Topics

181

Utility / 11175 USB 2030Z 10AUG18

« on: August 10, 2018, 2034 UTC »

11175 USB 2030Z 10AUG18
ALPHABET (naoc E4B/tacamo E6B) working GEP (UHF MUX Ground Entry Point) station LATTE via pp courtesy of OVERHEAD (GHFCS)

ALPHABET will burn on RF1 and RF16 (NORTHSTAR UHF MUX) and meet up on orderwire. Not heard via UHF here so far.

edit;
UHF MUX just popped up on 338.950 2116Z

182

Utility / 12579 BFSK SITOR B

« on: August 06, 2018, 1748 UTC »

12579 BFSK/NAVTEX/SITOR B 1706Z 06AUG18
NMF USCG Boston Ma, strong sig.

MWR HR FCST LOW 64N62W 997 MB. WITHIN 480 NM S AND 360 NM
[2018-08-06 17:06:34] E AND NE QUADRANTS WINDS 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 TO 16 FT...HIGHEST
[2018-08-06 17:06:46]
[2018-08-06 17:06:46] NE QUADRANT.
[2018-08-06 17:06:48] .48 HR FCST LOW MOVED N OF AREA. N OF 63N W OF GREENLAND
[2018-08-06 17:06:57] WINDS TO 25 KT. SEAS TO 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:07:04] .SYNOPSIS AND FCST.
[2018-08-06 17:07:07] .LOW E OF AREA 59N26W 996 ~.~ .9=8,& 3 15 KT. OVER FCST
[2018-08-06 17:07:17] WATERS WITHIN 480 NM W QUADRANT WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS TO 10
[2018-08-06 17:07:28] FT.
[2018-08-06 17:07:29] .24 HR FCST LOW ANDCONDITIONS E OF AREA.
[2018-08-06 17:07:35] .LOW 33N47W 1011 MB MOVING N 15 KT. OVER FCST WATERS WITHIN
[2018-08-06 17:07:46] 420 NM E SEMICIRCLE WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS TO 10 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:07:56] .24 HR FCST LOW 38N48W 1010 MB. WITHIN 480 NM E SEMICIRCLE
[2018-08-06 17:08:07] WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS TO 11 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:08:13] .48 HR FCST LOW 42N48W 1011 MB. WITHIN 540 NM SE QUADRANT
[2018-08-06 17:08:23] WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS TO 10 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:08:30] .48 HR FCST LOW 54N54W 1005 MB. OVER FCST WATERS
[2018-08-06 17:08:39] WITHIN 300 NM OF LOW CENTER WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS LESS THAN
[2018-08-06 17:08:50] 8
[2018-08-06 17:08:51] FT.
[2018-08-06 17:08:52] .DENSE FOG. VSBY OCCASIONALLY LESS THAN 1 NM OVER ICE FREE
[2018-08-06 17:09:01] FCST WATERS WITHIN 240 NM SW AND W OF A LINE FROM 54N46W TO
[2018-08-06 17:09:11] 65N59W.
[2018-08-06 17:09:13] .24 HR FCST DENSE FOG WITHIN 420 NM NE AND E OF A LINE
[2018-08-06 17:09:22] FROM 44N52W TO 64N63W.
[2018-08-06 17:09:27] .48 HR FCST DENSE FOG FROM 44N TO 49N BETWEEN 55W AND 37W.
[2018-08-06 17:09:38] .HIGH 49N42W 1027 MB MOVING E 15 KT.
[2018-08-06 17:09:44] .24 HR FCST HIGH 49N35W 1028 MB.
[2018-08-06 17:09:50] .48 HR FCST HIGH MOVED E OF AREA.
[2018-08-06 17:09:57] .HIGH 33N70W 1022 MB MOVING SW 05 KT.
[2018-08-06 17:10:04] .24 HR FCST HIGH 32N68W 1021 MB.
[2018-08-06 17:10:10] .48 HR FCST HIGH 31N64W 1020 MB.
[2018-08-06 17:10:17] .24 HR FCST HIGH 37N66W 1019 MB.
[2018-08-06 17:10:23] .48 HR FCST HIGH 36N65W 1019 MB.
[2018-08-06 17:10:29] .FORECASTER SOMMERVILLE. OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER.
[2018-08-06 17:10:38] NATIONAL HURCN CENTER MIAMI FL
[2018-08-06 17:10:42] ATLC FROM 07N TO 31N W OF 35W INCLUDING CARIBBEAN SEA AND
[2018-08-06 17:10:52] GULF OF MX.
[2018-08-06 17:10:54] SYNOPSIS VALID 1200 UTC MON AUG 06.
[2018-08-06 17:11:01] 24 HR FCST VALID 1200 UTC TUE AUG 07.
[2018-08-06 17:11:07] 48 HR FCST VALID 1200 UTC WED AUG 08.
[2018-08-06 17:11:13] .WARNINGS.
[2018-08-06 17:11:15] ...CARIBBEAN GALE WARNING...
[2018-08-06 17:11:21] .CARIBBEAN FROM 10.5N TO 17N BETWEEN 70W AND 78W...INCLUDING
[2018-08-06 17:11:31] THE
[2018-08-06 17:11:32] GULF OF VENEZUELA...NE TO E WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS TO 9 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:11:43]
[2018-08-06 17:11:43] .12 HR FCST FROM 10N TO 13N BETWEEN 70W AND 76W...
[2018-08-06 17:11:52] INCLUDING THE GULF OF VENEZUELA...NE TO E WINDS 25 TO 30 KT WITH
[2018-08-06 17:12:04]
[2018-08-06 17:12:04] FREQUENT GUSTS TO GALE FORCE. SEAS 9 TO 12 FT OUTSIDE GULF OF
[2018-08-06 17:12:14]
[2018-08-06 17:12:14] VENEZUELA. ELSEWHERE FROM 10N TO 17.5N BETWEEN 70W AND 79W...AND ~X
[2018-08-06 17:12:50] INCLUDING THE GULF OF VELEZMELA. .NE TO E  ,0
[2018-08-06 17:13:12]
[2018-08-06 17:13:12] -,$ 70W E WINDS 20 T  25 KT. SEAS TO 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:13:20] .36 HR FCST FROM 10N TO 14N BETWEEN 70W AND 76W...
[2018-08-06 17:13:30] INCLUDING THE GULF OF VENEZUELA...NE TO E WINDS 25 TO 35 KT.
[2018-08-06 17:13:40]
[2018-08-06 17:13:40] SEAS 10 TO 14 FT OUTSIDE GULF OF VENEZUELA. ELSEWHERE FROM 10N
[2018-08-06 17:13:51]
[2018-08-06 17:13:52] TO 17.5N BETWEEN 70W AND 81.5W...AND S OF 16N BETWEEN 64W AND
[2018-08-06 17:14:02]
[2018-08-06 17:14:03] 70W NE TO E WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 9 FT E OF 70W AND 8
[2018-08-06 17:14:15] TO
[2018-08-06 17:14:15] 11 FT W OF 70W.
[2018-08-06 17:14:19] .48 HR FCST LITTLE CHANGE.
[2018-08-06 17:14:23] .SYNOPSIS AND FCST.
[2018-08-06 17:14:26] .ATLC TROUGH FROM 31N50W TO 25N58W. N OF 28N E OF TROUGH TO 44W
[2018-08-06 17:14:39]
[2018-08-06 17:14:39] S TO SW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS TO 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:14:46] .12 HR FCST TROUGH FROM 31N50W TO 25N52W. WINDS 2~ KT OR
[2018-08-06 17:14:57] MESS. SEAS LESS THAN 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:15:02] .ATLC 12 HR FCST S OF 21N BETWEEN 70W AND 73W NE TO E
[2018-08-06 17:15:11] WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS LESS THAN 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:15:19] .24 HR FCST WINDS 20 KT OR LESS. SEAS LESS THAN 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:15:28] .36 HR FCST S OF 21N BETWEEN 70W AND 73W NE TO E WINDS 20
[2018-08-06 17:15:39] TO 25 KT. SEAS LESS THAN 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:15:44] .48 HR FCST WINDS 20 KT OR LESS. SEAS LESS THAN 8 FT.
[2018-08-06 17:15:53] .REMAINDER OF AREA WINDS 20 KT OR L SS. LESS
[2018-08-06 17:16:04]
[2018-08-06 17:16:05] MFORECASTER GR. NATIONAL HURCN CENTER.//
[2018-08-06 17:16:11]
[2018-08-06 17:16:12] NNNN
[2018-08-06 17:16:12] ZCZC FA91
[2018-08-06 17:16:14] MSGID/GENADMIN/NGA NAVSAFETY WA DC//
[2018-08-06 17:16:21] RMKS/
[2018-08-06 17:16:23] NAVAREA IV 628/18(38).
[2018-08-06 17:16:27] N ATLC.
[2018-08-06 17:16:28] 1. CABLE OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
[2018-08-06 17:16:36]  BY M/V LIDA IN VICINITY OF TRACKLINE BETWEEN
[2018-08-06 17:16:44]  61-09.1N 035-36.1W AND 61-12.44N 1.5~1~~
[2018-08-06 17:17:02] NNNN
[2018-08-06 17:17:03] ZCZC FA28
[2018-08-06 17:17:05] MSGID/GENADMIN/NGA NAVSAFETY WA DC//
[2018-08-06 17:17:11] RMKS/
[2018-08-06 17:17:12] NAVAREA IV 627/18(25).
[2018-08-06 17:17:16] ERN CARIBBEAN SEA.
[2018-08-06 17:17:20] BARBADOS.
[2018-08-06 17:17:22] CANCEL NAVAREA VI 623/18 AND THIS MSG,
[2018-08-06 17:17:29] NAVAREA IV 592/18 REFERS.//
[2018-08-06 17:17:33]
[2018-08-06 17:17:34] NNNN
[2018-08-06 17:17:43] ZCZC FA05
[2018-08-06 17:17:45] MSGID/GENADMIN/NGA NAVSAFETY WA DC//
[2018-08-06 17:17:51] RMKS/
[2018-08-06 17:17:52] NAVAREA IV 626/18(GEN).
[2018-08-06 17:17:57] N ATLC.
[2018-08-06 17:17:59] FL.
[2018-08-06 17:18:00] 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
[2018-08-06 17:18:07]  110733Z TO 110924Z AUG, ALTERNATE
[2018-08-06 17:18:13]  120731Z TO 120922Z AUG IN AREAS BOUND BY:
[2018-08-06 17:18:21] A. 28-35N 080-37W, 28-39N 080-34W,
[2018-08-06 17:18:27]  28-35N 079-12W, 28-29N 079-12W,
[2018-08-06 17:18:33]  28-27N 080-14W, 28-26N 080-32W
[2018-08-06 17:18:40]  28-29N 080-37W.
[2018-08-06 17:18:43] B. 28-40N 072-14W, 28-40N 070-24W,
[2018-08-06 17:18:50]  28-15N 069-3422~.(27 06
[2018-08-06 17:19:03] C. 23-30N 043-49W , 22-31N 040-08W,
[2018-08-06 17:19:10]  21-10N 037-08W , 20-49N 037-28W,
[2018-08-06 17:19:16]  21-40N 040-38W, 23-00N 043-58W.
[2018-08-06 17:19:23] 2. CANCEL THIS MSG // 121022Z AUG 18.//
[2018-08-06 17:19:29]
[2018-08-06 17:19:30] NNNN
[2018-08-06 17:19:30] ZCZC FA03
[2018-08-06 17:19:32] MSGID/GENADMIN/NGA NAVSAFETY WA DC//
[2018-08-06 17:19:39] RMKS/
[2018-08-06 17:19:41] NAVAREA IV 625/18(GEN).
[2018-08-06 17:19:45] 1. N AMERICAN ICE SERVICE (NAIS)
[2018-08-06 17:19:50]  ICEBERG BULLETIN 060001Z AUG.
[2018-08-06 17:19:56] 2. ICEBIRG LIMIT ALONG TRACKLINE JOINING
[2018-08-06 17:20:03]  48-00N 053-00W, 48-00N 049-30W, 50-15N 047-00W,
[2018-08-06 17:20:12]  51-15N 047-00W, 57-00N 054-00W.
[2018-08-06 17:20:18] 3. ESTIMATED ICEBERG LIMIT ALONG TRACKLINE JOINING
[2018-08-06 17:20:26]  65-00N 028-00W, 64-00N 037-00W, 57-00N 038-00W,
[2018-08-06 17:20:35]  57-00N 054-00W.
[2018-08-06 17:20:39] 4. WRN ICEBERG LIMIT ALONG TRACKLINE BETWEEN
[2018-08-06 17:20:46]  51-18N 058-20W AND 50-34N 057-21W.
[2018-08-06 17:20:53] 5. SEA ICE LIMIT ALONG TRACKLINE JOINING
[2018-08-06 17:20:59]  59-45N 065-30

USCG NAVTEX Sched;
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfsitor.htm

183

Utility / 12786 FAX

« on: August 05, 2018, 2347 UTC »

12786 FAX 2242Z 05AUG18
NMC Pt Reyes CA.

https://nofile.io/f/BVgcbedow2t/20180805_224210_fax.bmp

184

Utility / 12666.5 S4285

« on: August 05, 2018, 2339 UTC »

12666.5 S4285 600L 5N2 ITA2 2333Z 05AUG18

[2018-08-05 23:33:18]
[2018-08-05 23:33:18] OO FAAA
[2018-08-05 23:33:18] DE RFFME
[2018-08-05 23:33:18] ZNR SUUU
[2018-08-05 23:33:18] FUG 8 / 12 / 17
[2018-08-05 23:33:18] ZUI TESTING
[2018-08-05 23:33:19]
[2018-08-05 23:33:19] RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
[2018-08-05 23:33:19] SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG
[2018-08-05 23:33:19] 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
[2018-08-05 23:33:20]
[2018-08-05 23:33:20] VOYEZ VOUS LE BRICK GEANT QUE J EXAMINE PRES DU GRAND WHARF
[2018-08-05 23:33:20]
[2018-08-05 23:33:20] INT ZBZ
[2018-08-05 23:33:21]

Callsign is RFFME but due to signal strength I assume FUF Martinique.

https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/STANAG_4285

185

Utility / 12857 S4285

« on: August 05, 2018, 2150 UTC »

12857 6WW/Dakar 600L 5N1 2134Z 05AUG18

[2018-08-05 21:34:24] KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
[2018-08-05 21:34:26] FAAA FAAA DE 6WW6WW6WW
[2018-08-05 21:34:26] TESTING TESTING
[2018-08-05 21:34:26] RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
[2018-08-05 21:34:27] SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGSGS
[2018-08-05 21:34:28] 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
[2018-08-05 21:34:28] VOYEZ VOUS LE BRICK GEANT QUE J EXAMINE PRES DU GRAND WHARF
[2018-08-05 21:34:29]
[2018-08-05 21:34:29] INT ZBZ
[2018-08-05 21:34:29] INT ZBZ
[2018-08-05 21:34:29] INT ZBZ
[2018-08-05 21:34:29] INT ZBZ
[2018-08-05 21:34:29]

INT = Interrogative
ZBZ = signal corrupted?
5N1 = baudot with 5 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit framing aka ITA2.
6WW is a French navy site in Dakar Senegal.

Back when baudot was the norm on hf circuits they used a tape to feed a rtty machine to send a string over and over,
the string would operate every key to ensure the machine had no issues and to keep everything free and lubed, usually a signal consisting of lazy dogs, ry's, and sg's. This tradition still stands in hf ute circles but there are no more rtty machines needing keys to be unstuck or lubed.

The VOYEZ VOUS LE BRICK GEANT QUE J EXAMINE PRES DU GRAND WHARF is a pangram (Greek: παν γράμμα, pan gramma, "every letter") or holoalphabetic sentence is a sentence using every letter of a given alphabet at least once, just like lazy dogs.

http://www.fatrazie.com/jeux-de-mots/recreamots/278-pangramme-un-peu-d-histoire-et-quelques-classiques

186

Utility / STANAG4285 13031.2 2134Z 01AUG18

« on: August 01, 2018, 2138 UTC »

S4285 13031.2 FUF 600L/5N1 ITA2

[2018-08-01 21:34:57]
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] FAAA
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] DE FUF
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] ZNR UUUUU
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] ZUI TESTING
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
[2018-08-01 21:34:57] SGSGSGSGSGSGSGSG
[2018-08-01 21:34:58]
[2018-08-01 21:34:58] NNNN

FUF = Martinique

Here's FUF response to a French warship;


[2018-08-01 21:40:41] FJ FJ FJ
[2018-08-01 21:40:41]
[2018-08-01 21:40:41] DE DE DE
[2018-08-01 21:40:41]
[2018-08-01 21:40:41] FUF FUF FUF
[2018-08-01 21:40:41]
[2018-08-01 21:40:41] ZBZ 5/5
[2018-08-01 21:40:41]
[2018-08-01 21:40:41] ZBZ 5/5
[2018-08-01 21:40:42]
[2018-08-01 21:40:42] KKKK
[2018-08-01 21:40:42]
[2018-08-01 21:40:42] DFF
[2018-08-01 21:40:42] [EOM]

FE is the warship callsign
ZBZ 5/5 is Z code for "(5) acceptable - no corruption" on the warship's signal.
The final message from FUF to FE was lost due to ionospherics.

https://dcasler.com/ham-radio/acp-131b-q-signals-and-z-signals/

187

Utility / BFSK 12120cf 1930Z 01AUG18

« on: August 01, 2018, 2016 UTC »

BFSK 12120cf 1930Z 01AUG18 
NAU Roosevelt Roads (assumed) with KG84 traffic.

\KG-84 Header, 100.0 % confidence\
DF 73 0D 1D 5B 22 53 81
\MSG BLOCK 1\
62 8B 7C AC D3 6A 17 98
62 8B 7C AC D3 6A 17 98
62 8B 7C AC D3 6A 17 98
62 8B 7C AC D3 6A 17 98
\MSG BLOCK 2\
B5 CF 5D 55 F3 94 79 78
B5 CF 5D 55 F3 94 79 78
B5 CF 5D 55 F3 94 79 78
B5 CF 5D 55 F3 94 79 78

188

Utility / Link 11 6940 USB

« on: July 15, 2018, 1932 UTC »

Link 11 6940 ISB 1364Bps mode(?) 1926Z 15JUL18. -100dB sig level.
How dare they take up a spot in prime pirate territory!

189

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Updated HDSDR and ExtIO for SDRPlay

« on: July 15, 2018, 1915 UTC »

We have updated the HDSDR and ExtIO installers available from our Downloads page (https://www.sdrplay.com/downloads) to support the API 2.13 release. The purpose for the ExtIO plugin update is to support the API 2.13 which has an improved ADC overload acknowledgement system. We have kindly been given permission from the HDSDR authors to host the latest version of HDSDR (2.76a) along with the RSP ExtIO plugins to make it an easy installation process. If you already have the latest version of HDSDR installed, you can just install the ExtIO plugins, otherwise just install the HDSDR installer as it contains the ExtIO plugins.

http://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3466

Dunno what all it fixed but my RSP2 loves it and the smeter now actually shows some range of movement. Also same low cpu usage as before. I run low IF mode and 200KHz decimation, with a 10KHz offset as that places the desired signal further from the oscillator phase noise center. I don't enable tuner agc, have the IF gain set at 55, the main rf gain control set one down from max. The gain settings might not be tolerable with a antenna with lots of gain, hf antenna here is a off center fed dipole.

190

Utility / HFGCS ALE SIPRNET 11181 USB

« on: July 09, 2018, 1422 UTC »

Started: 12:00 UTC 09 Jul 2018

[12:19:21 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JTYSPR][TWS][JTYSPR][EOM]

[12:19:23 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JTY][EOM]

[12:23:05 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR
[12:23:08 UTC] ][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFF
[12:23:12 UTC] SPR][EOM]

[12:26:04 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNR][EOM]

[12:26:05 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][FRM][~d][EOM]

[12:26:07 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][EOM]

[12:26:20 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][HIKSPR][TWS][HIK][EOM]

[12:26:21 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][HIKSPR][TWS][HIKSPR][TWS][HIKSPR
[12:26:23 UTC] ][TWS][HIKSPR][TWS][HIKSPR][EOM]

[12:29:10 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADW][EOM]

[12:29:11 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR
[12:29:13 UTC] ][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][EOM]

[12:34:42 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][GUASPR][EOM]

[13:15:15 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNR][E
[13:15:17 UTC] OM]

[13:15:17 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR
[13:15:19 UTC] ][TWS][JNRSPR][EOM]

[13:23:15 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR
[13:23:17 UTC] ][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFF][EOM]

[13:23:19 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR][TWS][OFFSPR
[13:23:21 UTC] ][EOM]

[13:29:18 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR
[13:29:21 UTC] ][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][TWS][ADWSPR][EOM]

[14:00:25 UTC] [FRQ 0 Hz ][NORMAL MODE][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR
[14:00:27 UTC] ][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][TWS][JNRSPR][EOM]

JTY is Yokota AFB outside Tokyo Japan
OFF is Offut AFB in Bellevue Nebraska, outside Omaha
JNR is Salinas PR
HIK is Hikam Field in Hawaii
ADW is Andrews AFB in Maryland
GUA is Anderson AFB Gaum

191

Utility / RAF VOLMET

« on: July 08, 2018, 2227 UTC »

11253 USB 219Z 08JUN18
RAF VOLMET female robot with Brize Norton WX and others. Good sig but intermixed with atmospherics.

Rig; HDSDR running RSP2 fed by off center fed dipole in sw Indiana.

192

Spy Numbers / HM01 31MAY18

« on: May 31, 2018, 1928 UTC »

11635KHz HM01 1840Z 31MAY18
50 to 60 deebees on the R390A/URR, clean sig other than qrn, umodulated carrier from 1906Z onward till ota.

193

General Radio Discussion / A Tale of Two R390A's

« on: May 15, 2018, 2005 UTC »

So I shipped an R390 to kali, and of ofc they dropped it. I had sturdy foam sheets all around and extra padding too. They popped heads off front panel screws, bent the kilocycle shaft, and dinged the bottom corners. Ok so it weighed in at 77 pounds but I didn't pay them to drop it.

That was the rig I sold the technician, I also sent, to the exact same address, a R390A IF deck to have the filters swapped and aligned and then returned to me.
Ofc they also dropped that 6 pound package the size of a shoebox, and despite my multitudinous layers of bubble wrap they bent the IF can that contains the 100Hz xtal filter into a parallelogram. So the tech noted the if xformer ding and he hammered it into shape and proceeded with the alignment. Shipped it back to me and it got here this am.

The box looks dandy, fine even, so I wasn't expecting anything amiss. I peeled layer after layer of bubble wrap and ofc the same IF can is a parallelogram once again. The desired shape for these devices is a rectangle, so you know. The words of the immortal Barry L Williams come to mind here; stop fooling around with R390As and get a Perseus.

Anyway, I hope to have the R390A in operation today to begin a strict diet of radio piracy, Cuban numbers, Russian naval and Chinese air defense cw and etc signals meet for a spy radio. These rigs are very sensitive and have few if any spurs, are naturally emp proof, and have a long history of being an exemplary spy radio. I have a fetish for ex NSA, NSG, ASA, and other USG sigint gear.

In the meantime between shipping and receiving said packages, I weakened and went and got another R390A, a complete Imperial model, with only Teledyne innards.
Imperial, Teledyne, and Amelco are reputed to be all the same people under different banners, and made some of the best R390As to exist, according to cognoscenti. Odd for a R390 to have its original inners as the service depots generally put in whatever module was needed from stock on hand and sent the radio back, later repairing the recalcitrant module and placing it on the shelf for the next rig that needs it. I mused that anyone who has a R390A really needs a parts rig in case something other than tubes or commonly available parts freaks out. Buying a hulk is far cheaper than buying the same parts separately on ebay, so I bit. And now I'm torn because while it is very clean, works well enough to have weak reception, and is rare because it has all its original bits and pieces and is eminently worthy of a restoration, that would put me right back into the need for a parts donor. Radio is a terrible hobby.

https://www.radioblvd.com/R-390A%20Rebuild.htm

194

Shortwave Broadcast / CRI audio quality

« on: March 21, 2018, 1559 UTC »

China has a nice sig on 15700, but it seems to have some oscillations in the modulation, anyone else notice this or is it my rig?

They're 80dBm, guessing a relay from someone on this side of the world.

195

Huh? / Old Habits

« on: March 14, 2018, 1654 UTC »

So I'm messing around with the r390a trying to see if it's as sensitive as it's supposed to be and I tune a few megacycles down (without tuning the kilocycles knob) and hear a familiar sound.

Hm01.

How apropos.

The Cuban lady on 11435 rattles off some numbers en espanol and then rdft blares out. The carrier stayed up after she ended the bingo game, and promptly at 1625Z commenced another game of radio bingo, plus rdft.

I wonder if this specific 390 was used to monitor such espionage bcasts back in the "chilling" days of the cold war? It tuned right to an ongoing spy bcast so perhaps it knows what to tune to via spy radio instinct. Still sending at 1640Z.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-390A
http://priyom.org/number-stations/digital/hm01