Messages

1861

Utility / Possible new radar, 7735, 8050, and 16110 kHz

« on: October 27, 2012, 1458 UTC »

A signal was reported in the #wunclub IRC channel on the 25th of October.  It appears to be a new Radar or a previously unreported mode of an existing Radar.  My guess at this point is that it is a new system.

I have seen this signal so far on 3 frequencies, 7735, 8050, and 16110 kHz.  I assume more frequencies will be found as time goes on.  The signal appears to set on one frequency for an extended time, sometimes for hours, before moving on to the next.  So far it has only been seen on one frequency at a time.

The signal appears to be a simple pulsed type Radar.  It has a PRF (Pulse Repetition Frequency) of about 9.1 Hz (110 millisecond PRI, Pulse Repetition Interval).  Although I have not yet gotten a good recording to determine Pulse Width, the PW appears to be about 900 microseconds (based on the spectrum peak to first null measurement of about 1.1 kHz).

So far I have not seen an indication that the system beam steers.

The signal appears to be from Europe or that general area.

This signal is very similar to the old Russian Woodpecker except it has a slightly narrower pulse width and does not appear to use pulse compression.

Spectrogram capture showing PRI of 110 msec here: http://www.pbase.com/token/image/146959548/original.jpg

50 kHz span spectrum capture of the 7735 kHz signal, using Max Hold, shows the general spectrum shape and the peak to null delta: http://www.pbase.com/token/image/146959634/original.jpg

25 kHz span spectrum of the 16110 kHz signal, again using Max Hold, showing the same general peak to null delta, indicating approximately the same pulse width:  http://www.pbase.com/token/image/146968669/original.jpg

Video of the signal on 16110 kHz here, with several different demodulation modes used to show what it sounds like in AM, USB, and CW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnvwLhu0HOA

T!
Mojave Desert, California, USA

1862

HF Beacons / Re: Update the beacon list

« on: October 11, 2012, 1650 UTC »

Putting a location like "California" or "Arizona" on such a chart is not going to help the FCC.  You can get that information from just reading this forum, the forum reports are just as "dangerous" to the beacons as the published list.  Putting "Inyo County, CA" or "Joshua Tree N.P." might seem like a risky thing to do, but look at the region, it will take a serious effort to cover such an area.  The other issue is that once the FCC decides to enforce on one of these beacons there is little that can be done to disguise it or misdirect, even if only the frequency is known or on a list.  If it can be received it can be DFed, if it has ever been reported here then it has been proven capable of being received.  If the FCC ever decided to go after "A", for example, they could narrow it down to a general area (within a few miles) in just a few hours coordinated effort.  Getting closer than that might involve more footwork, but once you get within a few miles the 24 hour beacons are toast.

The occasional beacons that switch freqs, like the "TR" beacon, are probably very safe.  Night time only beacons in remote locations are probably pretty safe.  Low power 24 hour beacons in very remote locations are probably pretty safe.  The less remote the location, the higher the power, and the more hours a day a beacon transmits the more likely a beacon is to be busted.

But, the FCC still have to want to go after it and it has to be high enough on the priority list to dedicate the manpower/resources to the effort.  Despite some of these beacons having been on the air for years, been well documented, and despite "official" (at various levels)  (edit: by "official" I mean I have spoken with an FCC field engineer who was aware of the existance of some specific pirate beacons, this was brought up by him as part of another, unrelated to pirates or beacons, conversation, I think most of the conversation was about microbrews) knowledge of several of them, the remote nature of some of them ensures that they will almost certainly never be pursued.  They are simply too small a fish in a mighty big pond.

When you put up a 24 hour beacon you have to assume it will eventually be busted.  Don't put it on your property if it is not legal.


T!

1863

HF Beacons / Re: HF Beacon X

« on: October 11, 2012, 1331 UTC »

This beacon, "X", is still hammering along on 4094.5 kHz.  Freq seems very stable and the X's are sent about every 7 seconds or so.  Has anyone stepped up with any infromation about this one?

T!

1864

HF Beacons / Re: Hikers back on the air on 8000 kHz and 7998 kHz

« on: October 11, 2012, 1320 UTC »

7998.76 ditter is in here about 18 dB above the noise floor (S4 peaks with an S1 noise floor) at about 0115z, Oct 11, 2012.  I have not looked at the 8 MHz beacons in quite a while.

There also appears to be something sending on 8000 from time to time, but have not caught enough of it to know what it is yet.

T!

1865

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6930 USB, 0213, 10/11/2012

« on: October 11, 2012, 0228 UTC »

6930 kHz LSB and USB, started about 0212z, no ID so far

0213  "Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song", signal was in LSB
0214  A Dolly Parton Song, switched to USB between the songs

Since then all has been in USB, still up at 0227z.  Been S8 to S9 the entire time.


(edit) off air at 0245z, never heard an ID or anything except music.

T!

1866

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 USB *0141?

« on: October 11, 2012, 0203 UTC »

Ended 0201 UTC, "Stairway" was the last song.  I never heard an ID.

T!

1867

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WPOD 6945 +- AM 0154utc

« on: October 11, 2012, 0200 UTC »

Actual freq is 6950 kHz, AM.  Decent signal right now, about S7 or so.

T!

1868

HF Beacons / Re: 5205.3 saline Valley ditter strong this morning

« on: October 07, 2012, 1858 UTC »

The dit about each 3.3 seconds on 5207.44 kHz is a signal that has been discussed on the UDXF group in the last week or so.  If you look closely there is more to it than just a dit, there is also a burst that looks like data right after the dit, and the burst is shorter than the dit.

It has been suggested that this signal looks similar to a couple Chinese data modes, but so far it is not identified.  The signal is present at my location whenever propagation is in from Asia and the Pacific.

Video of the signal here, the CODAR does make it a little less clear.  In the video I start tuned to 5207 kHz, as that was the original reported freq, and then I tune down to 5206 kHz to better show the burst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXWYxmnN_RU

T!

1869

HF Beacons / TR beacon, 6976.34, October 07, 2012, 0107 UTC

« on: October 07, 2012, 0111 UTC »

The occasional Pirate Beacon TR is up on 6976.34 kHz right now, October 07, 2012, 0107 UTC.  As normal a good signal into here.

T!

1870

HF Beacons / Re: CZ Beacon back on the air

« on: October 07, 2012, 0041 UTC »

Video of the CZ beacon here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUPPtYBNsr4

Not a great signal here, but not bad.  I bet it will improve as sundown aproaches.

T!

1871

HF Beacons / MarinDit 8193.71 kHz, Oct 6, 2012, 2145 UTC

« on: October 06, 2012, 2156 UTC »

The MarinDit is doing a pretty good job today.  8193.71 kHz and well out of the noise at 2145 UTC.

T!

(edit)  Video of the MarinDit here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXWYxmnN_RU

If you look closely (might be hard, as dark as the recording came out, on my original it is clear) you can see the 2nd harmonic of Hexie to the left of the MarinDit and the 2nd harmonic of the "Inyo-Wooper" (Chip?) to the right.

1872

HF Beacons / 2nd harmonic of the Inyo-Wooper, 8194.42 kHz

« on: October 06, 2012, 2135 UTC »

The 2nd harmonic of the Inyo-Wooper (on 4097.21 kHz) was very noticeable today on 8194.42 kHz.  In fact, at about 2125 the harmonic was more clear and stronger than the primary.  Interesting to notice the expected corelation of the drop ratios on each freq, on 4097 the drop is about 90 Hz, and as expected on 8194 the drop is about 180 Hz.

T!

1873

HF Beacons / Re: Microwatt Miricle - sand-dune temperature drifter

« on: October 06, 2012, 2118 UTC »

I have not yet captured this flea level beacon.  I keep getting snifs of something that I think is it, but never anything I can say for sure "that is it".  Will keep trying.

T!

1874

HF Beacons / Re: Unknown dasher, 2018.32 kHz

« on: October 06, 2012, 2116 UTC »

The power level fits the relationship with the other two 2 MHz dashers.  This one is slightly the weaker of the 2008/2018 pair and a good bit more fadey than the 2025 beacon.

Nice to see this trio, will be interesting to see where they are reported from.  When I travel I will be sure to give these a try.

T!

1875

HF Beacons / Re: Unknown dasher, 2008.43 kHz

« on: October 06, 2012, 2112 UTC »

The signal makes in in here pretty good, almost as strong as the 2025 dasher but a bit less solid, more QSB.  The location makes sense, I supected it would not be very far east or west of me, but might be a bit north or south (was just basing on the fade in/fade out at sunset and sunrise, before I knew it was nghtime only).  The fact it is dawn to dusk and the on and off times are so close to my dawn and dusk also fits.

Tell the owner it is consistant and solid.

T!