Messages

1951

Other / Re: HAARP transmissions

« on: February 25, 2012, 1524 UTC »

Could someone be so kind as to describe (a WAV or video would be just grand) what the HAARP transmitter usually sounds like?  I'd like to try to pick it up as well.  I've tried searching online for such a video or sound file but all I can find are videos from loons attributing every chirp and warble to HAARP, or raving about "ULF" transmissions and other assorted silliness.

HAARP uses many waveforms.  The most common mode is what looks like a simple dead carrier with a very slight modulation on it.  Last night modulation lines on 50 Hz and 360 Hz were noted.  At least the 50 Hz appears intentional, I suppose the 360 Hz could be 60 Hz mains hum, but it really does not look like it.

Some of the more interesting modes are sweeping and stepping tones.  Two nights ago it produced an LFMCW signal that I had not seen before.  LFMCW is what is used by most HF OTHRs, so they may have been doing some kind of radar like experiment. 

Examples of some HAARP waveforms here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrZfSeYbn2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5IevSxeQV4


T!

1952

Other / Re: "Beacon" on 4545khz?

« on: February 20, 2012, 1438 UTC »

There is a lot of CODAR in that range of frequencies, could that be what you are hearing?  Example of CODAR here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zupfLO1PjrA

Keep in mind that I was in USB mode for that video, AM and LSB would each sound slightly different.  AM, in particular, would have a less sharp tone and be more buzzy.

T!

1953

Equipment / Re: What Radio Did you start your listening hobby with?

« on: February 13, 2012, 1841 UTC »

I was exposed to and used a few SW receivers before I owned one (the first I ever used was a Hallicrafters SX-28, and one is in my collection today), and I scratch built two receivers before I got my first that was "mine" and made in a factory.  And the first one I got (in the late 60's) was a Hallicrafters SX-99.  I still have that receiver today ( http://www.pbase.com/token/image/64201077/original.jpg ).  I think my next was a Hammarlund HQ-145X, but I really am not sure (I have an HQ-145X today, but not the exact same radio, that was traded off long ago).

I would be very hard pressed to name all of the receivers I have owned over the years, the list would run to easily more than a hundred models.  Shoot, just the ones I own today probably runs to 75 or more, I really don’t want to add them up.

For those that remember their first SW receiver…do you remember the first thing you heard on it?  The first thing I remember tuning to with my “new” SX-99 (it was about 11 or 12 years old when I got it, 1956 or 1957 production date) was Radio Prague.  Not on purpose, just turned the radio on and spun the dial, ending up on RPI.  From that day for the next 15 years or so I was a regular Radio Prague and Radio Moscow listener.  The very different spin from what I was getting from US sources was intriguing to me.  And the fact that Moscow  was the more moderate of Eastern block transmissions during the 70’s was interesting.  Almost as if they wanted to sound as the voice of reason while they left other block partners to be the radicals.

T!

1954

Utility / Re: USAF Andrews YL 8992u 2130-2135utc 1/31/2012

« on: February 01, 2012, 0140 UTC »

This frequency is part of the US Air Force HF-GCS (High Frequency Global Communications System).  All US military branches can and do use this system, but it is an Air Force system.  Other common freqs to watch are 4724, 6739, 8992, 11175, 13200, and 15016 kHz.  Most frequently a message is simulcast on all of those frequencies at the same time.

The most common message format is what hobbiest call an "EAM".  EAM stands for Emergency Action Message.  In fact all of the messages heard are not EAMs, but it is easiest jsut to lump them together.  Also, it is kind of impossible to tell the difference   It is often possible to hear 30 or more such messages in a day.

Another message format heard is the "Skyking" message, you will recognize it the first time you hear it.

Mutiple transmitters are located around the World on each frequency, and they can all be selected to transmit at the same time with the same message, so despite the fact you might hear a message sign off as "Andrews" that does not mean the transmitter you are hearing is actually located at Andrews AFB.

T!

1955

Utility / Re: USN 8974u 034utc 2/1/2012

« on: February 01, 2012, 0132 UTC »

This is the current USS Enterprise workup excersize after their last yard period.  It has been going on for the last couple weeks.  Associated freqs to watch are 6880, 5723, and 4712 kHz, all USB.  8974 kHz has been the most active, however. 

T!

1956

Spy Numbers / Re: UNID likely M89 @ 7065kHz 1930-2000 UTC

« on: January 29, 2012, 0225 UTC »

Suggestion for future here.

When reporting these kinds of stations (really any utility station) it is best to include as much info as you can in the first post.  For example, others might have heard it and might be able to confirm it, or might be able to hear it the next day and confirm it.  Or, if it is not the station you think it is someone else might be able to assist in IDing it by knowing what was on the freq/time/day you heard.  But, without more description it is impossible to do this kind of confirmation/assistance.

The following is meant as helpful suggestion, and not a criticism of your post:

In general any mention of a station should have the frequency it was heard on.  By convention on HF frequency is generally indicated in kHz, but MHz also works.  So 6.930 MHz or 6930 kHz would either one work.

The time of the reception.  Nearly universally such time should be in UTC/GMT, but even local time is better than nothing.

Date or day of reception.  Some numbers stations transmit only once a week, or only on certain days.  For those kinds of stations a date (in UTC date, not local) can be a quick way to accredit the possibility it is what you think it is.

Mode of reception, USB/LSB/AM/etc.  Sometimes the difference between one station and another boils down to the transmission mode.

Message format.  Particularly with numbers stations format is a key.  Yes, I know you said you were going to decode it later, and so you might not know the format yet, but just saying this for completeness here.

T!

1957

Spy Numbers / Re: UNID Boys Voice Phonetic Station

« on: January 26, 2012, 1955 UTC »

He, or she, might take exception to the term "boys voice"

13200 kHz is one of the US Air Force HF-GCS frequencies (any military branch can use it, but it is an USAF system).  The format you describe is roughly correct for an HF-GCS message.  So most likely what you heard was, indeed, an HF-GCS message, possibly what is called by hobbiest an "EAM", or Emergency Action Message (not all coded messages on the HF-GCS system are EAMs, but people tend to lump them all together).  And if this is what you heard the voice was that of an active duty US military member, probably US Air Force.

Other frequencies to watch for this type of activity are 4724, 6739, 8992, 11175, and 15016 kHz, in addition to the 13200 kHz you noted.  Most often all frequencies will be transmitting the same message at the same time, and you can generally find one with good propagation to you.  That is why the system is designed like it is, GCS stands for Global Communications System, and I don't think I have ever been someplace that I could not receive these messages.

T!

1958

Spy Numbers / UnkID numbers station, EE YL 5l, 11000 kHz AM, multiple time slots Jan 21, 2012

« on: January 21, 2012, 1731 UTC »

The odd Unknown EE OM 5 letter group transmissions that have been taking place on 10400, 11000, 13400, and 16000 with a male synthesized voice today had a female synthesized voice, a different pace, and a new message.  It also transmitted in multiple time slots and today all the transmissions so far that I have received have been in AM.

The new voice and pace is hard to understand, also the odd pronunciations doesn’t help a lot.

The message now starts with “Golf Romeo 1 8   November 9 Yankee” and ends with “end of message   end of message”.  The OM voice messages in the past contained no EOM statement.  Today’s message does contain 18 groups and takes about 90 seconds to complete a cycle.

Video of the transmission at 1436 UTC here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQJ0uu1e0e4

Video of the old voice on the same frequency here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgMwE7gvcNk

1433 - 1458 UTC, UnkID, EE, YL, 5l, 11000 kHz, AM*.  First time period noted.  Tuned to in progress.  Prior to my tuning to the station another listener reported hearing a short burst, just a few notes of music over top of one of the 5 letter gorups.  There is a recording of this available (not my recording but I have a copy).  It sounds like the alert music for an incoming Instant Message.  Transmission ended in mid letter.

1515 – 1541 UTC, UnkID, EE, YL, 5l, 11000 kHz AM*.  Second time period noted.  Tuned to the transmission during the first cycle (noted carrier come up on the SDR waterfall and tuned to it a few seconds later, message was in progress).  Again the transmission ended in mid letter.

1600 – 1627 UTC, UnkID, EE, YL, 5l, 11000 kHz AM*.  Second time period noted.  Tuned to the transmission during the first cycle (noted carrier come up on the SDR waterfall and tuned to it a few seconds later, message was in progress).  About 1625:15 the IM message alert sound occurred and 20 seconds later the sound of a creaking door closing and slamming was heard, this sound is often used for IM programs to indicate someone has signed off.  30 seconds after that the transmission ended again in mid letter.

The voice used today was rather hard to understand.  I would say this is pretty ineffective to get a message across.  Of course, since the same message was repeated more than 15 times each time period I guess there was ample opportunity to correct any wrong heard letters.

This station has a fake or amateur like feel to it (and by amateur I do not mean a “ham radio” feel or sound, but rather I mean “not professional”).  I would be tempted to call it a fake, but if so it is a determined fake.  It has been operational for months, it is heard over a wide area (probably fair power level, today remotes in Japan heard it weakly and I could hear it here in California usably, but it was loud on every remote in Europe that I tried, Finland to Greece, and UK to Moscow), some days (like today) it has transmitted for over an hour total time.  So I end up believing it is probably not a fake after all, but really, who knows.

*For those not familiar with the shorthand sometimes used in radio, particularly with regards to numbers stations, “UnkID, EE, YL, 5l” means “Unknown station (UnkID), English language (EE), female voice (YL), 5 letter groups repeated one time each (5l).

T!

1959

Equipment / Re: Alinco DX-R8T

« on: January 19, 2012, 2047 UTC »

I talked myself into wanting the DX-R8T.  So my wife and I drove 160 miles one way to the closest store with one in stock so I could bring it home.  When I got there I took a few minutes to set down and play with the rig.  They had it on a desk right next to the Icom R-75.

Now, I already had an R-75, I was looking for another radio and thought the SDR feature of the Alinco might be a positive for the shack.

After about 30 minutes of playing with the Alinco I ended up buying another Icom R-75 instead.

The Alinco was not a bad radio.  The tuning knob felt surprisingly heavy and weighty, and the tuning was smooth and well controlled.  However, the other knobs on the front of the radio felt cheap and flimsy.  The radio, on the same antenna and side-by-side with the R-75, did receive pretty much everything the Icom did, but sometimes the Icom seemed to do it "better", and that was probably because of the audio.  The audio from the Alinco speaker was even worse than the poor audio from the Icoms built in speaker...and that is a known weak point of the Icom.  I never did find a contrast/brightness setting for the LCD on the Alinco that I liked, it just looked “cheap” and not as nice as the Icom.

The sound card SDR feature of the radio (and thus the filter advantage of the SDR application) can only be used when you are NOT listening to audio from the radios own detector, selecting SDR output disables the audio from the radio.  The SDR feature is also VERY narrow banded, essentially it is meant for use with digital modes like DRM that require 12 kHz or slightly more of bandwidth, and so I think the SDR is limited to about 24 kHz or so (that is off the top of my head, and might need to be checked).

My opinion here; if the $100+ difference between the two is the difference between getting a radio and not getting one go for the Alinco.  If you can afford the Icom get it instead.  I know that after using them side by side in an admittedly unscientific 30 minutes of tuning I opted for the Icom myself.

T!

1960

Equipment / Re: all round desktop dx radio

« on: January 19, 2012, 2027 UTC »

Will check out ge super for fm Dx. The lowe 150 had some negative reviews so was unsure whether to buy it. Had anybody tried yaesu 7700 ? Seems to have very good reviews.

I assume by "yaesu 7700" you mean the Yaesu FRG-7700 shortwave receiver?

This radio gets fairly good reviews, and I really like mine (have owned it since new in about 1981).  As a receiver it is really very good, low noise, good sensitivity, etc.  But keep in mind this is a fairly old receiver, and it does not have some of the features people take for granted today on modern radios.  The frequency readout is only to the closest kHz, most today are at least to the 100 Hz mark if not 10 Hz or even 1 Hz.  The radio is a VFO based unit with a frequency counter that reads the VFO, this means it is not synthesized and it does drift just the littlest amount.  The factory supplied filter selection is rather limited.

Now the above kind of sounds like I am tearing down the FRG-7700, but that is not correct.  It is, however, important to compare apples to apples, and not apples to oranges.  If you compare the FRG-7700 to a more modern desktop like the R-75 or a premium receiver like the NRD-525 the FRG-7700 comes up a little short.  But then so will any of the FRG-7700s competitors of the day, like the Kenwood R1000 or R2000, compare them to premium receivers of the same time period or with more modern receivers in the same category and you might find the old entry level stuff a little wanting.

If you can find an FRG-7700 (or its follow on, the FRG-8800) at a good price I would say yep, that might be a good entry rig.  But if the price is approaching a used Icom R-75 you would probably be better off going for the R-75.

T!

1961

Utility / Re: UNID Net on 5723u (Navy Exercise?)

« on: January 18, 2012, 0111 UTC »

There are a couple of other frequencies associated with this EX also, 4712 and 8974 kHz.

T!

1962

Utility / Re: UNID Net on 5723u (Navy Exercise?)

« on: January 17, 2012, 1918 UTC »

This is most probably the source of these signals:
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2012/01/enterprise-gets-underway-for-final.html

T!

1963

Spy Numbers / Re: UNID alphanumeric on 10400 kHz

« on: January 17, 2012, 0042 UTC »

This station has been active for the last few months.  Frequencies used to date, that I know of, are 10400, 11000, 13400, and 16000 kHz.  Modes used have been both AM and USB.  Times have been varied but the station may be most active between 1400 and 1600 UTC.

The message sent is always (every time that I know of) the same and starts with GR35 N0125.

The station appears to be best heard in Europe, with reporting stations in France and Austria appearing to have the strongest signal.  Direction of arrival with relationship to southern France may indicate a source roughly in the direction of Romania/Bulgaria/Turkey.

The music, either before or after, has been reported a few times, but is not heard most of the time.  There is some discussion on this music, it seems odd that it is not present most of the time if it is really a part of the signal.

Because of the stations actions there is a school of thought that this is not real, possible it is a spoof or fake.  The oddities that simply do not fit with numbers stations are: the same message for months on end, music at times and not at others, inconsistent start times, odd start times, frequencies and times that change seemingly at random, etc, etc.

Video here from January 1, 2012, on 11000 kHz and in USB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgMwE7gvcNk

Video here form January 07, 2012, on 10400 kHz and in AM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzAdO2hRWLE

T!

1964

Utility / Re: UNID Net on 5723u (Navy Exercise?)

« on: January 16, 2012, 1918 UTC »

5723u active again this evening with fascinating, though only intermittent comms, presumably relating to military exercise.  Echo, Echo Whiskey and Lima active, (though at times only barely readable here),also references to "Jimminy Cricket," relating to (UNID) maneuvers.  Pretty sure they're not talking Disney here.  Cool stuff.

At 03:00z track reports from Oscar and Juliet and Vampire.

There was no track report from Vampire, Vampire is the designation for a missile in the air.  And there is no such thing as a friendly missile, all missiles are Vampires, but outbound missiles are not reported normally.

Last night there were multiple engagements on tracks, all tracks engaged while I listened were air tracks.  Aircraft or missiles.  Naturally, the missiles were simulations, either purely virtual or possibly aircraft playing the roll of missiles.  Tracks would be designated, identified, engaged, and splashed.  For example, at one point last night track 2102 was the track ID assigned to a Vampire.  Track 2102 was then splashed by one of the platforms.

The single letter designators, Oscar, Juliet, Mike, etc, are individual units in the task force/group.  There is no way to tie one of these designators to a specific platform.  Net control can be anyone in the group, not just the carrier.  Net control can shift from one unit in the force to another, as needed.

T!

1965

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Undercover Radio 15.490? I think

« on: January 16, 2012, 1556 UTC »

Undercover had a fair signal inot the Mojave Desert in California, at times very good at times not so good.  Video of sign on here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4t_mxdJsYI

Undercover called for Borderhunter to come up and talk near the end of his broadcast, and allowed several periods of no carrier for Borderhunter to respond.  In the end Undercover and Borderhunter did QSO on Undercovers frequency.  They first tried AM but BOrderhunter had a little problem with a transmitter.  They switched to LSB (and presumabaly Borderhunter on a different rig) and made contact.  Part of that QSO here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Jrbx6FzM4

T!
Mojave Desert, California, USA