Messages

166

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / DSRT01 beacon at 13561.5 kHz

« on: January 06, 2018, 0433 UTC »

DSRT01 beacon transmitting slow Morse code (approximately 5 WPM) at 13561.5 kHz, identifying location as Mojave Desert (a real hotbed for Part 15 beacons, or so it seems).

UTC time and date can be seen in the widget running at the top right of the screen in the video.

Curt / W9SPY

Edit: Decode text of one full cycle:  "T T T T T DSRT01 DSRT01 T T T T T DSRT01 DSRT01 T T T T T DSRT01 DSRT01 T T T T T DSRT01 DSRT01 T T T T T DSRT01 DSRT01 DSRT01 DSRT01 MOJAVE DESERT." Note that the "T" is decoded as such by FLDIGI but is actually a one second tone.

167

HF Beacons / Re: Hiker 1

« on: December 26, 2017, 0019 UTC »

Years ago the initial owner of the beacon hiked into remote areas and put the beacon out running off a solar  panel and sometimes a battery.
The initial owner gave it away to a guy that has it put in a jeep with a vertical antenna...so often it is at different locations now that its home is a jeep.

Hope that helps...the info. I gave you came to me from a source way down the line so I don't know even if it is accurate...I forget the Hiker 2 freq...I have heard it now and then but it was sometime ago...I would have to look over my logs.

Merry Christmas

Thank for the backstory, I really like that.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

Curt / W9SPY

168

HF Beacons / Re: Hiker 1

« on: December 24, 2017, 2227 UTC »

I'm copying Hiker at 7998.19 kHz. The signal fades in and out, but definitely strong in between fades.

Question: Why is it named Hiker?

Curt / W9SPY

169

General Radio Discussion / Re: S.C. preacher (Brother Stair) arrested following sexual assault allegations

« on: December 22, 2017, 1528 UTC »

This pretty much seals the deal on his shortwave broadcast career.  Without his “followers” pumping money into the radio fund, the various shortwave outlets will eventually drop his program...

I say this has been a LONG time coming. Stair’s more than another crazy voice on the radio, he’s a creepy old rapist and I’m glad they’ve arrested him. 

I wonder what will happen to his “ministry” and the associated compound/farm now that the “prophet” is out of the picture.

I hope that you are correct. But, nothing amazes me more sometimes than those people who will continue to support a religious leader, even after the most egregious crimes.

170

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: DNR beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 22, 2017, 0318 UTC »

I've been monitoring the DNR beacon frequency off and on since sunset today and haven't heard a single dash, nor dit/dah. Perhaps this signal has once again popped up, only to fade away again.

Curt / W9SPY

171

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: DNR beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 21, 2017, 1610 UTC »

Interesting beacon, looks like it is transmitting quite a bit of telemetry. Some voltages, and a rather high temperature 

Unless that is supposed to be 15.1 and the decimal point got left out.  Note that in the VS and VB there is a decimal.

This beacon is very similar to a beacon I recorded about 3 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B98JUpTJDng

That one was on air for a few weeks, and I think was heard across several states.  However, I have not heard it in a long time.

T!

In the description of the video that you linked to, you wrote: "The signal typically comes up after dark at my location, can be heard for an hour or two, and then slowly fades down to undetectable."

I've been monitoring this new beacon for the past few days and it is exhibiting the exact same schedule and characteristics as how you describe the DRNK beacon in your video, along with transmitting similar "telemetry" data (the most obvious similarity beyond the identifier).

Would it be a safe guess to suggest that the beacon is likely unattended, is dormant as it charges its battery via solar panel during the day, turns on at night via a light sensor, then runs until its battery starts to fade?

Curt / W9SPY

172

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: DNR beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 21, 2017, 1443 UTC »

Interesting beacon, looks like it is transmitting quite a bit of telemetry. Some voltages, and a rather high temperature 

I updated the subject to reflect the beacon ID.  I'll keep and ear/eye out for this one on the east coast.

I'm glad you changed the subject line. My geek side (roughly 85% of my being, actually) was squirming at the mischaracterization I had caused.

And I was thinking telemetry, too. But that temperature? In December? Even for the Mojave?

Curt / W9SPY

173

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 21, 2017, 0408 UTC »

Here is a link to a screen shot of the signal as it was sending the dashes, zoomed in as far as the SDR will allow. While I was listening to this, there was a kind of "clunk" sound right at the very end of each transmitted dash. That "clunk" seems to be represented in the image, where the signals spreads out right at the bottom of each dash (the spread appears at the top, but keeping in mind that the waterfall is scrolling downward).

Image Here.

Curt / W9SPY

174

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 21, 2017, 0335 UTC »

Yes, the signal is back, but this time it is transmitting 8 dashes, then DNR DNR DNR K DE DNR MOJAVE DESERT TMP 151 TMP 151 VS 04.5 VS 04.5 VB 04.9 VB 04.9 K


Edit: Here is a new recording of the signal. (Recording time and date can be seen in the UTC widget running at the top right of the video screen).

In that video it sounds to me like there are 9 dashes in each set.  Then DNR DNR DNR K.  This is repeated several times and every few cycles the DNR ID is replaced by the longer DE DNR ID you quote.

But I just tuned to it myself, and now it sounds like it is doing 12 dashes per set and is much weaker than when you made your recording.

Also, in your video I noticed that the end of each dash sounds odd.

T!

Your description above is exactly what I counted and noted tonight, as well as the fact that shortly after I recorded that video, band conditions seemed to have weakened the signal to the point that I was barely able to copy it. (I just tried to check again, but your SDR is full of other listeners at the moment).

You wrote: "Also, in your video I noticed that the end of each dash sounds odd."

Prior to making the recording, I zoomed way in on the signal and noticed that the dash actually curled a tiny bit at the end of the transmission, as if it was going slightly off-frequency about three quarters of the way through the dash, if that makes sense.

Curt / W9SPY

175

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 21, 2017, 0210 UTC »

Checking my logs I have several past suspected beacons on various frequencies with the IDs DNR or DRNK, all using "MOJAVE DESERT" in the transmission somehow.  All of them have been short duration, a few days only.

(edit)  Now that I am home I can play the video in high def, could not do that from work.  I see you were on my SDR when you made the video.  I have not heard this beacon in the past when I looked in that freq range, so no idea when it showed up.  But looking right now I see it there, but a bit different than when you recorded it.

T!

Yes, the signal is back, but this time it is transmitting 8 dashes, then DNR DNR DNR K DE DNR MOJAVE DESERT TMP 151 TMP 151 VS 04.5 VS 04.5 VB 04.9 VB 04.9 K

Listen Live Here.

Curt / W9SPY

Edit: Here is a new recording of the signal. (Recording time and date can be seen in the UTC widget running at the top right of the video screen).

176

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 20, 2017, 2150 UTC »

While searching for signals, I discovered a new (for me, at least) pirate beacon transmitting in the ISM band. The pattern is slow CW (approximately 5-7 wpm), transmitting a series of eleven "T"s, then the letters "DSR," then followed by "DE DSR MOJAVE DESERT."

I've been checking this area of the band for over a week in order to monitor another signal that I've discovered and this one has only just appeared this evening (0430 UTC, Tuesday, 12/19/2017).

Video recording of the beacon HERE.
 

Sounds like you found a new beacon, with an ID of DSR.
 

Check that audio again, it is sending DNR, not DSR.

Also, what you are describing as T’s are much longer than the T in DESERT, so I think those are probably long dashes or tones, not letters.

(edit)  Just played the full recording.  Looks like 11 dashes and then "DNR  DNR".  This cycle repeats 5 times, and on 5th cycle ID changes to "DE  DNR  MOJAVE DESERT".

T!

I appreciate your input. I was allowing FLDIGI to do all of the decoding and it showed a "T" for each dash. But what you have pointed out makes more sense.

I listened to this again via my recording and yes, it definitely is transmitting "DNR."

Thanks, Token

Curt / W9SPY

177

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 20, 2017, 1832 UTC »

Sounds like you found a new beacon, with an ID of DSR.

I'll move the thread over to the 22m forum, maybe someone else can hear it.

Excellent, thank you Chris. I've been monitoring this frequency today and the signal is not transmitting. I'll keep checking that frequency to see if/when it starts to transmit again. Could just be a night time only transmission. Fascinating area of the radio hobby, to be sure.

Curt / W9SPY

178

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Pirate beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 20, 2017, 1618 UTC »

Actually, these are not pirate beacons, they are legal. There are generous field strength limits in the ISM band.

We have an entire forum for them: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/board,35.0.html

Ah, OK. Thanks for the clarification. I'm new to this area of ham radio, so I wasn't sure, mainly because there wasn't a call sign ID in the signal.

179

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / DNR beacon at 13562 kHz

« on: December 20, 2017, 1545 UTC »

While searching for signals, I discovered a new (for me, at least) pirate beacon transmitting in the ISM band. The pattern is slow CW (approximately 5-7 wpm), transmitting a series of eleven "T"s, then the letters "DSR," then followed by "DE DSR MOJAVE DESERT."

I've been checking this area of the band for over a week in order to monitor another signal that I've discovered and this one has only just appeared this evening (0430 UTC, Tuesday, 12/19/2017).

Video recording of the beacon HERE.

Curt / W9SPY

180

General Radio Discussion / Re: "Preacher Teacher" Alert

« on: December 19, 2017, 1622 UTC »

I heard somewhere this week that Brother Stair was arrested in his Overcomer Ministry compound this week in relation to sexual abuse chargers against some of his women followers?

Yep.