Topics

76

Fishing Drift Net Beacons / DNB's 28th Oct 2019

« on: October 28, 2019, 1115 UTC »

0959z  2.609MHz  CC6  559 report.
1155z  2.335MHz  GH9  529 report.
1157z  2.285MHz  CX1  529 report.
1050z  2.059MHz  DA8  559 report.

77

Equipment / Yaesu FT-1000D repairs & parts...

« on: October 08, 2019, 1244 UTC »

After many years of faithful service my Yaesu FT-1000D had a massive receiver failure (lightning strike and power surge all in one), had the radio since new so over 20 years of reliability.

Be warned, with the older radio gear that spare parts are becoming a major problem, none for this radio available from the Yaesu agents in Australia.

Contacted Yaesu in Japan and told the company has a policy, which has been in place for a number of years, that back up spares for radio transceivers over 10 years old is discontinued.

I needed four components that had blown on a major board and three on the receiver board, last resort was via two old Japanese radio amateur friends, one posted a request on a Japanese amateur radio bulletin board and was successful in obtaining what I required.

Be warned, getting major components for the older radio's is becoming harder as the years pass...

78

MW Loggings / Radio-1 Fiji

« on: October 08, 2019, 1233 UTC »

Last night I logged Radio Fiji-1, Naula (Suva), Viti Levu Island in Fiji on 558KHz at 1023z with local Fijian language chat and village singing.

Good readable 5X7 at peak, gone after 10 or so minutes.

Rare to hear this one with two Australian and one New Zealand station also sharing this frequency.

79

Shortwave Broadcast / 5010KHz Radio National, Madagascar

« on: October 05, 2019, 1731 UTC »

Looks like an extended broadcast from Radio National in Antananarivo, Madagascar this morning with local singers and village style music session at 1715z (over an hour longer than scheduled), was actually looking for All India Radio from Thiruvananthapurum, could just hear them getting squashed under Madagascar's 100Kw transmitter.

80

Longwave Loggings / NDB Logs September 2019

« on: October 04, 2019, 0941 UTC »

A month of plenty of ups and downs with varying propagation, a friend of mine at Muttaburra, in Northern Queensland scored a good logging by way of:

1334z  350KHz  BM  Blagoveschensk, Asiatic Russia (near border with China) for a 419 report and 8,153kms. He was using a Loop antenna and Icom receiver.

Just the usual this way just short of 4,000kms and most of the same old regulars noted plus one new one in New Zealand:

UTC    Freq      Call    Location                         Kms               RST

1438z  221KHz  KU    Kunanurra, Western Australia 2,914kms 419 report
1436z  240KHz  ABA  Albany, Western Australia 2,962kms 519 report
1439z  404KHz  KA    Karratha, Western Australia 3,568kms 419 report.
1441z  232KHz  NWN Newman, Western Australia 3,1189kms 519 report
1445z  322KHz  CI    Chatham Island, New Zealand, 3,095kms 519 report.
1458z  377KHz  WP   Weipa, Northern Queensland, 2,466kms 419 report
1459z  366KHz  TU    Timaru, New Zealand, 2,184kms 419 report (seldom heard)
1302z  356KHz  TN    Tindal, Northern Territory, 2,785kms 529 report
1500z  326KHz  ESP   Esperance, Western Australia, 2,619kms 519 report.
1601z  323KHz  CAR  Carnarvon, Western Australia 3,663kms 519 report.
1518z  272KHz  TNK  Tennant Creek, Northern Territory 2,224kms 519 report.
1518z  287KHz  KG    Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 2,722kms 529 report.
1530z  260KHz  PD    Port Hedland, Western Australia, 3,434kms 519 report.
1355z  268KHz  FRT   Forrest, Western Australia, 2,191kms 419 report.
1615z  377KHz  LEO   Leonora, Western Australia 2,793kms 419 report.
1306z  278KHz  WS    Westport, New Zealand, 2,081kms 529 report.
1352z  382KHz  WU    Wanganui, New Zealand, 2,352kms 519 report.
1352z  346KHz  TG    Tauranga, New Zealand, 2,357kms 529 report.
1352z  230KHz  AP    Taupo, New Zealand, 2,393kms 519 report.
1500z  242KHz  PP    Paraparamu, New Zealand, 2,344kms 419 report.
1601z  358KHz  NL    Newlands, New Zealand, 2,316kms 519 report.
1555z  254KHz  WI    Waiuku, New Zealand, 2,263kms 419 report.
1557z  326KHz  WR   Whangarei, New Zealand, 2,211kms 529 report.
1422z  366KHz  SF    Springfield, New Zealand, 2,207kms 529 report.
1007z  310KHz  HK    Hokitika, New Zealand, 2,081kms 579 report.
1010z  238KHz  KT    Kaitaia, New Zealand, 2,128kms 569 report.
1015z  260KHz  NF    Norfolk Island, Australia, 1,765kms 579 report.
1311z  362KHz  WK   Whakatane, New Zealand, 2,467kms 519 report.
1328z  383KHz  WLU  Wiluna, Western Australia, 2,973kms 319 report.
1328z  390KHz  HN    Hamilton, New Zealand, 2,315kms 419 report.
1329z  394KHz  BE    Berridale, New Zealand, 2,169kms 319 report. (seldom heard)
1413z  254KHz  AS    Ashburton, New Zealand, 2,196kms 519 report.
1437z  274KHz  GB    Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, 2,320kms 319 report. (seldom heard)
1258z  314KHz  RD    Miranda, New Zealand, 2,314kms 319 report. New logging, mixed up with GPRS.
1431z  293KHz  CUN  Cunderin, Western Australia, 3,085kms 419 report.
1324z  242KHz  KOW Kowanyma, Northern Queensland, 2,190Kms 419 report.
1400z  386KHz  LX    Alexandra, New Zealand, 2,099kms 519 report.
1839z  233KHz  AYE  Ayres Rock, Northern Territory, 2,072kms 519 report.
1418z  350KHz  KI    Kaikoura, New Zealand, 2,279kms 319 report.

Unidentified signals:

1327z  424KHz  ?  Unidentified "idler" type signal, common on SW bands to reserve/hold a frequency. Not a harmonic, in/out 529 at best. 18th September 2019
1348z  472KHz  ?  Weak CW around 8wpm floating on noise threshold, purpose/location unknown, not a beacon. Maybe experimental licence station. 18th September 2019

As per usual, I am a distance chaser, and tend not to bother with beacons under 2,000kms range unless it's a new logging.

81

Longwave Loggings / BM 350KHz Asiatic Russia hrd in Australia for 8,215kms.

« on: September 26, 2019, 1251 UTC »

Was informed the other day that my friend John VK4FNQ at Muttaburra, in Central Queensland, Australia logged the following:

350KHz  BM  1324z CW 319-419 report Blagoveschensk, Asiatic Russia for 8,215kms.

John emailed me a sound recording of the event, quite audible and clearly identified as such, quite a catch!

82

Utility / Time Signal 6780KHz CW

« on: September 26, 2019, 0612 UTC »

Have an unidentified Time Signal service on 6.780MHz CW with pips on the second and extended tone/pip on 00 & 30 second intervals running 0558z (first heard) and still running at 0620z.

Good steady 559 report, not listed in my Time Signal service for HF papers nor nothing found via Google.

In comparison, CHU on 7.850MHz CW Canadian Time Signal only 419 report at best, suggesting the signal is from the Asia/Pacific region. Long path to Europe very weak.

Can anyone improve on the above?

83

Other / 5690KHz Japanese/English voice tx

« on: September 20, 2019, 0003 UTC »

At 1244z I happened upon two Japanese men on 5.690MHz USB in broken English and Japanese giving what appears to be a weather report, figures given were in mixed Japanese/English and also heard "QNH" mentioned.

Cannot find any relation to aviation on this frequency, found reference to European marine though in the past on this one.

Maybe this is a Japanese airline LDOC frequency? Then again marine?  However, the term "QNH" is used almost exclusively by the aviation sector and not marine. No Selcal check heard, both stations were in the order of 5X5 to 5X8 reports.

Maybe someone on HFU has reference to this one, especially the HF aviation diehards?

84

Other / 5818KHz CW

« on: September 19, 2019, 2357 UTC »

Came across a good fist of about 10wpm sending steady, evenly spaced, single letters, no numbers, for around five minutes at 1231z on 5.818MHz CW.

The transmission concluded with "K" but didn't hear any station respond. The report was a good 579.

I suspect this is Chinese military, looking back, a few years ago M89 was noted on this frequency sending the standard Roundslip.

Any ideas from our valued team at HFU?

85

Spy Numbers / M89 Chinese Military CW

« on: September 12, 2019, 0937 UTC »

09 Sep  1352z  3.156MHz  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P"  539 report.
09 Sep  1335z  3.597MHz  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P"  419 report.
15 Sep  1742z  3.642MHz  "v DKG6 DKG6 DKG6 de 3A7D 3A7D"  319 report.

13 Sep  1145z  4.192MHz  "v 2B7D 2B7D 2B7D de 3GR1 3GR1"  419 report.
09 Sep  1336z  4.489MHz  "v 2B7D 2B7D 2B7D de 3GR1 3GR1"  519 report.
14 Sep  1120z  4.860MHz  "vvv Q2M Q2M Q2M de NYZ NYZ"      319 report.

13 Sep  0942z  5.691MHz  "v 2B7D 2B7D 2B7D de 3GR1 3GR1" 419 report.
12 Sep  1326z  5.801MHz   "DKG6 DKG6 DKG6 de 3A7D 3A7D" 319 report.
12 Sep  1324z  5.920MHz  "vvv Q2M Q2M Q2M de NYZ NYZ QSA ? K" 419 report.

09 Sep  1340z  6.913MHz  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P"  559 report.

12 Sep  0928z  7.397MHz  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P"  579 report.

86

Longwave Loggings / NDB logs August 2019

« on: August 31, 2019, 0005 UTC »

Good conditions one night/morning and then terrible the next, August was a reasonably good month with a very good opening on the night/morning of 26th August with a couple of new ones gratefully received.  All logged between 1200-1800z:

Freq      Call    Location                              Kms         Report

322  CI     Chatham Island, New Zealand 3,095kms 519
377  WP    Weipa, Northern QLD 2,466kms  419
366  SF     Springfield, New Zealand 2,207kms 319
242  PP     Paraparamu, New Zealand 2,344kms 419
335  AS     Alice Springs, Northern Territory 1,915kms 359 (all carrier, weak CW ident)
382  WU    Wanganui, New Zealand 2,325kms 529
326  WG    Whangarei, New Zealand, 2,211kms 529
404  COE   Coen, Northern QLD, 2,284kms 419
326  ESP   Esperance, Western Australia 2,619kms 519
268  FRT   Forrest, Western Australia 2,191kms 419
323  CAR  Carnarvon, Western Australia 3,663kms 519
287  KG    Kalgoorlie, Western Australia 2,722kms 519
230  AP    Taupo, New Zealand 2,393kms 419
310  HK    Hokitika, New Zealand 2,081kms 559
238  KT    Kaitiaia, New Zealand, 2,128kms 539
390  HN   Hamilton, New Zealand 2,315kms 519
358  NL    Newlands, New Zealand 2,316kms 419
254  AS     Ashburton, New Zealand 2,196kms 319
346  TG     Tauranga, New Zealand 2,357kms 519
395  MOG  Mount Morgan, Western Australia 3.136kms 419 (New logging)
260  PD     Port Hedland. Western Australia 3,434kms 419
392  LHR   Lockhart River, North Queensland 2,421kms 519
278  PBO   Paraburdoo, Western Australia 3,362kms 319 (New logging)
311  NTN   Normanton, North Queensland 1,393kms 529
364  CS     Cairns, North Queensland 1,914kms 519
278  WS    Wesport, New Zealand 2,081kms 539
383  WLU  Wiluna, Western Australia 2,973kms 419
356  TN     Tindal, Northern Territory 2,785kms 529
404  MGD  Maningrida, Northern Territory 2,883kms 419
272  TNK   Tennant Creek, Northern Territory 2,224kms 539
240  ABA   Albany, Western Australia 2,962kms 519
242  KOW  Kowanyama, North Queensland 2,190kms 519
380  GV     Gove, Northern Territory 2,783kms 319
233  NWN  Newman, Western Australia 3,189kms 519
233  AYE    Ayres Rock, Northern Territory 2,182kms 539
293  CUN   Cunderin, Western Australia 3,085kms 419
404  KA     Karratha, Western Australia 3,581kms 519
350  KI     Kaikoura, New Zealand 2,281kms 419

475  ??    Unidentified Digital Data signal fading in/out, 319 report at best, location unknown. 1402z.

(The above frequency of 475KHz is a designated "Experimental Licence" frequency in Australia and New Zealand.)

Note: I tend not to bother with NDB's under 2,000kms as I am a "Distance Chaser" so many of the regular beacons heard under the 2,000km benchmark are not recorded unless a new logging is found in that arena.

87

Utility / Aviation logs.

« on: August 07, 2019, 1631 UTC »

Propagation varies from good to very poor, however the following have been noted in past week (all in USB mode):

2.965MHz  HSD Bangkok Radio Volmet, Thailand with major Asian capitals airport weather reports and Sigmet updates. 1340z 5X7 report.

3.467MHz  Auckland ATC, New Zealand (MWARA SP-6) wkg Jetstar-130 enroute RAR-AKL pos report & Selcal check. 1425z 5X7 report.
3.470MHz  Jakarta ATC, Ujang Padang, Indonesia (RDARA-??) wkg aircraft in Bhasa Indonesian language with Selcal check. 1832z 5X5 report.
3.470MHz  Brisbane ATC, Australia (MWARA SEA-3)) wkg CX-111 enroute HKG-SYD, altitude change. 1615z 5X7 report.

4.666MHz  Singapore ATC, Singapore (MWARA SEA-2) wkg Scooter-13?? "can you please re log back on?" 1444z 5X2 report.

5.505MHz  EIP Shannon, County Clare, Ireland with long Volmet report, 0654z 5X4 report via Long Path for 22,709kms.
5.628MHz  San Fransisco ATC, USA (MWARA NP-1) "unidentified aircraft please call again 5.628?" 1446z 5X4 report.
5.658MHz  Mumbai ATC, India (MWARA MID-2) wkg unidentified aircraft (weak) pos report & Selcal check. 1624z 4X3 report.

6.556MHz  Chennai Radio ATC, India (MWARA SEA-1) wkg Singapore-?? with flight path weather update and altitude change. 1931z 5X2 report.
6.604MHz  VFP Gander Radio, Newfoundland, Canada with Volmet report and Sigmet updates. 0654z 5X1 report.
6.628MHz  Santa Maria ATC, Azores (MWARA NAT-E) wkg various aircraft (very weak) with pos report & Selcal. 0544z 5X4 report via Long Path for 19,457kms.
6.676MHz  9VA-40 Singapore Radio, Singapore with major Asian airport Volmet report and weather updates. 1922z 5X5 report.
6.676MHz  HSD Bangkok Radio, Thailand with major Asian airports Volmet report. 1643z 5X6 report.-

8.822MHz  Flight Watch, Australia (RDARA 14-A) wkg VH-AEP "No reported IFR traffic" 0127z 5X7 report.
8.831MHz  Flight Watch, Australia (RDARA 14-B) wkg aircraft with mechanical issue on tarmac (engine stalled, unable to taxi). 0626z 5X5 report.
8.834MHz  Sentani ATC, Jayapura, Indonesia (RDARA-??) wkg domestic flight in Bhasa Indonesia language, Selcal check heard. 0018z 5X1 report.
8.843MHz  Flight Watch, Australia (RDARA 14-C) wkg VH-UOL enroute SNB-DRW giving weather update. 0656z 5x5 report.
8.843MHz  San Fransisco ATC, USA (MWARA CEP-1) wkg United-?? pos report & Selcal check plus Sigmet update. 0631z 5X3 report.
8.867MHz  Nadi Radio ATC, Fiji Islands (MWARA SP-6) wkg Fiji-913 enroute BNE-NAN altitude change and Sigmet update. 0755z 5X9 report.
8.870MHz  Unident American ATC (HNL or SFO??) wkg unreadable aircraft, Selcal check noted 0820z 3x3 report.

13.261MHz  San Fransisco ATC, USA (MWARA SP-6) wkg United-806 enroute INC-SFO Boeing 777-200, Pos report & Selcal check. 0525z 5X3 report.

17.904MHz  Nadi Radio ATC, Fiji Islands (MWARA SP-6) wkg unident aircraft into Nadi, ETA time and Sigmet update. 5X2 report.

88

Spy Numbers / M89 Chinese Military CW (07th & 08th Aug 2019)

« on: August 07, 2019, 1540 UTC »

Some improved conditions on lower HF bands has generated the following from the Chinese M89 stations:

3.156MHz  CW  "vvv 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P" 319-419 report at 1609z
3.156MHz  CW  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P" 529 report at 1324z. 09th August 2019. (Only one "v" on preamble tonight and not three) Went off air at 1328z.
3.597MHz  CW  "vvv 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P" 519 report at 1152z.


4.131MHz  CW  M89 station sending mixed letters and numbers stream at high speed, no roundslip format. 1140z 23rd Aug 2019.
4.192MHz  CW  "v HFLU HFLU HFLU de M6NY M6NY" 319 report at 1615z.
4.192MHz  CW  "v 2B7D 2B7D 2B7D de 3GR1 3GR1" 319 report at 1516z. (Roundslip change 09 Aug 2019)
4.489MHz  CW  "v HFLU HFLU HFLU de M6NY M6NY" 529 report at 1622z.
4.489MHz  CW  "v D72H D72H D72H de 1HM4 1HM4" 429 report at 1140z. (14th Aug 2019).

5.691MHz  CW  "v HFLU HFLU HFLU de M6NY M6NY" 539 report at 1215z.

6.913MHz  CW  "v 3JWV 3JWV 3JWV de QH4P QH4P" 549 report at 1329z. (30th Aug 2019)

Note: I seen somewhere where HFLU was reported as "HFL2", heard this way was actually and clearly "HFLU."  Still sending "HFLU" as of today 23rd Aug 2019 at 1145z.

Will up date for the remainder of August if anything new observed/logged.

All received via "natural methods" ie: no computer or remote assistance, just good old fashioned monitoring.

89

Amateur Radio / 2m VHF band to be surrendered to aviation?

« on: July 24, 2019, 1640 UTC »

There has been a lot of discussion in the past three weeks about suggestions that the 2m amateur radio VHF band could be given to the aviation sector.

Mainly Europe being mentioned and also a hint that Asia/Pacific could follow through with same proposal.

With a huge increase in world wide aero traffic the current band from 118-137MHz is under stress from traffic overload and pressure is mounting to expand into a new frequency block (ie: 2m amateur radio band) to ease channel congestion and enhance communications safety.

I often listen to Brisbane Centre here in Australia on 119.700MHz and Melbourne Centre on 129.800MHz and in morning and afternoon peak flight arrival/departure times the ATC is literally working one aircraft after another on this sector, often aircraft can be heard doubling together calling the ATC centres.

So something has to be done to ease congestion on the 25KHz spacing allocation currently under stress.

90

Other / 3044 USB

« on: July 24, 2019, 1624 UTC »

Came across two men speaking in what appears to be Portugese at 1615z on 3.044MHz USB 25th July 2019, one was 5X7 report and the other 5X9 plus 10dB over.

Lot's of mention of Espanol, el Mundo, Europa and cambio and Spanish sounding numbers, but not Spanish language, maybe a vague variant or possibly Portugese.

Could be fishing trawlers in the Pacific, signals far too strong to be coming from Brasil or Europe.

Not often I hear this on 3MHz, usually Korean, Japanese or Chinese chatter from fishing boats etc.

Any ideas from the HFU team, Google no help.