and 11.
