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Messages - Strange Beacons

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77
Software / FLDIGI question re automatic, timed transmissions
« on: March 23, 2019, 0350 UTC »
I use WSJT-X for WSPR transmissions and I like the way that it automatically transmits, stops for a timed interval, then transmits again.

Question: Is there any way that FLDIGI can be set up so that it will transmit automatically? (I'm wanting to use FLDIGI to send a CW signal at a timed interval).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've searched online and cannot find any source that discusses this question.

78
Amateur Radio / Re: Amateur radio
« on: March 22, 2019, 2135 UTC »
Yes, that sounds good to me. But, I've never used the HFU rocketchat. Please provide a link and I'll load it up and we can discuss. (I'm basically free this entire weekend, with the exception of attending the local vintage computer show tomorrow morning. But that will be early morning and only for a few hours).

Edit: Found the RocketChat link and just created an account.

79
Amateur Radio / Re: Amateur radio
« on: March 22, 2019, 2053 UTC »
Great idea for a new board.  I'm curious if anyone would like to set up a semi regular SSTV net on 40 meters?

Yes! 40 meters is my go-to band with my current HF setup (ICOM 7300 and Alpha Loop antenna). I have both MMSSTV and EasyPal installed. If others besides myself are interested in your idea of a semi-regular SSTV net, please post dates and times and frequency and I'll most assuredly be there.

80
Over the past week, I have been monitoring my SDR for drift net beacons, from around 1750 to 2500 kHz, mostly in the very early hours of the morning (before dawn, approximately 6:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time) and in the evening (after dark, from around 7:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time). I'm a pretty patient radio listener, but given the wide frequency range where these signals can be found, along with the fact that they seem to only transmit every four or five minutes at a go, it has been a time-consuming effort on my part.

So far, I've not seen/heard anything at all. My location is in Seattle, Washington USA and I'm using my own KiwiSDR with W6LVP mag loop. I generally can hear all signals in the lower frequency ranges quite well.

So, this begs the question here, has anyone else been able to locate and track any of these beacons on the west coast of the United States? I note that Token has posted a video of his catches, but most of the talk on these signals seem to be coming from either people on the east coast of the US, or from the coastal areas of Australia and Asia.

If anyone has picked up any of these signals from a US west coast location, please post frequencies, dates and times, as I'd like to start keeping a log of what others are catching near my location in order to improve my chances.

Thanks!

81
Quote
Would you prefer a separate board for these?  We already have HF beacons (originally meant to be the "pirate" beacons but ham and other beacons end up here as well) and the 22 meter beacon board. We could create one for the drift net / fishing beacons, and make all three of these sub boards of beacons category.  Posts / threads can be moved, so as we find existing drift net beacon posts they can be re-located to the new board.

That sounds like an excellent idea. If we are taking votes on this, then I'm a YES.

82
I have always been a fan of the Cult of the Dead Cow, much more so than the group Anonymous. I've not paid much attention to Beto, but having both punk rock and hacker cred is OK in my book.

83
Strange Beacons:

(Snipped out and saved big list of frequencies)

Best times to listen are the hours of darkness.

Excellent, thank you. I don't know if the same amount of activity will be true for my area of the Pacific Northwest in Seattle, WA USA. But this will give me some idea of the frequency ranges.

84
Does any one chase/log/look for the many, mostly or assumed Asian, drift net fishing beacons on 1.7 to 2.6MHz CW which transmit usually on a four minute key off cycle?

They come into Eastern Australia very well in the hours of darkness and there are literally hundreds of them. 

Scattered around the vast Pacific Ocean bobbing around sending their low powered (10-25w) call sign every four or so minutes three times I have been logging quite a few.

Does any one else share this interest and if so what do you hear and when?

Are they exclusive to the Pacific or are they also being heard in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions too?

I'm definitely interested, but so far, I've never been able to copy one of these signals. Can you recommend any frequencies and times to listen? I live in Seattle, WA and figure that I should be able to pick up something from here.  :D

85
Other / Re: 6990 LSB chanting, Febrarury 14, 2019 - 2300UTC
« on: March 14, 2019, 1840 UTC »
This morning, at 1525 UTC,  they are at it again, on 7000 khz LSB, coming in like gangbusters here (100 miles east of the Pacific Ocean) e.g S = 4 and no fades.  Besides the "call & response" chanting, there has been intermittent low-fi musical bits included during some of the "response" portions of the activity.  Seems to be a fairly good-sized crowd "responding" to the "call" phrase(s) today!  I wish we had an Indonesian-speaking resource available to translate some of this material here on the HFU!  Signal diminished to S = 3 at 1532 UTC, and the "leader" is taking a break for a two-way QSO with another (?) unheard station.  This seems to be a daily routine, based upon my observation over the years!


Osborne White, Engineer
Radio Mysterious Mystic Radio

I cannot vouch for the accuracy, but a person commented on the video I recorded of this same transmission at 7000 kHz with the following:

"They are talking in Indonesian (in a high level of respect) and some parts in Javanese, some parts "be aware," "be careful," and "we thank." It appears that they are performing mantras, to get barakah (Allah's blessings), but in the middle of these mantras, they are saying numbers. Very strange!"

86
Other / Re: 6990 LSB chanting, Febrarury 14, 2019 - 2300UTC
« on: March 12, 2019, 1609 UTC »

87
Spy Numbers / Re: Voice numbers?
« on: March 12, 2019, 1416 UTC »
Aside from HM01 Cuban numbers are there any other voice numbers stations that can be heard in the South Eastern united states? Thanks

In my experience, it all depends on the band conditions. And right now, we are in the midst of some of the worst conditions in the 11 year "solar minimum" cycle. (From Google: "Solar minimum is the period of least solar activity in the 11 year solar cycle of the Sun. During this time, sunspot and solar flare activity diminishes, and often does not occur for days at a time.").

When band conditions improve and if you have a good antenna, then you can probably catch a European number station or two.

88
Other / Re: 6990 LSB chanting, Febrarury 14, 2019 - 2300UTC
« on: March 11, 2019, 1611 UTC »
In fact, just now at 1512 utc on 11 March 2019, I am hearing them on 7000 khz LSB fairly well with intermittent group traffic, and on 6991 khz LSB, making "testing" monosyllabic noises.  The "group" though is on 7000 khz., with repetitive phrases and etc.  Based on the accents  of the stations speaking, Indonesia is the likely QTH.  There is a strong station "leading" the others at ca. S = 3 and numerous "replying" stas. at S = 2 or so, along with at least one voice recorder being used for playback.  The din when they "reply" in unison is pretty darned cool!


Osborne White, Engineer
Radio Mysterious Mystic Radio / WMMR

Yes, I recorded a video of the chanters via a KiwiSDR located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Very strange stuff!

89
Other / Re: 6990 LSB chanting, Febrarury 14, 2019 - 2300UTC
« on: March 10, 2019, 1449 UTC »
This is most likely the infamous "Indonesian Chanters" that appear frequently on 7000 khz, 6995 khz, 6990 khz, 6985 khz, etc. LSB.  I hear them often e.g. four days out of seven on several frequencies most mornings here (100 miles from the Pacific Ocean) from 1500 utc. until they fade out by ca. 1700 utc.

Thanks for supplying the approximate times and frequencies. I've been trying to catch one of these transmissions for a few weeks now, with no luck (as of yet, anyway. But I am a persistent rascal).

90
Utility / Re: Any TACAMO Activity on VLF
« on: March 08, 2019, 2241 UTC »
Set up the Palomar VLF converter & TS-520SE to monitor 17.9kc. Lists call it "channel 1". Heard a fairly strong MSK signal show up from 0200 to 0214 UTC 08 March. Similar sounding to NAA, NAU, NRK, etc. Will see what else shows up while I build another Gyrator.

What mode (CW, AM, other) are you using to listen to the TACAMO signals?

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