Messages

211

Equipment / Re: Limited space antennas

« on: April 27, 2017, 1449 UTC »

I am curious with those of you who live in apartments or HOA restricted communities do for antennas.

I am in this exact situation, i.e., living in an HOA-restricted condo community where putting an antenna outside is absolutely banned.  I researched the antenna subject for a few months, talked with many other hams, both in person and online, and finally reached the conclusion that a magnetic loop antenna was the best compromise that I could make in my situation. And because I am also in the situation where I have virtually zero space for working on any kind of a build project, I decided that I would just go ahead and buy a ready-made magnetic loop antenna. Here is the one that I purchased: http://alphaantenna.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=11

I also purchased the optional booster cable for 40 to 80 meters. This antenna is easy to set up, easy to tune, and I have had some remarkable QSOs with it, with the antenna sitting right next to my desk, inside of my condo.

I also run a 10m beacon out of my condo using an MFJ-1622 apartment antenna, which is another option you might want to consider. The MFJ-1622 does not work as well as the Alpha Loop in my situation, but you may get different results.

Curt / W9SPY

212

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: Dogs and Cats on ATC 134.750

« on: April 22, 2017, 2142 UTC »

This was recorded by a member of Scanning Tasmania and shows an interesting time when ATC in Launceston had too much time on their hands, so they added animal noises to the information/weather transmission.

Excellent catch. I live for this sort of thing. (Not sure what that says about me, though).

213

Spy Numbers / Re: E06 fake messages 5197 USB

« on: April 22, 2017, 1745 UTC »

634 00000 went on for about 4 mins then it pause for a minute then it went into a message. Haven't heard a null message from E06 in a while very rare to hear it.

634 149 52
12265 10965 47839 38654 84677 93453 72217 84393 04673 97564 01824 75643 84221 95647 92112 94543 76577 43435 47322 84232 95674 87344 57438 45763 49325 57438 92190 96785 21244 05674 01765 76354 83645 21234 97564 82133 07564 83234 75312 71211 05664 65374 67321 94884 23483 82521 41212 57333 85331 53234 05124 95732 149 52 00000

I made a recording of this same transmission: https://youtu.be/CYofS0yWdZ0

214

HF Mystery Signals / Re: UNID digital signal at (approximately) 11064 kHz

« on: April 09, 2017, 1451 UTC »

Interesting that it started at just about the same time as the voice traffic, and on a nearby but not interfering freq, maybe related.

Yes, if you watch the UTC time clock that is running at the top right of the E07a video, the UNID signal starts at exactly the same time as the number station does: https://youtu.be/0nuUBlfphyI

When it comes to these "secret spy signals," I don't believe in coincidence.

215

HF Mystery Signals / UNID digital signal at (approximately) 11064 kHz

« on: April 07, 2017, 1651 UTC »

UNID digital signal at 11064 kHz: https://youtu.be/8QJw7nIiuTk

I noticed this signal to the left of the frequency where I was monitoring a Russian number station transmission (E07a). It appears to be some sort of MFSK signal, but I'm not sure which type.

UTC time and date noted in video.

The start of this UNID transmission (1530 UTC) can be seen at the beginning of this video and to the left of the frequency I was monitoring: https://youtu.be/0nuUBlfphyI

I'm not certain that I had this on the correct frequency intended for the transmission. But it is close enough that it would likely decode.

216

Spy Numbers / Russian XPA Polytone Decode at 13509 kHz

« on: February 25, 2017, 0748 UTC »

Russian XPA polytone decode at 13509 kHz: https://youtu.be/CXZLOIe--JA

Full message decode:

11:20:02 PM XPA Start Tones Found (correcting by 5 Hz)
11:22:02 PM High sync tone found
11:22:02 PM Symbol timing found
Block Sync
4444444444
Block Sync
456 456 456 1 456 456 456 1 456 456 456 1
Block Sync
4444444444
Block Sync
6
Message Start
09502 00163 30577 25892 14604 86647 64188 15407 00176 10002 61757 81001 11546 60011 46246
50466 68718 37118 91262 42494 60660 91398 97728 61083 45086 43572 83517 22559 04775 80633
14967 74717 12790 85121 55981 16145 35959 40409 79161 51419 64190 45931 93553 22285 05289
01736 43496 33672 30642 82138 26824 75426 79608 97738 60378 88125 98220 19761 68731 51390
82509 30677 95642 18313
Block Sync
91809 58906 95941 95413 46178 54681 69034 10562 05212 73492 28098 52226 91718 34779 17569
69069 96054 12948 57288 29826 86530 41692 63191 26380 80216 18159 53913 07547 35326 16056
00945 58004 27303 43870 61089 49314 89574 40268 40128 03155 57649 49617 67622 90238 08193
63730 87235 01227 88912 28885 50812 85344 34582 62256 20716 19786 92408 88859 21295 66250
24728 54136 37053 15066
Block Sync
45183 48360 14327 90957 10573 95741 14754 34521 35924 11327 61430 36934 22172 42924 45651
57845 48678 59642 05041 23709 08754 36362 42196 92032 09140 84026 59289 06730 03329 08646
51982 40190 98277 83350 56048 00963 72879 52243

Curt
W9SPY
Seattle, WA USA

217

Spy Numbers / Re: XPA2, 16338 USB, 11 Oct. 2016, 1500 UTC

« on: October 23, 2016, 0515 UTC »

Very strong copy heard in Denver.

https://youtu.be/X_T_qI-eqdE

EDIT 10/16/16: An individual named Curt Rowland ran my video through a decoder called Rivet B88 and posted a video. I have asked that he transcribe it into his video's description. Please click through to the following video to see what was decoded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Za3H9FCps&feature=youtu.be

It's Curt Rowlett, not Rowland, a.k.a. Strange Beacons.

I love the sound of XP polytones and the fact that the Russian military uses such an interesting mode to transmit coded messages. Total James Bond stuff that I find quite appealing.

218

Spy Numbers / Re: A little HM01

« on: May 05, 2014, 2105 UTC »

Hey Token: Many thanks for replying re the "Five Dits, One Dash" signal that I recorded last night.  I just Googled "Link 11 Tactical Data Link" and got this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_Data_Link

It would totally make sense that this is indeed what the signal is, as I have been monitoring what I believe are at least five different military signals from 8692 Khz to 9083 Khz.  

When you have time, I'd certainly like to hear what you know about that signal.

SB

Edit: Found this video of yours that gives a great explanation of what TDL's are and what they sound like: http://youtu.be/__-rtLRQUhg

At work right now, and cannot post to YT, so will throw it here until I can post from home.

Strange Beacons, your mystery beacon "five dits one dash" is not a beacon at all.  That is Link 11 Tactical Data link.

T!

219

Other / Re: EAM? Or numbers station talking on 15016 USB

« on: May 04, 2014, 2024 UTC »

This newbie just discovered that the GHFS-EAM frequencies existed and now I'm hooked.  Does anyone have a list of frequencies for monitoring these stations?  I have a list that I've found from various sources on the Internet, but am not sure if they are current as of 2014:

4.724
6.712
6.739
8.992
11.175
13.200
15.016

Thank you.

Edit: Answered my own question by discovering a link to a USAF High Frequency Global Communications System frequency guide here: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/USAF_High_Frequency_Global_Communications_System

Military.  This is a frequency in the US Airforce maintained HF-GCS network.  4724, 6739, 8992, 11175, 13200, and 15016 are the most commonly used frequencies.  It is quite common, normal even, for the same message to be sent across multiple or even all of those frequencies at the same time.  If you hear phonetics on one freq try the others and see how many you hear.

There are two basic forms of voice encrypted, phonetics based, messages, "EAM"s and "Skykings".  The message you heard is probably what hobbyist have come to call an "EAM".  It should be noted that not all encoded traffic like that are actually EAM's, but since it is essentially impossible for a hobbyist to tell one form of message from the other they all get called "EAM".  When you hear a Skyking it will be obvious.

T!

220

Spy Numbers / Re: A little HM01

« on: May 04, 2014, 1522 UTC »

I can only copy Chinese stations very early in the morning at my location, which means I either have to stay up late or get up early to hear them.  My goal is to try to hear the Chinese "Firedrake" Jammer, but so far, no luck. 

Yep, that's my channel.  I subscribed to yours, some very good stuff on there...  I have a tough time copying the Chinese stations....listening to one of your videos now of a Chinese # station. 

Steve

221

Spy Numbers / Re: A little HM01

« on: May 04, 2014, 0400 UTC »

Hey, thanks for the link. Is that your YouTube channel?  I subscribed to it.  Here's my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/77RamonesCramps

Hi, if you're following hm01' you'll like this: https://www.youtube.com/user/desmoface/videos

I generally have excellent propagation into South America so I generally hear Hm01 very strong.

I'm a big Smith's fan, obviously, LOL.  Rumor has it that Morrissey is working on a new album.

Steve

222

Spy Numbers / Re: A little HM01

« on: May 04, 2014, 0022 UTC »

Nice clear recording.  I've been monitoring that signal for the past few months and have been keeping a log.  I'm dialing it in form Seattle, Washington, USA, so I don't get as clear of a signal as yours.  But so far, I've logged HM01 at 10.345, 13.435, and 14.375 at at 0500, 0600, and 0700 UTC.

P.S. I dig your avatar.  I'm a huge fan of The Smiths!

For your continued listening pleasure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y2z2lgnJcQ

Steve

223

HF Beacons / Re: How to Build (or Buy) a Beacon?

« on: April 14, 2014, 1651 UTC »

Thanks for your reply and for the links!

Nice stuff

http://www.etherkit.com/transmitters/openbeacon.html

https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/tag/qrss-transmitter-kit/

224

HF Beacons / Re: How to Build (or Buy) a Beacon?

« on: April 14, 2014, 1647 UTC »

Thanks for this, Token.  The Ramsey QRP transmitter kit is pretty much exactly what I am looking for.  (With my limited knowledge of how radio works, it is sometimes hard for me to know how to explain certain things that I'm interested in).

I've never really done much soldering work, but have a steady hand and an inquisitive mind.  Again, thanks.

If you can handle simple soldering you could build something like a Ramseys QRP transmitter kit.  No electronics knowledge is required at all, they guide you step-by-step through the process of building the kit.  Basically if you can solder and follow instructions like “take the red/white/green resistor and insert it into the 2 holes marked R2” you can build the kits.

This would end up being a traditional CW beacon with about half a Watt of output or a little more.  The kits are band specific, and ship with crystals for normal QRP frequencies, but you can substitute other crystals and put them on a wide range of frequencies.  For example, if a person were so inclined, the 80 meter kit would easily go into the 4096 kHz pirate beacon area.

Of course then you would need a simple keyer to key the transmitter.  There are several kits for that on the market, or you could build a simple dasher circuit if that was the type of beacon you wanted.

A bit more on the “figure things out yourself” side would be using something like the AD9850 DDS (sold on Ebay for $8 no shipping, 0 to 40 MHz range) and drive it with an Arduino or similar device.  The electronics are very basic to hook up, but the Arduino would have to be programmed.  This combination would get you about 1 mW output, but a simple transistor amplifier could bump that up to whatever level you wanted.

T!

225

HF Beacons / How to Build (or Buy) a Beacon?

« on: April 11, 2014, 1924 UTC »

I have become very interested in amateur beacons and the propagation of beacon signals.  

I have virtually no electronic building experience.  I am interested in hearing from anyone who can advise me as to whether building a simple beacon would be too complex of a project for a person who has little to no experience?  

And, if that is the case, whether it would be possible to purchase a pre-built beacon from someone, or somewhere?

Thank you.

Edit/Update: I posted this same query on another radio-related forum and got responses, in case anyone else is wondering about the answer to this question. People recommended some of the following:

RaspberryPi, which has a variety of uses, including being able to transmit via Software Defined Radio setups:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi

Purchasing something called a QRSS Transmitter Kit (I can supply the link, if anyone wants to see it).

And, a ready-made transmitter kit called OpenBeacon, the description of which is as follows: "an open source crystal-controlled QRPp beacon transmitter kit which can output a variety of slow-speed modes, including QRSS, DFCW, and Sequential Multi-tone Hellschreiber. It is configured via USB port, so there are no jumpers to set and you can easily adjust all of the operating parameters via command line. Once configuration is complete, OpenBeacon may be removed from the PC and operate stand-alone."

Cheers.