1
Shortwave Pirate / Re: Virus 19 Radio 6932 LSB 2111 UTC 8 Apr 2020
« on: Today at 00:33 »
Weak but heard here in the Mojave Desert of California tonight.
T!
T!
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Things 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.
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We are probably talking about different signals. When these Pips have been seen they have almost never been detected in Europe, and when they were seen there they were not very strong, in fact typically very weak. Since there are many different STANAG signals and formats, which specific one are you talking about?
T!
I think "Straight Flush" was not a callsign, I think it was a threat callout. I also heard them mention "Roland". And I also heard them say something about "unable to track us through the clouds". Both Straight Flush and Roland are radar guided SAMs (Surface to Air Missile) systems. If they were over a training range, say over UTTR, it is very possible there were simulated SAMs on the ground engaging them.
T!
I tried to TDOA the signal, however too few receivers had it with sufficient quality to get a good result. Lots of receivers heard it, but for most it was weak enough that Kiwi TDOA was not going to work well and the results I got were all over the place, but mostly within the US, concentrating towards the south west. I would be very careful with that possible source region though, the plots were not confidence inspiring. Call the region a "maybe".
T!
Unfortunately it probably is not, I compared the two signals and the 5000 USB signal was unique data to any S4481 FSK I could find for comparison. I checked them all from 2000 kHz to 14000 kHz (propagation left nothing above that for me to check).
I agree, it looks like S4481 FSK, and my first thought was spurs, but I could not find a matching transmission anyplace.
T!
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2
HF Mystery Signals / Re: 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 08, 2020, 1207 UTC »
Play with the equipment I get, play with them on the target frequencies? I don't get that, and that is the part that makes me skeptical. It is kind of like peace time and war time modes. For the types of signals you are talking about, and pretty much anything that emits other than standard comms (and even a little bit there), you have modes you show the enemy all the time and modes you don't show the enemy. And various reasons, depending on what the ability is, for not showing those abilities. One of those reasons is telling the enemy you are getting ready.
Peace time modes are the modes (frequencies, techniques, power levels, diversity capability, antenna capability, etc) that you use all the time, for testing, alignment, training, etc. During normal testing and training you break out these modes, they typically test the system to some specific high level and they allow operator training, all without starting a war, giving the enemy (who absolutely is watching you and analyzing your actions) too much information, or tipping the enemies hand that you might be ramping up for some action.
Wartime modes are modes you break out when things go hot. Frequency, power, antenna modes, technique, etc, these are capabilities that you have not shown the enemy you can do. On some Russian systems some of these capabilities are activated by switches that are physically under a wired cover, so that you have to really intend to use them, and other people know, after the fact, if you have done so.
Obviously, hitting active potential enemy frequencies is not giving away too much information on technical capability. Assuming this was / is some kind of comm jam equipment a profile / assessment of that specific equipment probably exist, including probable or known frequency range. So the technical capability to hit these freqs would not be revealing. However, actually hitting potential target freqs, when this is not your normal habit, is revealing.
I guess the basics of what I am saying is, you don't typically train, or test, actually hitting your real enemy targets. And if you uncharacteristically start doing so in preparation for planned upcoming actions you alert the enemy that the punch is coming.
Not saying that your reasoning is impossible, only that I find it less likely than someone is just playing with the system.
By the way, tonight (Tuesday night local time, Wednesday morning, 08 April, UTC) the signal was up again, and back on 9024 kHz. It ran from 0300 to 0603 UTC. I did have a chance to grab a remote receiver in Kharbarovsk, Russia, and the signal was 10 over S9 there with little QSB. This matches well with the more repeating TDOA plots I managed to grab Monday when the system was on.
T!
Peace time modes are the modes (frequencies, techniques, power levels, diversity capability, antenna capability, etc) that you use all the time, for testing, alignment, training, etc. During normal testing and training you break out these modes, they typically test the system to some specific high level and they allow operator training, all without starting a war, giving the enemy (who absolutely is watching you and analyzing your actions) too much information, or tipping the enemies hand that you might be ramping up for some action.
Wartime modes are modes you break out when things go hot. Frequency, power, antenna modes, technique, etc, these are capabilities that you have not shown the enemy you can do. On some Russian systems some of these capabilities are activated by switches that are physically under a wired cover, so that you have to really intend to use them, and other people know, after the fact, if you have done so.
Obviously, hitting active potential enemy frequencies is not giving away too much information on technical capability. Assuming this was / is some kind of comm jam equipment a profile / assessment of that specific equipment probably exist, including probable or known frequency range. So the technical capability to hit these freqs would not be revealing. However, actually hitting potential target freqs, when this is not your normal habit, is revealing.
I guess the basics of what I am saying is, you don't typically train, or test, actually hitting your real enemy targets. And if you uncharacteristically start doing so in preparation for planned upcoming actions you alert the enemy that the punch is coming.
Not saying that your reasoning is impossible, only that I find it less likely than someone is just playing with the system.
By the way, tonight (Tuesday night local time, Wednesday morning, 08 April, UTC) the signal was up again, and back on 9024 kHz. It ran from 0300 to 0603 UTC. I did have a chance to grab a remote receiver in Kharbarovsk, Russia, and the signal was 10 over S9 there with little QSB. This matches well with the more repeating TDOA plots I managed to grab Monday when the system was on.
T!
3
HF Mystery Signals / Re: 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 08, 2020, 0238 UTC »
Yeah, I realized who regularly occupies it, and I also checked 11232 kHz. However, no sign of anything there.
Also, while I can buy what you are saying about testing and using remotes, why tip your hand by hitting the frequencies of interest? Any frequency near there would tell you what you want to know, no need to hammer the exact frequency and cause the target forces to look into what and why. And in your scenario the targets (US and Can) have the ability to know, in seconds, the approximate area of the source. Kiwi TDOA may be iffy on the signal location, professional HF TDOA would not.
T!
Also, while I can buy what you are saying about testing and using remotes, why tip your hand by hitting the frequencies of interest? Any frequency near there would tell you what you want to know, no need to hammer the exact frequency and cause the target forces to look into what and why. And in your scenario the targets (US and Can) have the ability to know, in seconds, the approximate area of the source. Kiwi TDOA may be iffy on the signal location, professional HF TDOA would not.
T!
4
HF Mystery Signals / Re: Pips Network, multiple frequencies, 0905 to 1020 UTC, 29 January, 2020
« on: April 07, 2020, 0252 UTC »Isn't this 'pips network' actually transmissions from STANAG transmitters? As I occasionally see those pips around 5700, but other times I see a STANAG there which looks the same on an SDR and is similar strength.
Its very strong, so I think close to the SDR location (UK south coast), so its not skywaving.
H
We are probably talking about different signals. When these Pips have been seen they have almost never been detected in Europe, and when they were seen there they were not very strong, in fact typically very weak. Since there are many different STANAG signals and formats, which specific one are you talking about?
T!
5
HF Mystery Signals / Re: 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 07, 2020, 0248 UTC »
And today, 07 April, 2020, the signal cam online sometime around 0220 UTC or so, but on a different frequency. The format, timing, apparent content is the same, however the frequency tonight is 9007 kHz.
T!
T!
6
HF Mystery Signals / Re: 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 06, 2020, 0229 UTC »
This signal is up again right now, 06 April, 2020, 0220 UTC. It appears to be identical to what it was in the video I posted.
T!
T!
7
Utility / Re: Unidentified Military Comms 5757 USB 04:01 UTC 2 April 2020 (now with audio)
« on: April 05, 2020, 1318 UTC »Heard callsigns "straight flush" and "95 euchre" used and starting approximately at 9:11 of recording heard "turn left and go high at Wildcat Mountain".
I think "Straight Flush" was not a callsign, I think it was a threat callout. I also heard them mention "Roland". And I also heard them say something about "unable to track us through the clouds". Both Straight Flush and Roland are radar guided SAMs (Surface to Air Missile) systems. If they were over a training range, say over UTTR, it is very possible there were simulated SAMs on the ground engaging them.
T!
8
Utility / Re: Unidentified Military Comms 5757 USB 04:01 UTC 2 April 2020 (now with audio)
« on: April 05, 2020, 1313 UTC »
Nice jasmine, I have not reduced my receptions of this signal to audio yet, they are still in SDR format. I started receiving this around 0320 UTC or so, and the last transmissions I heard were around 0650 UTC or so.
Sounds like aircraft over UTTR.
T!
Sounds like aircraft over UTTR.
T!
9
HF Mystery Signals / Re: 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 05, 2020, 1308 UTC »Sounds to me like Asian male and female voices reading news or something else, recorded and then transmitted as dsb or exalted carrier am for whatever reason. Tdoa? Jammer testing?
I tried to TDOA the signal, however too few receivers had it with sufficient quality to get a good result. Lots of receivers heard it, but for most it was weak enough that Kiwi TDOA was not going to work well and the results I got were all over the place, but mostly within the US, concentrating towards the south west. I would be very careful with that possible source region though, the plots were not confidence inspiring. Call the region a "maybe".
T!
10
Shortwave Pirate / Re: Wolverine Radio 6930 USB 0056 UTC 05 APR 2020
« on: April 05, 2020, 0121 UTC »
Sounds really good into the Mojave Desert of California tonight. S8 or more, and nice audio, as normal. On the house sound system now, and wife enjoying the music also.
T!
T!
11
HF Mystery Signals / 9024 kHz, DSB, oddity, 03 April, 2020, 0420 UTC
« on: April 04, 2020, 0103 UTC »
This is an oddity on shortwave that I don't think I have seen before. If it is common then somehow or another I have missed it.
About 0420 UTC, 03 April, 2020, I noticed what appeared to be a DSB transmission on 9024 kHz. DSB is not a commonly used mode these days, so I looked a bit closer.
The signal did appear to be DSB, it also appeared to be a repeating audio loop. About every 21.6 seconds (start to start) the loop repeated, with about 1.6 seconds pause between audio segments. The audio was not understandable, either it was distorted, processed in some way, or encrypted. Longer observation showed that every 11th repeated segment included a longer pause, about 3.1 seconds. This made a repeating cycle of 11 segments about every 239.6 seconds.
Every segment transmitted appeared identical. Just the same 21.6 second segment (time includes the audio pause) over and over, with every 11th including an increased length pause.
I have uploaded a video of this signal to my YouTube channel. If you watch the video I include spectrograms of the audio loops, and visual comparisons of multiple examples. I also demodulate the signal using multiple modes, USB, LSB, AM, and NFM, to show the sound in each mode. And the last minute or so of the video is the signal demodulated with LSB in the left audio channel and USB in the right audio channel, for comparison.
Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqgrSzFzG8
T!
About 0420 UTC, 03 April, 2020, I noticed what appeared to be a DSB transmission on 9024 kHz. DSB is not a commonly used mode these days, so I looked a bit closer.
The signal did appear to be DSB, it also appeared to be a repeating audio loop. About every 21.6 seconds (start to start) the loop repeated, with about 1.6 seconds pause between audio segments. The audio was not understandable, either it was distorted, processed in some way, or encrypted. Longer observation showed that every 11th repeated segment included a longer pause, about 3.1 seconds. This made a repeating cycle of 11 segments about every 239.6 seconds.
Every segment transmitted appeared identical. Just the same 21.6 second segment (time includes the audio pause) over and over, with every 11th including an increased length pause.
I have uploaded a video of this signal to my YouTube channel. If you watch the video I include spectrograms of the audio loops, and visual comparisons of multiple examples. I also demodulate the signal using multiple modes, USB, LSB, AM, and NFM, to show the sound in each mode. And the last minute or so of the video is the signal demodulated with LSB in the left audio channel and USB in the right audio channel, for comparison.
Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqgrSzFzG8
T!
12
HF Mystery Signals / Re: Data transmission 4.997 to 5.005 MHz
« on: April 04, 2020, 0102 UTC »Bet it's 4985 Davidsonville, MD S4481 fsk with spurs.
Unfortunately it probably is not, I compared the two signals and the 5000 USB signal was unique data to any S4481 FSK I could find for comparison. I checked them all from 2000 kHz to 14000 kHz (propagation left nothing above that for me to check).
I agree, it looks like S4481 FSK, and my first thought was spurs, but I could not find a matching transmission anyplace.
T!
13
HF Mystery Signals / Re: Data transmission 4.997 to 5.005 MHz
« on: April 02, 2020, 1319 UTC »
I did not get a chance to look at this signal closely, however, at first glance it was 850 Hz shift FSK. It appeared to have only two tones of actual data, however 5 or 6 tones were seen, making it very wide. Each of the tones appeared to be a duplicate of one or the other of the two tones with unique data.
Total guess here, but it looked like a distorted STANAG 4481 FSK signal. I would guess a spur or broken transmitter.
Unfortunately, I did not make any recordings of the signal, literally every receiver and PC here at the desk was tied up making other recordings at the time.
T!
Total guess here, but it looked like a distorted STANAG 4481 FSK signal. I would guess a spur or broken transmitter.
Unfortunately, I did not make any recordings of the signal, literally every receiver and PC here at the desk was tied up making other recordings at the time.
T!
14
Spy Numbers / Re: South Korean numbers station V24, March 21, 2020, 5150 kHz, 1400 UTC
« on: March 26, 2020, 1718 UTC »
Sure, I just have to figure out how to do that 
Never really taken the time to learn anything about YT, I just upload vids and let them run. YT is always telling me I need to monetize my vids, but I hate commercials so I can't see that happening.
T!
Never really taken the time to learn anything about YT, I just upload vids and let them run. YT is always telling me I need to monetize my vids, but I hate commercials so I can't see that happening.T!
15
Spy Numbers / Re: V06 09:36z null format
« on: March 25, 2020, 1434 UTC »
TiNG, I don't know where kalvados recording was made, but the signal was also heard on the Twente WebSDR, but was pretty weak there.
V06, while "inactive" has been heard a few times over the years, not sure if those are errors or testing.
T!
V06, while "inactive" has been heard a few times over the years, not sure if those are errors or testing.
T!