Messages

616

HF Beacons / Re: "N" 5.155MHz CW Russian?

« on: October 13, 2018, 2154 UTC »

The original Russian beacon/marker "U" was very active on many HF frequencies up until 1990 when it ceased transmission.  Classed as a "Jammer Station" it could appear on many HF frequencies at the same time, think the record is around 12 or 13 at once!

"U" employed FSK mode and also the channels "U" used also conducted RTTY traffic from time to time. "U" was thought to be mainly located at Kholmsk in the former USSR.  Last noted on 7.395MHz CW April 1990 or thereabouts.

Getting back to the original posting of "N" on 5.155MHz CW, I cannot find anything related except that "N" did exist in the days of the USSR and was logged on 7.383MHz CW, location and classification unknown.

617

Utility / Re: 4XZ on 9377 kHz CW

« on: October 13, 2018, 2139 UTC »

Have logged "4XZ" Israeli Defence Force on 8.319MHz CW in May 2017 at 1441z 559 report.

Not heard the new one you bagged on 9.377MHz CW, regulars are 6.607MHz CW and 4.331MHz CW this way most days.

Good work, will keep an ear to 9.377MHz...

618

General Radio Discussion / Do NDB stations still send QSL cards?

« on: October 10, 2018, 1454 UTC »

The last couple of weeks I have logged around 14 new NDB stations in New Zealand and the Pacific.

It's been over 35 years since I sent out a QSL card for an NDB, I wonder if they still respond to an accurate reception report/recording? 

Probably not...

619

Utility / Re: Taupo Marine Radio ZLM 6224 USB 0545 UTC 18 Sept 2018

« on: October 06, 2018, 0249 UTC »

Good catch, it's a regular this way, for a marine weather station it also includes various airport weather too, Auckland Volmet is just "up the road" on 6.679MHz USB.

Auckland Volmet does regional aviation airport weather for Papeete, Noumea, Rarotonga, Nadi and Apia etc.

There's also a couple of private marine weather stations too in New Zealand operated by volunteers who have broadcasts on HF.

620

Utility / Re: What's up with WLO Marine?

« on: October 02, 2018, 1558 UTC »

Come to think of it I haven't heard the WLO beacon on 8.420MHz CW for a few weeks now, just dismissed it as poor propagation, maybe it's not even on air?

Would be a pity if its gone as a good propagation indicator in our evenings to the USA.

621

Longwave Loggings / Re: Sep 2018 NDB & VLF Log

« on: September 27, 2018, 0431 UTC »

Pinto Vortando:  I don't have the space either but my neighbours either side have allowed me to run my wire through their properties, one even helped the other weekend with my extension and renewal activity...

622

Longwave Loggings / Sep 2018 NDB & VLF Log

« on: September 23, 2018, 0125 UTC »

The last couple of weeks have delivered some good DX openings, usually between 1100-0400hrs local time, the majority of loggings were made on the new Icom IC-R75 receiver and the Yaesu FT-2000D base.  The path to New Zealand late night/early morning has been exceptional, however to the north west towards Indonesia right up until Grey Line has delivered nothing as yet, heard some light pings but nothing strong enough, even with preamp engaged, to fully ident.

The wire antenna was renewed last weekend and raised three feet with an extension to around 450 feet in total length. Eleven new loggings made the cold early mornings all the more worth it, many of the new ones were low power 25w New Zealand beacons rarely heard this way...

Many other beacons noted, but I only log beacons around the 2,000kms plus.

VLF log:

1015z  54.0KHz   NDI  US Navy, Awase Peninsula, Okinawa, Japan with data transmission, 250Kw transmitter for 7,078kms 419 report.
1610z  60.0KHz   JJY   Time Signal, Mount Hagane, Saga Prefecture, Japan, 50Kw transmitter for 7,725kms 549 report.
1856z  66.66KHz RBU  Time Signal, Taldom, near Moscow, Russia, 10Kw transmitter for 14,415kms 219-319 report with pre-amp engaged. Best distance so far this month.
1518z  68.50KHz BPC  Time Signal, Shangqui, Henan Province, China, 90Kw transmitter for 8,373kms 539-559 report.

NDB log:

1522z  350KHz   SY  Surrey, New Zealand for 2,262kms 419 report, new logging.
1508z  230KHz   AP  Taupo, New Zealand for 2,393kms 419 report.
1443z  326KHz   WR Whangarei, New Zealand for 2,211kms 529-539 report.
1431z  242KHz   PP  Paraparamu, New Zealand for 2,344kms, new logging.
1429z  278KHz  WS  Westport, New Zealand for 2,096kms 519 report.
1404z  386KHz  LX   Alexandra, New Zealand for 2,099kms 319-419 report, new logging.
1349z  254KHz  WI   Waiuku, New Zealand for 2,263kms 519 report, new logging.
1345z  238KHz  KT   Kaitaia, New Zealand for 2,119kms 559 report.
1236z  366KHz  SF   Springfield, New Zealand for 2,183kms 519 report.
1511z  287KHz  KG  Kalgoorlie, Western Australia for 2,722kms 529 report.
1559z  240KHz  ABA Albany, Western Australia for 2,962kms 319-419 report.
1525z  382KHz  WG  Wanganui, New Zealand for 2,325kms 519 report.
1549z  310KHz  HK  Hokitika, New Zealand for 2,081kms 559 report.
1520z  278KHz  FRT Forrest, Western Australia for 2,191kms 419 report.
1517z  293KHz  CUN Cunderin, Western Australia for 3,088kms 419 report.
1813z  242KHz  KOW Kowanyama, Queensland for 2,190kms 539 report.
1814z  260KHz  PD   Port Hedland, Western Australia for 3,434kms 419 report, new logging.
1235z  377KHz  WP  Weipa, Queensland for 2,468kms 319-419 report.
1828z  377KHz  LEO Leonora, Western Australia for 2,793kms 419 report.
1824z  392KHz  LHR Lockhart River, Queensland for 2,421kms 319 report.
1824z  404KHz  COE Coen, Queensland for 2,286kms 539 report (good for a 15w low power beacon).
1802z  404KHz  KA   Karratha, Western Australia for 3,581kms 319-419 report.
1805z  326KHz  ESP Esperance, Western Australia for 2,619kms 319 report.
1227z  322KHz  CI   Chatham Island, New Zealand for 3,095kms 519 report.
1258z  378KHz  HL   Henley, New Zealand for 2,195kms 519 report, new logging.
1146z  366KHz  SF   Springfield, New Zealand for 2,207kms 519 report.
1843z  296KHz  LM   Learmonth, Western Australia for 3,742kms 419 report, new logging. Best distance so far this month.
1409z  356KHz  TN   Tindal, Northern Territory for 2,785kms 539 report.
1348z  233KHz  AYE  Ayres Rock, Northern Territory for 2,071kms 519 report.
1555z  251KHz  MEK Meekatharra, Western Australia for 3,143kms 319 report.
1511z  274KHz  GB   Great Barrier Island, New Zealand for 2,320kms 519 report, new logging.
1557z  362KHz  WK  Whaktane, New Zealand for 2,467kms 419 report, new logging.
1506z  254KHz  AS   Ashburton, New Zealand for 2,196kms 529 report, not heard for over one year.
1525z  358KHz  NL   Newlands, New Zealand for 2,316kms, 319-419 report.
1600z  330KHz  ?O   Swani, Fiji Islands for 3,406kms, 219-319 report, couldn't get full ident out so not claimed as new logging.
1424z  366KHz  TU   Timaru, New Zealand for 2,184kms, 419 report, new logging.
1526z  390KHz  HN   Hamilton, New Zealand for 2,315kms 419 report, new logging.

Updated: 26th September 2018.

623

Spy Numbers / M89 mid September 2018

« on: September 17, 2018, 0027 UTC »

Propagation good one night and rubbish the next, especially on the higher HF bands 10-28MHz, lower bands performing much better:

1711z  3.238MHz  CW  "v M8JF M8JF M8JF de RIS9 RIS9" 529 report.
1759z  3.378MHz  CW  "v C4TY C4TY C4TY de NS5F NS5F" 529 report.

1917z  4.620MHz  CW  "vvv Q2M Q2M Q2M de NYZ NYZ" 539 report.
1916z  4.783MHz  CW  "v C4TY C4TY C4TY de NS5F NS5F" 319 report.
1920z  4.860MHz  CW  "vvv Q2M Q2M Q2M de NYZ NYZ" 519 report.
1854z  4.870MHz  CW  "v M8JF M8JF M8JF de RIS9 RIS9"  559 report.
1926z  4.943MHz  CW  "v ZJ3T ZJ3T ZJ3T de QB4S QB4S"  519 report.

1034z  5.305MHz  CW  "v C4TY C4TY C4TY de NS5F NS5F"  539 report.

1100z  6.874MHz  CW  "v M8JF M8JF M8JF de RIS9 RIS9"  559 report.

1857z  7.589MHz  CW  "v ZJ4T ZJ4T ZJ4T de QB4S QB4S" 319 report.

1036z  8.157MHz  CW  "v M8JF M8JF M8JF de RIS9 RIS9"  569 report.

1039z  9.856MHz  CW  "v ZJ3T ZJ3T ZJ3T de QB4S QB4S" 549 report.

Nothing new since original 17th September posting so will consider this log closed for the month.

624

General Radio Discussion / Re: WWV Petition

« on: September 11, 2018, 2122 UTC »

If the American politicians are like those we have here in Australia then a petition will be useless and largely ignored by them, we experienced that here with the VNG Lyndhurst Time Signals years back and then again with the Radio Australia recently.

Unless it's a big vote grabber for them you may as well talk to a brick wall...

625

Longwave Loggings / VLF Time Signals

« on: September 08, 2018, 2323 UTC »

Early this morning around 0300hrs local I found the NDB band wide open, so decided to venture lower and found the following:

1733z  40.0KHz  JJY  Time Signal,  Mount Ohtakadoya, Fukushima, Japan 50Kw transmitter, 319 report for 7,900kms

1710z  60.0KHz  JJY  Time Signal, Mount Hagane, Saga, Japan 50Kw transmitter, 519 report for 7,725kms

1744z  68.5KHz  BPC  Time Signal, Pucheng, Henan, China 90Kw transmitter, 529 report for 8,296kms.

The above were logged with the new Icom IC R-75 comms receiver which out performed my large Yaesu FT-2000D base via the same antenna, the time signals were barely readable on the big Yaesu.

626

Equipment / Diamond CP-62 50MHz Vertical

« on: September 08, 2018, 0316 UTC »

The six metre season is rolling around this way and I have decided to retire my home brew 50MHz vertical after many years of faithful service.

Cannot be bothered making up a new one, been looking at the Diamond CP-62 ground plane 50MHz antenna at one of the southern dealers for AUD$249.00.

Has any of our esteemed HFU members used one of these and can give a frank and honest opinion on it? 

Looking at the 50MHz CW sector of the band, and some 52/53MHz simplex and repeater operating.

EHam doesn't give much opinion on it if any, so over to the team...

627

Other / Re: 6.849MHz USB Pacific station.

« on: September 07, 2018, 0638 UTC »

I think this is one of the missionary channels out of the highlands of Papua New Guinea, had better reception last night and the lady net controller sounds similar as the one on the 8.076MHz morning sessions.

So more than likely P2A338 net control Ukurumpa, Papua New Guinea highlands region.

Unless anyone has anything more concrete then I think I can say "case closed"...

628

Utility / 5.598MHz USB Santa Maria ATC

« on: September 05, 2018, 0632 UTC »

It's still daylight this way and 1629hrs local time, the Grey Line fringe is approaching and I have good clear reception of "Santa Maria ATC" in the Azores on 5.598MHz USB.

Santa Maria is around 5X3 report and building and is very busy working various aircraft which are not yet audible.

Long path distance from here to Santa Maria is 20,577kms.

Does any one know the power output of Santa Maria ATC?  Looked around the net but cannot find station details indicating power output.

Also St Eval Military One Volmet audible at same time on 5.450MHz USB 5X1 report but not as strong as Santa Maria.

629

General Radio Discussion / Re: ICOM IC-736 lazy 'S' meter...

« on: September 02, 2018, 0252 UTC »

"didu hearthat" yep, the attenuator is turned off, after 45 years as a licensed radio amateur I think I would look at that as obvious? 

Josh there is little variation with the pre amp on or off on low bands but a two or three 'S' point gain above 2MHz.  It's hearing quiet well but compared to the other two radio sets on same frequency the 'S' meter is very lethargic, around four units down in comparison. 

I had an IC-736 prior to this one for a number of years and the 'S' meter in that seemed fine.

Otherwise, great little radio as a spare!  Thanks for the link Josh, will have a look at that later.

630

General Radio Discussion / ICOM IC-736 lazy 'S' meter...

« on: September 01, 2018, 0632 UTC »

Just picked up a secondhand Icom IC-736 HF/50MHz transceiver very cheap, works great and in excellent condition, receives well compared to my other gear, but seems to have a very lazy analogue signal strength meter.

Around four signal units discrepancy compared to the FT-2000D and IC R-75 (which has crappy digital meter I generally ignore.).

No owners manual came with it, so prior to searching for a JPEG version on line, does any of our esteemed group know how to do a 'S' meter calibration?