Messages

631

Spy Numbers / Re: Number station test?

« on: May 17, 2019, 1806 UTC »

Sounds like somebody doing a radio check, so I would be leaning forward military? 

Interesting frequency choice considering how many pirates like to hang out on and around 6880 kHz.  Not like the Russian military really cares much

632

Equipment / Re: Kenwood no longer producing low band xceivers

« on: May 17, 2019, 1500 UTC »

Isn't this VHF Low band rig still available?    https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/lmr/tk-6110/

Would be a shame if they took it off the market.  70 watts output and 29.7 MHz - 37.0 MHz / 35.0 - 50.0 MHz splits.  More practical than the Motorola lowband splits (29-36 MHz, 36-42 MHz and 42-50 MHz).   It is a shame that Motorola is out of the business though.  I used to own a Motorola Maxtrac that covered the 36-42 MHz VHF low band split.  It was the basic 2 channel version, both channels being 39.5400 MHz (the statewide law enforcement interoperability/state police backup system frequency).  I had intended on building a dedicated monitor receiver station for 39.54 [SIRS] using the Maxtrac as the receiver but that never came to fruition.  I wish I hadn't ended up selling that radio...

This rig is still listed on their website as well:

https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/lmr/tk-690_790_890/

110 watts, 29 MHz - 37 MHz / 35-43 MHz / 39-50 MHz

I'm pretty sure the TK-690/TK-790/TK-890 radio is the one used by VDOT for their 45/47 MHz lowband system.

Maybe they're off the market and the website hasn't been updated to reflect this? 

633

General Radio Discussion / Re: All Digital AM Band? Um, maybe not.

« on: May 17, 2019, 1446 UTC »

The bit rate is identical for both hybrid and digital only modes, as such audio quality will be the same (I believe...could be wrong).  There was a big Hoopla at NAB this year in the Nautel Users Group as for the first time transmitted album art over one of the HD only AM's.....big deal.  People are going to keep beating the drum for HD as long as someone is padding pockets to do so.  On the AM side, even amongst supporters, interest is waning.  It just doesn't work well, and the installed receiver base even after 15 years just isn't there.  FM HD is doing well largely due to the translator boom, and the HD power increase now allowed by the FCC.

+-RH

Good point.  Most of the HD FM listeners, especially what I would consider your usual consumer or casual FM listeners, are listening to analog FM translators of FM HD radio subchannels.  In urban areas, the translators take on a life of their own and appear to most listeners as their own radio station.  The FM band where I live is a lot more crowded with all the HD translators.  I have a feeling most folks wouldn't listen to the -HD2 sub-channels if they weren't repeated on analog FM however. 

Shame about the electric cars removing AM receivers.  Doesn't the all-channel receiver act come into play here?  Maybe not.  FM only car radios?  Several friends of mine (who are big sports fans) listen to AM stations almost exclusively for sports coverage.  One of them regularly makes a 100+ mile drive and likes to listen to The Nationals baseball on AM radio.  Once I explained how skywave works, he actually tries to take drives at night so he can listen to Nationals games on WRVA on 1140 kHz or WFED on 1500 kHz all the way back and forth on these long drives.  Of course, daytime coverage of those two powerhouse stations is also excellent, but at night he can simply pick which one and not have to touch the dial for the whole trip, basically all the way across Virginia.

Significant portions of these drives are through rural areas with limited cellular coverage and limited local radio stations in both the AM and FM bands, especially when it comes to sports stations.

There are still folks who listen to clear-channel AM stations in their secondary/skywave service area.  What's going to happen if the mediumwave broadcast band goes 100% digital?

At least some of these listeners will probably stream the audio on their smartphones using 5G.

634

General Radio Discussion / Re: Identifying grow operation RFI

« on: May 17, 2019, 1433 UTC »

Apparently it is legal in MA:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/marijuana-in-massachusetts-whats-legal

http://cannabismass.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/111717-FAQ-FINAL.pdf

Legal to grow up to 12 plants in a home of two adults

635

Other / Re: KFS 12695 CW 1940 UTC 20 April 2019

« on: May 16, 2019, 1257 UTC »

Apparently KFS is licensed for over 200 different frequencies across the MF and HF marine bands (400/500 kHz, 2 MHz/3 MHz up through 26 MHz), including several 400 kHz band frequencies and 500 kHz.  They're licensed for 30 kW power on 12695.5 kHz (160HA1A and 300HF1B emission). 

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=1965567

636

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Rebelde

« on: May 16, 2019, 1251 UTC »

Radio Rebelde's 5025 kHz / 5.025 MHz signal is a blowtorch to the East Coast of the USA too.  One of the high power shortwave signals I can hear on my $20 analog Tecsun portable with the stock telescopic antenna.

637

Other / Re: UA tube vs RU 7055 LSB 0850 UTC 12 May 2019

« on: May 16, 2019, 1234 UTC »

They're back at it again on 7055 kHz LSB.  I've noticed similar things on Ukraine and Russia based KiwiSDRs....after a quiet period (as you mention, kris).

Is 3731 kHz LSB still active with the ham radio propaganda war? Or is it just 7050 LSB and 7055 LSB?

638

10/11 meters / 11 meters is active 2100 UTC 10 May 2019

« on: May 10, 2019, 2213 UTC »

Heard tons of stations in-band and lots of AM activity below channel 1, including 26.105 MHz, 26.575 MHz, 26.735 MHz, 26.775 MHz, 26.835 MHz, 26.885 MHz and 26.915 MHz (all popular low channels for AM CB DX or 11 meter AM DX).  Channel 38 LSB was also rolling in like crazy.

639

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meters is active 2130 UTC 7 May 2019

« on: May 08, 2019, 1138 UTC »

Super splatterbox!  26.715 MHz for sure (he looks to be closer to 26.716 MHz than 26.715 MHz on the waterfall).  Generally when you can hear Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Latin American/Caribbean stations on 27.065 MHz [CB channel 9] you can also hear them around 26.7 MHz. 

26.715 MHz is their AM calling channel, with 26.705, and 26.725 being the alternates.  Some of these stations are in Miami too, and they're running kilowatts.  Spanish language version of 27.025 / channel 6.  Looks like there was also activity on 26.595 MHz AM and the Latin American / Spanish language low channel SSB calling frequency of 26.555 MHz LSB.  26.585 and 26.575 are also popular (for AM mode stations).  26.555 LSB can have some real flamethrower stations on it.  Next time the band is rolling like this, check around 26.225 MHz.  26.225 to 26.255 in 5 kHz steps is another "watering hole" for SSB operators in Latin America.

That's the biggest signal I've seen on 26715 in a while though.   

===

A while ago I found a Spanish 11 meter calling/working frequency list online and it went something like this:

26.225 MHz USB - Mexico/Caribbean/Latin America SSB
26.230 MHz USB - Mexico/Caribbean/Latin America SSB
26.235 MHz USB - Mexico/Caribbean/Latin America SSB
26.285 MHz USB - International 11m Freeband CB Calling (alternate to 27.555 USB) English and Spanish
26.500 MHz LSB - Caribbean and Latin America SSB
26.500 MHz USB - Caribbean and Latin America SSB
26.540 MHz LSB - Latin American SSB activity (alternate to 26.555 LSB)
26.555 MHz LSB - Latin American SSB activity (this is channel 4 down one band)
26.570 MHz LSB - Latin American SSB activity
26.585 MHz AM - Mexico/Latin America AM (Mexican trucker CB channel, channel 7 down one band)
26.595 MHz AM - Mexico/Latin America AM alternate
26.605 MHz AM - Mexico/Latin America AM alternate
26.695 MHz AM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Miami, etc (alternate)
26.705 MHz AM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Miami, etc calling channel
26.715 MHz AM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Miami, etc calling channel
26.725 MHz AM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Miami, etc calling channel
27.005 MHz AM - Latin American AM activity (CB channel 4)
27.065 MHz AM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Miami, Latin American AM (CB channel 9)
27.455 MHz USB - Latin American SSB activity (this is channel 4 up one band)
27.515 MHz LSB - Caribbean SSB DX channel (English and Spanish) (alternates up and down 5 kHz)
27.555 MHz USB - International 11m Freeband CB Calling
27.665 MHz USB - South America/Central America (LSB also)
27.675 MHz USB - South America/Central America (LSB also)
27.695 MHz USB - South America/Central America (LSB also)
27.705 MHz USB - South America/Central America (LSB also)

Of course, these are more like guidelines.  The gentleman's agreement is more or less this:  AM stations stay below CB channel 1 (with the noted exceptions around 26.2 MHz - 26.3 MHz and 26.555 MHz) and SSB stations operate above CB channel 40, with some exceptions (a big one being truckers using AM mode on any frequency they want).

640

10/11 meters / 11 meters is active 2130 UTC 7 May 2019

« on: May 07, 2019, 2140 UTC »

Mostly in-band AM and SSB activity with some South and Central American SSB DX heard on 27.520 MHz USB, 27.540 MHz USB, 27.555 MHz USB and 27.570 MHz USB.  27.385 LSB (channel 38 LSB) is also very busy.  Noted activity on 25.935 MHz AM, 26.035 MHz AM and several other low band (below CB channel 1) frequencies.  So far 26.915 MHz is quiet. 

The usual suspects AM big radio channels (6, 11, 15, 26, 28) are all wall-to-wall with big signals.  Heard Puerto Rico on 27.065 MHz AM (channel 9) as well. 

641

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6933 AM 2050 AM 7 May 2019

« on: May 07, 2019, 2050 UTC »

UNID pirate station 6933 kHz 6.933 MHz May 7th, 2019 - NOAA weather radio broadcast. 

NOAA Weather Radio rebroadcast at 2050 UTC tune-in.  SIO 555, very strong signal on the COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR on the CT/MA border.  S8 signal

Worchester, MA and Western Massachusetts weather forecast at 2053 UTC.  Strong 60 Hz (and harmonics) hum noted on signal.  Strong modulation.

QRM from swooshing VFO and UNID voice on/near the frequency around 2100-2105 UTC

At 2107 UTC the audio dropped out but the carrier stayed...audio back up at 2108 UTC (QRM appears to have disappeared)

Off some point between 2109 and 2110 UTC...

642

General Radio Discussion / Re: Are you under 30 and how did you get interested?

« on: May 07, 2019, 1856 UTC »

I'm in my very early 30s and I've been interested in radio since I was around 8 years old.  My father noticed my interest in electronics from an early age (basically I was taking every clock radio, car stereo, etc. I could get my hands on apart) and introduced me to a colleague of his who is a ham operator.  This was back in the mid 1990s before the Internet was what it is today and the idea of talking to somebody on the other side of the planet had that magic (it still does).  The friend of my father who was a ham gave me a cheap 40 channel AM Realistic (RadioShack) mobile CB, a magnetic mount CB antenna and a Hammarlund HQ-180-A shortwave/HF receiver.  He didn't give me any instructions on how to use the Hammarlund other than "hook this wire up to this screw terminal on the back of this radio, then throw the wire out your window". 

Basically I had to learn how to do use these radios by myself, which was part of the magic of radio (at that point there was a lot more broadcasting on shortwave).  By the time I was 10 I had my ham license and the rest is history. 

There are still younger guys that are into radio.  Most of my friends my age see the practical applications of radio (especially two-way radio/land mobile radio and CB radio)...but in this age of smartphones and instant worldwide communications capability via the Internet the "magic" is a little different.  Of course, when I explain that there's no "network" involved in long-distance HF communications, for example, technically-minded people appreciate it. 

643

10/11 meters / Re: CB Channel 20 1535 UTC 5 May 2019

« on: May 07, 2019, 1845 UTC »

Channels 6, 11, 26 and 28 are great indicators of AM skip activity in-band, as well as the out of band frequency 26.915 MHz / 26915 kHz and nearby channels.  26.915 is very popular in the southern USA for AM stations, along with 26.935 MHz, 26.955 MHz, 26.905 MHz and 26.815 / 26.835 MHz (channels 26 and 28 "down one band").  26.915 is channel 36 "down one band" and 26.935 MHz is channel 38 "down one band" so that also makes sense.  38 LSB is used by locals (at least in my area) and that seems to be popular elsewhere too. 

Channel 19 can also be a good indicator of skip activity, when the band really gets going you'll hear the crazy heterodyne of hundreds of truckers talking at once.  Not to mention truckstop ladies of the evening (lot lizards) advertising their wares, truck washes, CB shops and other businesses advertising to truckers on 27.185 MHz AM with automated transmissions.  There's a truckstop on Interstate 95 about 30 miles north of where I live and there's two CB shops nearby, both of which advertise on channel 19.  I know one of them transmits in the 300-400 watt range with a base station antenna on channel 19, and will usually lock down the channel even when nearby truckers are transmitting with high power radios.  I'm sure when the skip is rollin' that CB shop can be heard on top of lots of the other stations on channel 19.

Looking forward to an uptick in 11 meter activity. 

644

General Radio Discussion / Re: Venezuelan and/or Cuban military HF monitoring targets?

« on: May 02, 2019, 2207 UTC »

Thank you very much Josh!  I'm tuning around 7-8 MHz now with lots of the usual Spanish language freebanders/pescadores in the mix.  I'll check the higher frequencies earlier in the day tomorrow or when I get another chance.  Lots of chatter in Spanish on 6880 kHz LSB at the moment (2208 UTC). 

645

General Radio Discussion / Venezuelan and/or Cuban military HF monitoring targets?

« on: May 02, 2019, 2137 UTC »

shadypro made an interesting point regarding Venezuelan CBers on 27455 USB over in the 11 meter forum so I thought I would make a thread over here.  I know the Venezuelan Navy has been logged on here previously (on 6 MHz I believe?). 

With the Cuban military there as well I bet there's a spike in HF military and VHF/UHF comms, especially if access to the Internet/social media and cellular networks are being restricted by the current Maduro government.  Does anyone have any Venezuelan or Cuban military HF frequency lists?