Topics

331

North American Shortwave Pirate / Blue Ocean Radio 6940 and 6930 USB 0135UTC August 24 2013

« on: August 24, 2013, 0152 UTC »

Blue Ocean Radio with his new interval signal at 0135 UTC on 6940 USB, August 24, 2013.  BOR ID at 0139z.  About S6 here, but it is stillv ery early.  Audio is good and solid 100% copy.

T!

(edit)  Shifted to 6930 kHz at 0206 UTC.

332

North American Shortwave Pirate / Red Mercury Labs 6935 kHz USB 0317 UTC August 23 2013

« on: August 23, 2013, 0320 UTC »

No ID heard yet, 6935 USB, August 23, 2013, started about 0310 or so.

Sounds like a few BOC cuts about 0318.  Audio also might be Red Mercury Labs.

T!

(edit)  Changed freq in the subject line to 6935 U, where the station was all the time.  Maybe I am the one who should be on meds Dr.

(edit 2)  Station off air at 0343z, back on at 0349z, and it is RML

(edit 3)  The Highwaymen song at 0439 was great.  I have that on vinyl aroundhere someplace.

333

North American Shortwave Pirate / Mysterious Mystic Radio, MMR, 6925.6 AM, 0331 UTC, July 29, 2013

« on: July 29, 2013, 0349 UTC »

Mysterious Mystic Radio with a nice signal into here this evening, 10 to 20 over S9.  Audio was overdriven a bit in the beginning, but then seems to have cleared up.  Gave a Blue Ridge Summit, PA mail address for QSL.

T!

334

HF Beacons / Dasher, about 29351.5 kHz, July 26, 2013, 2015 UTC

« on: July 27, 2013, 1506 UTC »

Ran across a new, to me, dasher yesterday morning, actually two of them close together.  The second, and stronger of the two, was on about 29351.5 kHz, with pronounced drift.

July 26, 2013, 2015 UTC.  29351.5 kHz, with a steady drift downwards.  About one dash each 800 msec, or about 75 per minute.  Dash length is approximately 275 msec but was difficult to tell length because of the severe sag on the dash, hard to tell exactly when it starts.  Bearing to the source appears to be east north east.

Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7NOUyjx07c

T!

335

HF Beacons / Dasher, 29341 kHz, July 26, 2013, 2015 UTC

« on: July 27, 2013, 1502 UTC »

Ran across a new, to me, dasher yesterday morning, actually two of them close together.  The first, and weakest, was on 29341 kHz. 

July 26, 2013, 2015 UTC.  29341 kHz, pretty stable and right on.  About one dash per second, or 60 per minute.  Dash length is approximately 350 msec.  There was pronounced fading on the signal and it was right in my noise floor, occasionally becoming audible.  Bearing to the source appears to be east north east.

Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7spIQc29M

T!

336

Other / Dasher network, multiple frequencies, June 16, 2013, from 0235 UTC on

« on: June 16, 2013, 0514 UTC »

All,

I think this is a related network to what jFarley and I were talking about earlier, probably the same network in fact, but acting a bit different.

Currently there is a network of multiple frequencies carrying dashes 1.5 seconds long and sent every 10.5 seconds.  I first noticed this network about 0235 UTC, June 16, 2013.  Since that time it has changed frequencies three times.

First set, 0235 to 0252 UTC:
4900
8825
10050
11150
18025

Second set, 0254 to 0342 UTC:
6550
9225
11300
14400
15100
17975
18050

Third set, 0343 to 0430
4900
5450
6725
8825
9225
10050
11150
18025

Fourth set, starting 0430 until now (0510 UTC):
3450
4450
6750
7700
9050
10575
13250
15625
16000

The frequencies appear to be transmitting sequentially, one after the other.  I believe there is more than one network involved.

If you do the math a 1.5 sec pulse in 10.5 seconds means a maximum of 7 time slots, or frequencies.  But n the third and forth set of freqs there are more than 7 frequencies.  And yes, in each set I could find two frequencies that were coincident in time.  And also I found some time slots not filled, indicating I probably missed some frequencies.

I have seen this 1.5 sec dash in a 10.5 second cycle in the past, but never got to watch it for so long.  Judging by propagation on several frequencies and on beam headings there are at least two sources out there, and it appears as if each source might, maybe, be on a different frequency set in this mode.

T!

337

HF Beacons / Ditter network, multiple frequencies, June 14, 2013

« on: June 14, 2013, 2002 UTC »

All,

It looks like one of the past mystery ditter networks is active again.

Starting at about 1710 UTC I noticed a ditter on 15550 kHz that looked familiar.  The pulses were about 124 msec long and the pulse spacing was 6.0 seconds.  This pulse width and spacing is twice what one of the past ditter networks used, so the search was on.

I found ditters on 10050, 10575, 13250, 13325, 13875, 14400, 15100, 15550, 15625, 16000, 16725, 17475, 17975, 18050, 18625, and 19300 kHz.  They all appear to be between 20 and 38 Hz low in frequency.

The dits do not look simultaneous, but rather they appear sequenced, from low freq to high freq, so that it pulses one freq and then moves up to the next one.  From holes in the timing I am probably missing a few frequencies, I will look closer at the wideband recordings later and see if I can find them.

At this time (2000 UTC) the pulses all appear to still be up, but if past history is an indicator they will not stay up long, I am suprised they have been up this long.

T!

(edit)  Off air 2145 UTC.  Other frequencies found before the signal went off were 11025, 11150, 11225, 11300, 12025, and 13350 kHz.  Based on the signal strength and timing of the 13325 and 13350 kHz signals there might have been more than one network active with those two freqs being in seperate networks.

338

HF Beacons / Dasher network, mutliple freqs, May 13, 2013, 1150 UTC

« on: May 13, 2013, 1304 UTC »

At 1150 UTC this morning (05/13/2013) I noticed a dasher network was active on multiple frequencies, 6551.7, 7801.7, 8056.7, 9963.7, 11276.7, and 12081.7 kHz.  Not 100% confirmed yet but it looked like all freqs were in sync, pulses coincident.  Pulses were about 105 msec long and occurred every 633 msec (just under 95 pulses / sec).

At this time (1305 UTC) all signals are still on the air, but the lower freqs are just about completely faded away and started fading as soon as the sun started getting close to up.  ChrisSmol was unable to receive any of the pulses when I gave him a heads up.  Both of these indicate a possible source west of me.  This is supported by my beam bearings on the upper freqs, around 300 deg true although I never got a real good, solid, bearing line.

T!

339

Shortwave Broadcast / Firedrake changing habits or reduced use?

« on: April 21, 2013, 1446 UTC »

Hello all,

Over the last couple of days I have noticed that many time slots and frequencies that are normally the Firedrake Jammer have switched audio to CNR 1.  For example, at 1340 UTC today (April 21, 2013) the frequencies of 14700, 15115, 16160, and 16920 all had CNR 1 audio on them, but normally they have Firedrake in this time slot.

Not only is the CNR 1 audio being used on these frequencies instead of Firedrake, but the way they came online to cover the stations they were jamming is the same way Firedrake does it.

For those not familiar, Firedrake has 2 basic modes of operation, “on at the top of the hour” and “on later”.  In the “on at the top of the hour” mode Firedrake typically comes on like any other SW station at the top of the hour or slightly before.  In the “on later” mode Firedrake comes on sometime after the station to be jammed starts, typically Firedrake audio starts anything from 5 to 40 minutes after the hour, with about 10 to 20 minutes after the top of the hour being average.

For the last few days I have seen the CNR 1 audio start displaying the “on later” habits of Firedrake and on frequencies that Firedrake has normally hit.  In the last 12 hours I have found NO Firedrakes active, and normally I find them at will.

In the 1400 UTC time slot only two CNR 1 audio jammers appear to be active at this time (1445 UTC), on 12230 and 12370 kHz, both regular Firedrake targets.  All other outlets of Sound of Hope and other regular Firedrake targets are in the clear and have been for the entire hour.

Could the Chinese, in response to the recently publicized jamming articles and complaints, have reduced usage of Firedrake?  I suppose they could be having technical issues.

T!

340

Shortwave Broadcast / Unknown NFM station, 8202.9 kHz, April 07, 2013, 1545 UTC

« on: April 07, 2013, 1559 UTC »

Howdy all,

Not really sure what forum section this should go in, I am going to throw it in Shortwave Broadcast, although it is probably unintentional.

Several times over the past week or more I have noticed a narrow band FM signal around the 8200 kHz area.  It has been on several different frequencies, 8006.3 kHz, 8202.9 kHz, 8206.3 kHz, 8263.1 kHz, and 8301 kHz.  It generally is around S4 or S5 here, and the strongest I have seen it is S7.  It has not been on 24 hours a day, but it has been on for hours at a time and both day and night.  In the late evening it seems to drop out for me, but still be on the air, I suspect the freq is going long and the signal is going over me.  There is fading on the signal at all times, it is up and down as one would expect.

Right now (April 07, 2013, 1545 UTC) the signal is on 8202.9 kHz, NFM.

When and how it changes freqs is unpredictable, but most of the time it seems to shift around the top or bottom of the hour.

For several days it was retransmitting XM Sirius sat radio channel “80’s on 8”, but today it is transmitting “90’s on 9”.  Just the straight audio from Sirius XM, no added signals.

So, my first thought is a spur from something local.  However searching from 10 kHz to 4 GHz there is nothing local playing this audio.  OK, so a spur from something not local, so on the remotes I go to see where this signal is making it to.  The remote in San Diego, CA, has the signal slightly less strong than I have it.  A remote in WA has it weak but detectable.  A remote in CO has it about half as strong as I do.  A remote in MN has it detectable, but just above the noise floor.  I cannot detect it on any remote east of there.

So, whatever it is it is not a small spur.  There has to be at least a little power behind it.  It is not local to me, although it is probably regional to me, say maybe in the southern California / Nevada / Arizona area.

Anyone else getting this signal?  I would sure like to figure out the source, or at least the source area.

T!

341

Other / Unknown music station, 8006.2 NFM, 0131 UTC, April 05, 2013

« on: April 05, 2013, 0100 UTC »

The odd station I reported here: http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,10744.0.html appears to be back.

At 0031 tonight (April 05, 2013) it came up on 8006.2 kHz in NFM.  It appears it was up on 8206.3 kHz before that.

Several times it has IDed as “80’s on 8” and “XM Sirius Radio”.  It appears to be a spur form something rebroadcasting XM Sirius satellite radio.  However the spur has some pretty good power behind it, I can hear it on remotes in CO, WA, San Diego CA, and very weak in MN.  Here at the house I have it about S5 or a little better.

T!

342

North American Shortwave Pirate / WMMR, 6925.6 kHz, AM, April 02, 0250 UTC

« on: April 02, 2013, 0409 UTC »

Starting about 0250 UTC on April 02, 2013.  6925.6 kHz, AM, ID sounds like WMMR, gave a PO box for QSL.  Decent signal into the Mojave Desert, California, USA, running about S9 or a little better, audio is a little low but nicely clear.

T!

343

North American Shortwave Pirate / Unknown, 8206.35 FM, April 02, 2013, 0133 UTC

« on: April 02, 2013, 0238 UTC »

Not 100% sure this belongs here, but maybe.  It is definately what I would call a Pirate, maybe just not on purpose.

Starting at about 0133 a signal came up on 8265 kHz, drifted up to about 8300 kHz, and then down to 8206.35, in about 2 minutes total.  Settled on 8206.35 kHz form then on.  It is in NFM.

Playing music, a mix from Rock to Hip Hop.  No ID clearly heard but did hear what might have been an XM Sat radio announcement.  Remotes in WA state and Denver CO have the signal, as well as me receiving it here in the Mojave Desert of California.

Starting to fade here now at 0240 UTC.  Still there just fading out.

T!

344

Spy Numbers / V07, 14374 kHz, USB, March 24, 2013, 0157 UTC

« on: March 25, 2013, 0112 UTC »

I have not mentioned this station in a while, so thought I would throw it in here, since someone in the #wunclub chat reminded me it was on

This is the Spanish language, but Russian sourced, numbers station that carries the Enigma designator V07.

There are apparently 2 outlets for this station.  One that appears to target Europe and one that might target the Pacific or US.  This is the later of those two.  The one heard in Europe is generally in AM mode and on a different schedule.  The one I hear well in California is in USB.  This station has been on the same schedule for the last 2+ years.

The bearing from me to this station is about 330 degrees true, suggesting Kamchatka as a possible source.  Naturally there are other possible sources along that bearing, but since this is known to be Russian in origin I am trying to tie it to something Russian along that bearing.  There are several Russian bases on the Kamchatka peninsula, including Petropavlovsk.

The station transmits one day a week, on Sunday morning.  Start times range from 0100 to 0700, depending on time of year.  It normally transmits three times in one hour (all the same message), when there is a message.  Start times are XX00, XX20, and XX40.  When it is a null message, no traffic, it only sends two times, at XX00 and XX20.

The most complete schedule I have for this station is here:
http://token_radio.home.mchsi.com/V07_latest_sched.JPG

Looking at that schedule the transmissions should have been at 0100 UTC on 18074 kHz, 0120 UTC on 15874 kHz, and at 0140 UTC on 14374 kHz.  If a null message it should have been sent at 0100 and 0120 UTC only.  However, that is not what happened.

The first time that I have seen, in several years of periodically catching this station, the message was so long that it went over the 20 minute possible window.  This pushed out the start time of the second and third message.  The first started on time, at about 0100 UTC.  The second started at about 0128 UTC, and the third started at about 0157 UTC.

This video is of the third and last message, sent on March 24, 2013, at 0157 UTC, on 14374 kHz, USB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3gWJLA73V8

T!

345

North American Shortwave Pirate / KMUD, 6930 USB, 03/09/2013, 0225 UTC

« on: March 09, 2013, 0244 UTC »

KMUD on 6930 USB, 03/09/2013, started about 0225 UTC.

Several IDs sent at various times, both voice and CW.  Voice was sent "Kilo Mike Uniform Delta" and "K - mud".  Announced "an eclectic mix of music for the discriminating shortwave listener".  Very nice signal, but that is to be expected since their announced location and mine are about the same.

Nice!

T!