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Topics - Looking-Glass

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91
Longwave Loggings / June 2019 NDB logs
« on: July 13, 2019, 1538 UTC »
June was a relatively good month with some good distances obtained, however, July has had a poor start so far.  Beacons over 1,500kms only quoted in the log below:

201    WK   1853z    Waikabubak, Indonesia 4,115kms*
226    KK    1242z    Kerikeri, New Zealand 2,189kms
230    AP    1202z    Taupo, New Zealand 2,393kms
238    KT    0801z    Kaitaia, New Zealand, 2,128kms
240    ABA  1452z    Albany, Western Australia 2,962kms
242    PP     1132z   Paraparamu, New Zealand 2,344kms
242    KOW  1424z   Kowanyama, Nroth Queensland 2,190kms
251    MEK  1447z    Meekatharra, Western Australia 3,143kms
254    AS    1548z    Ashburton, New Zealand 2,196kms
254    WI    1141z    Waiuku, New Zealand 2,263kms
260    PD    2002z    Port Hedland, Western Australia 3,434kms
268    FRT   1624z    Forrest, Western Australia 2,191kms
272    TNK   1700z   Tennant Creek, Northern Territory 2,224kms
274    GB    1144z    Great Barrier Island, New Zealand 2,320kms
278    WS    0900z   Westport, New Zealand 2,081kms
287    KG    1633z    Kalgoorlie, Western Australia 2,722kms
307    NA    1306z    Nausori, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands 3,310kms
310    HK     0815z   Hokitika, New Zealand 2,081kms
311    NTN   1304z   Normanton, North Queensland 1,993kms
322    CI      1527z   Chatham Island, New Zealand 3,142kms
323    CAR   1751z   Carnarvon, Western Australia 3,663kms
325    NW    1659z   La Tontouta, New Caledonia 2,025kms
326    ESP   1704z    Esperance, Western Australia 2,619kms
326    WR    1639z    Whangarei, New Zealand 2,221kms
335    ASP   1702z    Alice Springs, Northern Territory 1,915kms
346    TG     1125z    Tauranga, New Zealand 2,357kms
350    KI     1146z    Kaikoura, New Zealand 2,279kms
354    FND   1658z   La Tontouta, New Caledonia 2,025kms
356    TN    1748z    Tindal, Northern Terriory 2,785kms
362    WK   1532z    Whakatane, New Zealand 2,467kms
364    CS    1709z    Cairns, North Queensland 1,914kms
366    SF    1533z    Springfield, New Zealand 2,207kms
377    WP   1851z    Weipa, North Queensland 2,466kms
382    WU   1533z    Wanganui, New Zealand 2,325kms
383    WLU  1923z    Wiluna, Western Australia 2,973kms
386    LX     1141z   Alexandra, New Zealand, 2,099kms
390    HN    1140z    Hamilton, New Zealand 2,315kms
404    KA    1628z    Karratha, Western Australia 3,581kms
404    COE  1710z    Coen, North Queensland 2,286kms

*  201KHz WK Waikabubak, Indonesia a new logging, took 15 minutes of constant listening to get it out on morning Grey Line, very weak copy entire time, three minute fade out cycles noted.  It was this very same morning that I also logged three Chinese stations on Medium Wave earlier, prior to Grey Line fringe.

92
Joint training exercises between the Australian military and their US counterparts is being conducted off the coast of northern Australia (Queensland) and inland.  With the mandatory Chinese spy ship lurking nearby, of course, in international waters.  Not to mention the odd Russian "trawler" bristling with antennae also lurking about nearby... 8)

No call signs have been furnished, beacons due to be active from Friday 12th of July 2019, 50 watts power, concluding around 25th July 2019.

The ACAMA (Australian radio licencing authorities) have issued the military the following frequencies for the period stated above.

272KHz, 320KHz, 424KHz & 439KHz

No mention as to whether they will be operating 24 hours though.  Good luck in the search... :)

93
Longwave Loggings / New Zealand NDB review, some to go soon.
« on: July 11, 2019, 1227 UTC »
It was announced that the following NDB's in New Zealand will be turned off from 07th November 2019:

226KHz  FY  Ferry

254KHz  AS  Ashburton

274KHz  GB  Great Barrier Island

346KHz  MO  Manapouri

386KHz  LX  Alexandra

There will be four more scheduled to be turned off in 2020, as yet call signs not announced.  So log them whilst you still can, propagation permitting. 8)

94
Other / 8834 USB
« on: July 04, 2019, 1624 UTC »
Been getting an Asian/Eastern European voice on a regular basis on 8.834MHz USB but cannot identify language positively as border line copy at best, leaning towards our neighbour Indonesia.

Time scope is 2200z to 0200z depending on propagation.  Brief transmissions, one sided so far noted.  Maybe Russian military in Far East?

However, Indonesia does not feature on aviation data base as a user of this channel, only South Africa on voice mode listed for 8.834MHz.

Checked the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority HF lists and nil allocation on 8.834MHz mentioned.

They are not using the required English either for an aviation HF channel so anyones guess. Also no Selcal check tones heard as per usual with aircraft domestic freqs.

Any help please?   :)

95
MW Loggings / Chinese stations
« on: July 04, 2019, 1616 UTC »
Propagation has been very erratic the past few nights this way, was getting odd quick distance hops on NDB band and strange propagation noise so went up to MW for a look around.

Quite a number of New Zealand stations coming in from the big ticket (high power) end of town.

Surprise was:

1126z  909KHz  China National Radio, Voice of Shenzhou, Fujian, China, with commentary by male in Chinese with military band music. Peaked 5X9 plus 10dB over before fading out.

1146z  783KHz  Voice of the Strait, Zhanghou Prefecture, Fujian, China broadcast in Mandarin to Taiwan with Chinese pop music, a fair but readable 5X7 report with fade downs.

Been quite a long time since I have heard China on MW, hard to get them due to clutter of Australian and New Zealand high powered stations across the MW band. Looked for Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Philippines but nothing.
 

96
Shortwave Broadcast / 4940 AM unident?
« on: June 22, 2019, 1245 UTC »
1215z onwards on 4940KHz playing continual classic hits of 80's and 90's, 15 second break between songs, no ident or announcer, just carrier.

Must be in Australia or New Zealand as signal is 5X9 plus 20 to 30dB over with slight fades, nothing found via Google or SW sites. Could be old Ozy Radio back again?

1259z there were time pips then announcement and news bulletin in Cantonese, Voice Of The Straits in China operating out of programme schedule times, huge signal here, strongest on the band.

Mystery solved...

97
Shortwave Broadcast / 3210KHz Unique Radio, Australia
« on: June 22, 2019, 1155 UTC »
Just came across this one playing Sentana from the Europa Album, in the USB mode too.

Some scratching about the net shows it to be "Unique Radio, Sounds of Your Life" on 3210KHz USB.

Australian male giving details about the "guest band".  I haven't heard this one before so quite a surprise. At 1140z the station was 5X9 peaking 20dB over with sharp fades.

Don't know if this is a pirate or legal broadcaster. They also have a 5MHz frequency of 5.045MHz. ;)

Found the web site, they are broadcasting from Gunnedah, a country town in NSW, Australia. They invite emailed reception reports and comment.

Check them out: https://www.uniqueradio.biz

The email address they give looks familiar too, think the now defunct Ozy Radio used the same. (dxer1234@gmail.com)

98
Fishing Drift Net Beacons / Early May log.
« on: June 08, 2019, 2341 UTC »
Propagation has been very poor on the low bands in the past couple of weeks so very little to report, however, last night the band opened up and the following logged:

Freq    Call    UTC    Report

1.922.5  FZ106 1325z 559*
2.032  KK2  1234z  419               2.407  AA2   1236z  419
2.070  XK4   1235z  519              2.423  EA4   1220z  559
2.076  DU3  1405z  539               2.433  EA8   1117z  319
2.092  XA2   1603z  419              2.467  RM0  1303z   419
2.100  WQ5  1409z  539              2.473  EB2   1121z   519
2.111  AV2   1552z  529              2.507  VG8   1355z  419
2.128  UB3   1406z  419              2.511  GI9   1400z   529
2.149  AO1   1559z  559              2.542  NC5  1315z   519
2.216  ZS9   1128z  519              2.543  BU1   1358z  419
2.255  DP5   1253z  319              2.549  QL1   1125z  519
2.281  BR1   1246z  419              2.582  LM4   1310z  539
2.305  DZ3   1402z  559              2.649  UW3  1308z  529
2.305  UI6    1257z  529              2.659  AJ7   1110z  519
2.308  CI7    1256z  519              2.669  DC7  1126z  539
2.325  AQ7   1550z  419              2.679  ZZ0  1314z   419
2.325  ER1   1122z  559
2.337  PU7   1250z  519
2.341  AJ8    1131z  529
2.360  AP8   1230z  419
2.367  RG4   1115z  419
2.370  EL7   1133z  539

* 1.922.5MHz CW is a SELCAL activated Japanese drift net beacon, so it has no preceding or ending carrier, nor does it have a regular transmit cycle.  This beacon is only activated on a need be basis by the Mother Ship.  This frequency, plus 1.978.5MHz CW are SELCAL activated beacon frequencies and they have been allocated a "block" of call signs (two letters X three numbers) by the Japanese fishing authorities.  The only way to log them is to continually monitor those two frequencies when the band is open and hope for the best.

A similar situation possible exists on 2.005MHz as well with a unique 1X1 callsign (one number plus one letter) used at random times.

99
General Radio Discussion / LED public street lighting...
« on: June 08, 2019, 2302 UTC »
Just engaged in a conversation on 6m regarding the trend within Australian local government counclls replacing bulb style street lights with LED energy efficient and brighter lighting.

All good for the general public we may say, brighter lights and saving our local council hefty energy accounts, but the interference to the humble radio enthusiast is not to be ignored.

One of the round table conversation said last month the council upgraded the corner street light to LED and since that day he has a constant strength seven noise level across the majority of the HF bands.  His house is around 80m from the said pole light.

If it's not modern home appliances generating excessive RF across the HF spectrum, now we have to deal with local government installing LED lights in order to be seen "being green" etc.

The fight goes on against man made generated RF and our hobby... >:(

100
Longwave Loggings / May 2019 NDB's
« on: June 01, 2019, 2351 UTC »
May was a varied month with propagation all over the place, in the past fortnight I have been struggling to get over 2,000kms.

1539z  242  PP    Paraparamu, New Zealand 2,344kms 519
1701z  260  NF    Norfolk Island, 1,765kms 579
1144z  233  AYE  Ayres Rock NT, 2,072kms 519
1602z  268  FRT  Forrest, Western Australia, 2,191kms 419
1455z  272  TNK Tennant Creek, NT 2,274kms 419
1704z  278  WS  Westport, New Zealand 2,081kms 519
1555z  293  CUN Cunderin, Western Australia, 3,085kms 419
1320z  326  WR   Whangarei, New Zealand, 2,111kms 519
1708z  364  CS   Cairns, Queensland 1,914kms 419
1310z  242  KOW Kowanyama, North Queensland, 2,190kms 519
1851z  236  KT    Kaitaia, New Zealand 2,128kms 539.
1424z  356  TN   Tindal, Northern Territory, 2,785kms 519
1436z  326  ESP  Esperance, Western Australia, 2,619kms 519
1437z  311  NTN  Normanton, Northern Queensland, 1,993kms 519
1215z  230  AP    Taupo, New Zealand 2,393kms 419
1216z  382  WU   Wanganui, New Zealand 2,325kms 519
1537z  240  ABA  Albany, Western Australia 2,962kms 319-419
1539z  326  CAR  Carnarvon, Western Australia, 3,663kms 419
1640z  287  KG    Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 2,722kms 519
1516z  322  CI    Chatham Island, New Zealand, 3,142kms 519
0817z  310  HK    Hokitika, New Zealand, 2,081kms 539
1501z  383  WLU  Wiluna, Western Australia, 2,973kms 419

101
May has been an interesting month for Drift Net Beacons in the Pacific region.  Some signals have reached 599 report at various times of the late night/early morning monitoring sessions. 

Some call sign variants have also popped up, normally in this region I only hear 2X1 (two letters one number) but this month some surprises have been heard:

1.776      CW 2AFFG      0810z   529  22nd May 19.
1817       CW  TTT         0854z  529  22nd May 19.  Possible misfiring beacon, can be heard as TMT on occasions, irregular character spacing.
1922.5    CW  FP919     1119z  549  24th May 19.
1978.5    CW  FK221     1020z  569  22nd May 19.
1978.5    CW  FQ85?     1024z  559  22nd May 19.  (? indicates missed number)

2005       CW  7G         1935z  539   22nd May 19.
2005       CW  8F          1634z  559   24th May 19.

2122       CW  DO63     1810z  519   02nd May 19.
2139       CW  4FRL      1933z  569   19th May 19.
2218       CW  AN94      2030z  519   19th May 19.

2307       CW  BMD1     1039z   519   19th May 19.
2317       CW  BMP9      1042z  519   19th May 19.

A line of call sign series has also emerged, often only a few Kilohertz apart:

1831     CW    OB2     0746z  569   24th May 19
1842     CW    OB3     0942z  519   21st May 19.
1853     CW    OB4     1320z  539   22nd May 19.
1863     CW    OB5     0859z  559   02nd May 19.

1811    CW    OA0     0831z  519    21 May 19.
1801    CW    OA9     0830z  529    21 May 19.
1789    CW    OA8     1450z  519    02 May 19.
1779    CW    OA7     1603z  559    20 May 19.
1748    CW    OA4     1117z  529    20 May 19.
1717    CW    OA1     1421z  559    24 May 19.

Only need OA2, OA3, OA5 and OA6 to complete the above "OA" series.

The above observations make logging and chasing DNB's all that much more interesting, especially call sign block patterns and variants in call sign make up, in saying that, around 98% of all DNB's logged comprise of the two x one format (two letters plus one number).

Also the beacons logged on 1922.5 and 1978.5 are not the usual standard DNB.  There is no preceding nor ending carrier and there is no two to four minute key on/off period, they are a new type of "Tropical Ocean Tuna Longline Fishing Buoy" made by Ryokuseisha Electronics in Japan, with just a three watt transmitter.  They are also restricted to use "Movement Range: Pacific".

Likewise, the two on 2005 (7G and 8F) also exhibit similarities to the two frequencies mentioned above, no preceding/ending carrier, no four minute cycle and appear at random.

So unless you monitor those two frequencies for extended periods you have little chance coming across them by accident.  I see to think they are only activated by the Mother Ship using Selcal transmission and thus conserve battery energy.  I looked at these beacons on the company website which was in Japanese.



102
Today I came across CI7 on 2.308MHz CW transmitting continuous at the rather early hour of 0430z, which is 2.30pm local time in broad afternoon daylight with the Grey Line across the Pacific a long time off. The signal report was 419-519 but clearly audible.

The beacon is still audible at 0830z with a signal of 559 peaking 579 which is quite strong.

CI7 was not alone either with BH4 on 2.205MHz CW also noted in continuous transmission mode around the same time, similar signal report.

I am around 110kms direct line to nearest coast thus very far from the ocean where these beacons are. Also there is a mountain range inbetween.

Not a bad little effort from two low powered DNB's bobbing about in the Pacific, possibly off the coast of Sydney NSW would be the best bet I think.

Groundwave is probably the answer I think, but would appreciate comments from fellow HFU DXers. ;)

103
Fishing Drift Net Beacons / DNB three on one frequency.
« on: May 21, 2019, 0416 UTC »
Great opening for the DNB's last night with many new loggings and some old favourites that have been active since March noted too.

Of special interest was a "three on one" situation, not heard for many months 20th May (UTC date):

2.305  DZ3  1221z  559 report  last heard 19th April.

2.305  GX6  1222z  539 report a new logging.

2.305  UI6  1224z  529 report last heard 26th March.

GX6 was virtually "tail gating" DZ3 and UI6 followed around a minute later after GX6 had keyed off. Never heard three beacons on the same frequency so close together before.

Little irregularities like that make it all the more fun and interesting this way... ;)

104
HF Beacons / Mystery LW band beacon 1978.5 CW
« on: May 20, 2019, 1148 UTC »
For the last two nights I have came across the following beacon from around 1030z or so onwards.

Frequency (KHz):  1978.5

Text sent: FK224 FK224 FK22I

Interval:  Every two or so minutes.

Report: 519-559 with fades.

It's outside the VK/ZL 160m amateur band, and transmits FK22 "India" as last of three group sequence before keying off. Not a drift net fishing beacon as the last of the the three groups is different from first two of block.

Tried Google with little success.

Any ideas from our expert panel of HFers? 8)

105
Fishing Drift Net Beacons / DNB logs for May 2019
« on: May 19, 2019, 1207 UTC »
After around three weeks of virtually nothing on the DNB band, an excellent opening was experienced tonight, 19th May 2019 (UTC date). Signals varied from around 419 to 579 report, the band was low on noise but some harmonics from the AM broadcast band evident 2.450-2.490MHz.

Just as an aside, some 172 unique DNB call signs were logged as the end total for the month of April 2019, the lowest heard on 1.712MHz and the highest on 2.777MHz.

For May 2019 I have logged 203 unique call signs from 1.711MHz through to 2.784MHz, so back to the very start again from 01st June 2019.  Just to clarify, a Unique Call means it has been logged for the first time that month, it may have also been heard in the month previous.

Observations/comments:

DNB's 2.069MHz AQ3 and 2.087MHz UX6, plus 2.565MHz DN3 were all transmitting continuous with no key off cycle.

Some ATNO's were also logged plus a few regulars tonight/this morning (my time).

Nice to hear two 3X1 (Three letters & one number) callsigns plus a 2 X 2 (two letters & two numbers) which are not common here so are welcomed additions. A unique 1 X 3 (One number plus three letters) was also logged as a new one.

Also note 2.381MHz "ZP0" has been around for nearly two straight months.

Freq    Call       UTC    RST  Comments

1.711  AK5     1105z  529     a new logging.
1.916  ZO3     1125z  519      a new logging.

1.978.5  FK36  1532z  559 a new logging, also different type of beacon, no cycle, Selcal activated by Mother Ship, no preceding or ending carrier either.
1.978.5  FO85  1540z  539   - as above -

2.005    7G      1935z  559   as per comments above for 1.978.5 loggings.
2.005    8F       1634z  529   as per comments above for 1.978.5 loggings.

2.007  BC9     1930z  519     a new logging.
2.010  FY1     1238z  419      a new logging.
2.032  CR7    2003z  519      a new logging.
2.033  EF6     1025z  419      a new logging.
2.048  CO6   2005z   539      a new logging.
2.050  FU3     0945z  519      a new logging.
2.058  LT6     2000z  519      a new logging.
2.068  JU7     1956z  529      a new logging.
2.069  AQ3    1938z   519     continuous transmission, new logging.
2.087  UX6    2007z   519     continuous transmission, new logging.
2.088  BB9     1932z  419     a new logging.
2.099  AM0    2009z  539     a new logging.
2.139  4FRL    1933z  529     a new logging.
2.149  AO1     0949z  529     a new logging.
2.218  AN94   2030z  529     a new logging.
2.226  CA6     1020z  319     last heard 18th April.
2.250  AP2     1043z  559     last heard 13th April.
2.255  DP5     1050z  539     last heard 19th April.
2.281  BR1     1230z  519     last heard 14th April.
2.300  BC5     1115z  539     last heard 15th April.
2.305  DZ3     0941z  419     last heard 19th April.
2.307  BMD1   1039z  549    a new logging.
2.317  BMP9   1042z  539    a new logging.
2.325  UW6    1002z  529    a new logging.
2.338  SS5     1054z  559    last heard 14th April.
2.365  UW4    1000z  539    last heard 13th April.
2.367  RG4     1045z  519    last heard 19th April.
2.381  ZP0     0956z  579     last heard 23rd March.
2.390  EL4     1017z  549     last heard 19th April.
2.391  CG7    1116z  559     last heard 13th April.
2.398  QX4    1128z  519     last heard 18th April.
2.415  BL1     0913z  419    last heard 19th April.
2.417  QH0    0920z  529    a new logging.
2.423  EA4     0958z  539    last heard 18th April.
2.437  SK0    1042z  419     last heard 13th April.
2.509  PO0    1029z  419     a new logging.
2.521  AX3    1055z  519     last heard 18th April.
2.547  XP0    0927z  559     a new logging.
2.552  KL8    1946z  539     last heard 18th April.
2.553  CB4    1100z  539     a new logging.
2.565  DN3    0922z 419     continuous tx, last heard 23 April.
2.567  SY1    1944z  419     a new logging
2.607  QZ5   1953z  519     a new logging.
2.635  UL9    0900z  519     a new logging.
2.679  ZZ0    1241z  519    last heard 19th April.

I will update the list above as time permits during May.  Any one hearing any of the above please post a reply here with logging details, much appreciated.  It is assumed that the above beacons posted are in the Asia/Pacific region.

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