Messages

76

Utility / Re: 29780 FEC AMTOR (?) at 0145 UTC on August 26

« on: September 11, 2014, 2127 UTC »

Dag and Token, thanks for the replies.  My old PK-232 TNC is in "deep storage".  Do you suppose were I to drag it out I could decode this signal?

Dag, wonder what your location is?  I'm in Southern California.

I've heard the 29780 signal on days when 10 meters is totally dead--not even propagation beacons.  I've noticed that the 29780 signal fades out around the time of my local sunset.  Perhaps this signal could be a local ground-wave signal, and perhaps it is powered by a solar panel, as it stops at sunset?

77

Utility / 29780 FEC AMTOR (?) at 0145 UTC on August 26

« on: August 26, 2014, 0848 UTC »

Around 0130 UTC here in Southern California I was hearing some fading Latin American signals on 11 meters.  I tuned down to 25500 and only heard a few weak Spanish langauge "freebanders".  Tuning the 10 meter ham band, I heard nothing, not even CW beacons.  But tuning a little above the 10 meter ham band, on 29780 I heard what sounded like FEC AMTOR.  From 0145 to 0200 the signal went from S5 to S1. 

Any idea what this signal was?  If I keep hearing it, I'm going to drag my old TNC out of the closet and try to copy it.

Thanks for any info from Leigh in Santa Barbara, Calif.

78

10/11 meters / 29780 FEC AMTOR (?) at 0145 UTC on August 26

« on: August 26, 2014, 0843 UTC »

Around 0130 UTC here in Southern California I was hearing some fading Latin American signals on 11 meters.  I tuned down to 25500 and only heard a few weak Spanish langauge "freebanders".  Tuning the 10 meter ham band, I heard nothing, not even CW beacons.  But tuning a little above the 10 meter ham band, on 29780 I heard what sounded like FEC AMTOR.  From 0145 to 0200 the signal went from S5 to S1. 

Any idea what this signal was?  If I keep hearing it, I'm going to drag my old TNC out of the closet and try to copy it.

Thanks for any info from Leigh in Santa Barbara, Calif.

79

Other / Re: Unknown amateur 6924 LSB 0007 24 Aug 2014

« on: August 24, 2014, 0156 UTC »

These are ops operating out of band who may carry on conversations in most commonly Spanish, but Portuguese is not unusual.  Collectively they are called  pescs.  At times, music or commercial station relays may also be heard.  They may operate anywhere in the 43 meter funny band, but the frequencies of 6900L, 6925L, 6933L, and 6945L are generally pretty busy in the evenings.

Joe, thanks for the info.  I've heard similar traffic on 6900 and 6905 early evenings in Southern California that sounded like the Spanish "freebanders" from 11 meters.  Does the "pescs" name originate from "pescadero", Spanish for fisherman? 

80

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: X-FM 6945 C-QUAM 0204 UTC 5 July 2014

« on: July 05, 2014, 0528 UTC »

Thanks, Antennae!   I'll send them a QSL e-mail.  What part of California are you in?

81

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: KCPR, 6925 USB, 0321 UTC, July 5, 2014

« on: July 05, 2014, 0405 UTC »

6925 at 0405 UTC--now playing spacey electronic music.  Loud signal in Santa Barbara.  Is this the same KCPR that was playing country music in the last hour or two?  No IDs so far.

82

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: X-FM 6945 C-QUAM 0204 UTC 5 July 2014

« on: July 05, 2014, 0401 UTC »

   ummm... make that 0355 UTC...

83

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: X-FM 6945 C-QUAM 0204 UTC 5 July 2014

« on: July 05, 2014, 0354 UTC »

First pirate I've heard in a long time.  Fairly decent signal in Santa Barbara, Calif., at 0455 UTC.  Currently listening in USB on a Index Labs QRP Plus rig which does not have AM, but am able to notch the carrier out via an Autek QF-1A filter. 

Have they given a QSL address yet?  I heard something about a Gmail address, but was not able to copy it all.