Messages

766

North American Shortwave Pirate / Dance Radio International 6925.1 AM 2201 UTC 29 Jan 2019

« on: January 29, 2019, 2205 UTC »

Carrier on 6925.09 or so, hearing bits and pieces of modulation with some QRM from the pescadores on 6925 kHz LSB and 6920 kHz USB.

767

Peskies / 6516 kHz USB English Language Fishermen? 2148 UTC 29 Jan 2019

« on: January 29, 2019, 2150 UTC »

6516 kHz USB 6.516 MHz USB

OM talking about wind conditions, several f-bombs heard, salty language.  Maybe yachtmen or sailors?  SIO 444 on one of the stations...lots of QRM from a nearby data signal on 6518 kHz

"good luck in your travels" and "you won't be on the next case" at 2150 UTC
OM talking about weather conditions for sailing, "its gonna be nice" and then "its not gonna be nice" - sounds like one side of a QSO or telephone call, possibly a half-duplex split frequency QSO....could be fishermen - can only hear one side of the QSO

2155 UTC - more fuckin' this and fuckin' that - language and operating procedure reminds me of the Gloucestermen previously heard on 6212 USB, 6095 USB and 69xx frequencies?

6516 kHz is ITU channel 606, paired with HF-SSB calling/distress frequency 6215 kHz.

768

Peskies / 6303 kHz USB and 6310 kHz USB Unknown Language 2145 UTC 29 Jan 2019

« on: January 29, 2019, 2147 UTC »

6 MHz marine band frequencies are busy via COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR on the CT/MA border.  Both frequencies 6303 kHz USB and 6310 kHz USB are going nearly non-stop.  Similar to nearby frequencies 6300 kHz USB, 6292 kHz USB, 6282 kHz USB and several others (for example, 6970 kHz LSB, but that's not in the marine band).

No idea what language this is, tuned both frequencies starting at 2145 UTC on January 29th, 2019

6303 kHz 6.303 MHz
6310 kHz 6.310 MHz

769

Peskies / 6300 kHz USB UNID Language 2140 UTC 29 Jan 2019

« on: January 29, 2019, 2144 UTC »

The 6-7 MHz band is alive with all sorts of SSB QSOs, lots of them in unknown language.  Not sure what I'm hearing on 6300 kHz USB - 6.300 MHz USB, but its not English and doesn't sound like a Latin-based language.  Maybe I'm wrong...lots of QRM at the moment.  Receiving via the COMMSIGMA KiwiSDR...so, maybe, just like last time, I'm hearing two QSOs at once on the same frequency.  6300 kHz is a popular one.

770

Peskies / 6925 LSB and 6927 USB 2130 UTC 29 Jan 2019

« on: January 29, 2019, 2135 UTC »

6925 kHz LSB active with Portuguese pescadore chatter, as is 6927 kHz USB.  Seems like 6925 kHz AM wouldn't be too good of a choice for a pirate at the moment

771

MW Loggings / Re: WGH 1310 Newport News Va

« on: January 29, 2019, 1652 UTC »

I didn't realize their antenna was directional, seems like a lot of their signal on 1310 kHz is sent to the Atlantic (and points east!)

772

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meter activity on handheld CB - Uniden PRO 401HH

« on: January 29, 2019, 1456 UTC »

If the Cobra 38 WXST has a BNC antenna connector (which it does) then yes the Cobra HA-TA antenna will work with it.  You'll notice marked improvement over the stock rubber duck antenna.

773

Utility / Re: Polish Civl Defense 3347,9 USB 1238 UTC 24 Jan 2019

« on: January 28, 2019, 1546 UTC »

Glad to hear the Poles are still using HF for civil defense/emergency management.  Similar frequency choice to the US networks I'm familiar with - 3347.9 kHz USB, a frequency in the 2-5 MHz region for regional MF/HF communications

American emergency management (civil defense) agencies do the same thing, despite Internet connectivity, dedicated secure landline telephone networks and VHF/UHF radio networks, they still do weekly HF radio nets and use HF radio heavily during emergencies.  FEMA, along with several other government agencies, have weekly nets on several frequencies as part of the SECURE network.

These networks include heavy use of the lower frequencies, including 2/3 MHz for the Operation SECURE emergency management/civil defense MF-SSB/HF-SSB radio network.

https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/SHARES

https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/SECURE

774

10/11 meters / Re: 27255 kHz 27.255 MHz FSK Data Link ΣSDR COMMSIGMA SDR KiwiSDR 1720 UTC 14 Dec 18

« on: January 26, 2019, 2027 UTC »

This signal is very active today, as I just used the Highland Falls, New York KiwiSDR to tune the signal in, at 27252 kHz in USB mode. I also tried to decode it using Rivet 90 decoder in FSK (Raw) mode with the baud rate set at 200 and the shift at 1000 Hz. (That was the only setting that seemed to decode anything, though I'm not sure whether the results were accurate or not). Using Rivet at those settings, each data burst translated into what looks like long and short strings of binary numbers.

If anyone figures out the proper settings for Rivet, please let me know, as I'd like to try to decode.

The Highland Falls, NY one seems to be the most active data network on 27.255 that I've come across, although others have less frequent FSK activity.  The network near Highland Falls seems to have at least 4 or 5 different transmitters involved, going by the different signal strengths and how off-frequency the various signals are.

775

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 AM 1830 UTC 26 Jan 2019

« on: January 26, 2019, 1915 UTC »

Nice sounding audio, carrier on 6925.25 kHz or 6925.3 kHz

Relaxing jazz music at 1900 UTC.  Somebody dropped a carrier on 6929.5 kHz around 1913 UTC for a few seconds, possibly tuning up, caused some het QRM, and disappeared.


Off at 1915 UTC

776

Peskies / 15838.8 kHz USB 1818 UTC 26 Jan 2019 UNID Net in Spanish

« on: January 26, 2019, 1821 UTC »

Tail end of a pescadore-like QSO in Spanish, seems like I caught the very end of it.  Via the Westminster, MD KiwiSDR.  A new frequency for me.  Tuned to 15839 kHz 15.839 MHz at first, but these guys were using 15.838.8 USB (another easy-to-remember-frequency!).

UNID net, presumed prescadores or outbanders/freebanders.  SS OM Spanish language.

777

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6935 USB 1753 UTC 26 Jan 2019

« on: January 26, 2019, 1800 UTC »

SSTV at 1759 UTC

778

10/11 meters / Re: 27255 kHz 27.255 MHz FSK Data Link ΣSDR COMMSIGMA SDR KiwiSDR 1720 UTC 14 Dec 18

« on: January 26, 2019, 1646 UTC »

I hear it in WNC when the band is open. Sounds like 4-5 different stations based on signal strength. Usually when the 28 MHz W2 & W3 beacons are coming in. Also have one on 26995 (1 sec burst every ~9 sec) that runs 24/7.

Hearing similar signals on 26.995 makes sense too.  The data link/telemetry systems I've found use 26.995 MHz in their Canadian market spec versions (4 watt output instead of 10 watts).  Of course, if you're hearing something all the time on 26995, you're dealing with a local data link.  When the band is open check all six of the data/telemetry/RC frequencies for 26-27 MHz:  26.995 MHz, 27.045 MHz, 27.095 MHz, 27.145 MHz, 27.195 MHz and of course 27.255 MHz.  FCC rules permit 4 watts average power on 26.995-27.195 and 25 watts average power on 27.255 MHz, which explains why most systems use 27.255. 

The times I listened in, most were off freq and one of them was badly distorted.

Some of them seem to be several hundred Hz off center frequency of 27255.0 kHz.  The FCC rules stipulate a maximum bandwidth of 8 kHz with the center frequency of 27.255...I'd have to look up frequency stability requirements but I'm pretty sure these systems are violating those regulations as well.

779

10/11 meters / Re: 27255 kHz 27.255 MHz FSK Data Link ΣSDR COMMSIGMA SDR KiwiSDR 1720 UTC 14 Dec 18

« on: January 25, 2019, 1347 UTC »

I just tried the sigma sdr and got nada, if you can, please save a audio recording of the fsk, either iq or ssb or fm mode, and I'll see what the batputer says about the signal.

If you hang around the SDR for a few minutes you'll get some transmissions, I am seeing them now (1130z). There's several sites, as I get signals of varying strength all with the same characteristics.

No fun 27255 transmissions around here, it seems.

With the COMMSIGMA  KiwiSDR you have to wait a little bit (sometimes several minutes or longer) for the local-sounding FSK signals.  Some of the networks seem to send signals randomly whereas others the transmissions are made on a regular basis.  The Highland Falls, NY KiwiSDR seems to have a local network of data transmitters on 27255 as well, and those are a lot more frequent, one every 2-3 seconds or so.  You can see on the waterfall that some of the transmitters are closer than others, and also note that there's center frequency variation of 100 Hz or so up or down from 27255.0 for different transmitters.

780

General Radio Discussion / Re: New to CB radio, Need help.

« on: January 24, 2019, 2308 UTC »

Thanks for the tips and info! I have just enough room for a dipole covering 24MHz at max. Which I currently use for SWL'ing. Mounted outdoors, about 3 meters in height and 3.1 meters in total length. I can mount a whip for CB on the tower in the center of my backyard and ground it with a copper pipe in the soil. That's all I currently have as building base.

Kind regards,
Telegrapher.

How tall is the tower in the center of your backyard?  The tower needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the antenna (which can be considerable), plus wind load.  If its often windy where you live that's something to consider.  Lots of good information online about base station CB antenna installation.

  Indoor CB dipoles will work, but not nearly as well as an outdoor antenna.  Pigmeat makes an excellent point - a magnetic mount mobile CB antenna with a ground plane will work, provided the ground plane is big enough.  Think of a mobile CB antenna installation.  The antenna itself is one half of the antenna, the metal frame of the car's body is the other half (the ground plane).  At CB frequencies, 26-28 MHz, you need a significant amount of metal.  Or, you could use the ground plane (counterpoise) that comes with the vertical antenna you end up getting.

Grounding an antenna and having a counterpoise are two different things.  Grounding is part of safe practice and lightning protection.  The counterpoise is the "other half" of the antenna and most vertical antennas have provisions for counterpoise (often called a "ground plane") as part of the antenna itself.  Regardless of which vertical antenna you pick, you'll want to check the SWR on the channel(s) you intend to use most often.

Hopefully this information will be helpful.  You'll be impressed with the range that a simple base station CB radio with a good antenna is capable of.  When it comes to talking to locals (and talking long distance, or "DX") the higher up your antenna is, the better.  The frequency band that CB operates on provides excellent local communications characteristics, especially with proper antennas mounted above obstructions.  27 MHz follows the line of sight principle (and then a little bit after that) for local communications, and a 5/8 wave will point your signal towards the horizon for quality local communications and good DX performance when the band is open.

When you do install your antenna, regardless of the type, avoid power lines and do not install the antenna in a location where if it were to be blown over it would touch power lines.  More than a few houses have burned down because a CB radio operator put their antenna next to a power line.