2536
General Radio Discussion / Re: Brother Stair (AKA BS) and WBCQ's broadcast 11/02/2018 @ 1847 utc
« on: November 06, 2018, 1842 UTC »
Elvis lives in a van down by the river with Salmon Rushdie and Jim Morrison.
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Signals That Go Bump In The Night
We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.
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The SDRPlay products can send audio or an iq stream to a decoder, no problem there. I doubt if any of the high dollar decoders will ever directly support the RSP line as they're just not in use to any number in mil/int/diplo services.
Any rig that can produce audio can be used with decoders, as long as it hears the freq in question and has a demodulator for the mode. Not too many folks use tncs anymore save for the pactor iv guys. I miss my old pk232, the saim function was neat until I realised it would only id sigs that it was programmed to, nowadays some decoders offer classification of signals, feed it a sig and it'll tell you if it's psk, fsk, shift, baudrate, etc etc. The one area where a tnc shines over a pc based decoder is in the latency war, hardware modems like the pk232 and the military modems have superior timing capability compared to a pc. This can be important in certain modes that do not tolerate varying latency, and here I'm talking about microseconds and milliseconds.
Back when I got started in decoding and "serious" swling there wasn't much of an innernet and no remote sdrs to play with, today you can remote into sdrs located around the world. I suggest using some remote sdrs to get an idea as to how they operate before plunking down the cash. I also find it nice to have a rig that can hear the band without needing a pc running, so don't sell your table top rig to get an sdr.
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2537
Equipment / Re: Computer Run Shortwave
« on: November 06, 2018, 1831 UTC »So does an SDR Play have the ability to interface with decoding? As I said before, I am still learning about the new software driven decoders verses the ones I am used to also referred as TNC's (PakRat PK-232, etc.) Will I still be able to decode?
The SDRPlay products can send audio or an iq stream to a decoder, no problem there. I doubt if any of the high dollar decoders will ever directly support the RSP line as they're just not in use to any number in mil/int/diplo services.
Any rig that can produce audio can be used with decoders, as long as it hears the freq in question and has a demodulator for the mode. Not too many folks use tncs anymore save for the pactor iv guys. I miss my old pk232, the saim function was neat until I realised it would only id sigs that it was programmed to, nowadays some decoders offer classification of signals, feed it a sig and it'll tell you if it's psk, fsk, shift, baudrate, etc etc. The one area where a tnc shines over a pc based decoder is in the latency war, hardware modems like the pk232 and the military modems have superior timing capability compared to a pc. This can be important in certain modes that do not tolerate varying latency, and here I'm talking about microseconds and milliseconds.
Back when I got started in decoding and "serious" swling there wasn't much of an innernet and no remote sdrs to play with, today you can remote into sdrs located around the world. I suggest using some remote sdrs to get an idea as to how they operate before plunking down the cash. I also find it nice to have a rig that can hear the band without needing a pc running, so don't sell your table top rig to get an sdr.
2538
Utility / Re: 11Mhz HFDL and ALE
« on: November 04, 2018, 1909 UTC »
11387 ALE 04NOV18
Preamble 600 bps 4.2 sec Interleaver FREQ ERR 5.347534 Hz Errors 2
[MPDU 19:01:39 GND SLOT 1,2 600 BPS ]
[LPDU UNNUMBERED DATA FM GND TO AIR FX0828]
HACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N624FE
Message label: A9 Block id: C [Uplink]
Message content:-
/ATSFXXA.TI2/KMEM ARR ATIS C
1854Z MEM ATIS INFO C 1854Z.
18012G20KT 10SM OVC016
15/13 A3001 (THREE ZERO
ZERO ONE) RMK AO2
SLP160. ILS APCH IN USE
RY 18L, 18R. SIMUL DEPS
IN USE RY 18R 18C 18L.
NOTAMS... RWY 18L
Preamble 600 bps 4.2 sec Interleaver FREQ ERR 5.734674 Hz Errors 3
[MPDU 19:02:09 GND SLOT 1,2 600 BPS ]
[LPDU UNNUMBERED DATA FM GND TO AIR FX0828]
HACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N624FE
Message label: A9 Block id: D [Uplink]
Message content:-
DME
OTS. RWY 18R CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z, RWY 18C CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z, RWY 18L CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z. BIRD ACTIVITY
RPTD IN THE VC OF THE
ARPT. HAZD WX INFO
Preamble 600 bps 4.2 sec Interleaver FREQ ERR 5.347534 Hz Errors 2
[MPDU 19:01:39 GND SLOT 1,2 600 BPS ]
[LPDU UNNUMBERED DATA FM GND TO AIR FX0828]
HACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N624FE
Message label: A9 Block id: C [Uplink]
Message content:-
/ATSFXXA.TI2/KMEM ARR ATIS C
1854Z MEM ATIS INFO C 1854Z.
18012G20KT 10SM OVC016
15/13 A3001 (THREE ZERO
ZERO ONE) RMK AO2
SLP160. ILS APCH IN USE
RY 18L, 18R. SIMUL DEPS
IN USE RY 18R 18C 18L.
NOTAMS... RWY 18L
Preamble 600 bps 4.2 sec Interleaver FREQ ERR 5.734674 Hz Errors 3
[MPDU 19:02:09 GND SLOT 1,2 600 BPS ]
[LPDU UNNUMBERED DATA FM GND TO AIR FX0828]
HACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .N624FE
Message label: A9 Block id: D [Uplink]
Message content:-
DME
OTS. RWY 18R CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z, RWY 18C CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z, RWY 18L CONDITION
CODES , 5 , 5 , 5 AT
1318Z. BIRD ACTIVITY
RPTD IN THE VC OF THE
ARPT. HAZD WX INFO
2539
Equipment / Re: Computer Run Shortwave
« on: November 04, 2018, 1902 UTC »
After you know your way around a low cost sdr rig and are considering getting a more capable one (ie it has greater dynamic range) you might consider one that has native support in your favorite decode suite if you like decoding digital modes. Many decoders offer direct or indirect support for a given sdr. Most of the decoders I use will talk to sdriq, Perseus, Icom, and many others.
Its nice to save on cpu cycles and memory footprint by having the decoder control the sdr rather than a decoder and sdr control app running concurrently. This will help out on battery life for laptops and might even offer a performance improvement in the decodes. That being said, some decoders state in their manual that while they can control an sdr it's better to use the control app.
Its nice to save on cpu cycles and memory footprint by having the decoder control the sdr rather than a decoder and sdr control app running concurrently. This will help out on battery life for laptops and might even offer a performance improvement in the decodes. That being said, some decoders state in their manual that while they can control an sdr it's better to use the control app.
2540
MW Loggings / Re: 1080 KHz IRAN 750 KW Mahshahr transmitter
« on: November 04, 2018, 1709 UTC »
Very nice catch. Tis the season.
2541
VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: UHF mil air
« on: November 04, 2018, 1703 UTC »
336.100 AM 1623Z 04NOV18
Air refuel attempt.
INDY 81
(KC-135R 434th ARW, AFRC Grissom ARB, IN)
RHINO 50
(RHINO F-18E VF-31, CVW-14, NAS OCEANA VA
RHINO C-5A, 89th AS/445th AW, Wright-Patterson/AFRC
RHINO C-5A, 337th AS Westover ARB MA
RHINO F-15 123rd FS OR ANG Portland IAP OR
RHINO A-10 303RD FS AFRES WHITEMAN AFB MO
RHODY C-130J 143rd AS, RI ANG Quonset State Aprt RI)
RHINO 50 informs INDY 81 that he has a control surface failure causing "do not aerial refuel" state. No mask noise on RHINO 50 transmissions so we can count out the fighters. With Wright Pat AFB a stone's throw from here a C-5A may be ac in Alpha 2 state, Alpha 2 indicating a failure of some sort.
Air refuel attempt.
INDY 81
(KC-135R 434th ARW, AFRC Grissom ARB, IN)
RHINO 50
(RHINO F-18E VF-31, CVW-14, NAS OCEANA VA
RHINO C-5A, 89th AS/445th AW, Wright-Patterson/AFRC
RHINO C-5A, 337th AS Westover ARB MA
RHINO F-15 123rd FS OR ANG Portland IAP OR
RHINO A-10 303RD FS AFRES WHITEMAN AFB MO
RHODY C-130J 143rd AS, RI ANG Quonset State Aprt RI)
RHINO 50 informs INDY 81 that he has a control surface failure causing "do not aerial refuel" state. No mask noise on RHINO 50 transmissions so we can count out the fighters. With Wright Pat AFB a stone's throw from here a C-5A may be ac in Alpha 2 state, Alpha 2 indicating a failure of some sort.
2542
Huh? / Re: Neil Young acknowledges he and Daryl Hannah are married
« on: November 03, 2018, 1904 UTC »2543
Huh? / Re: Neil Young acknowledges he and Daryl Hannah are married
« on: November 02, 2018, 1853 UTC »
I wonder if she makes dolphin noises when they umm you know.
2544
VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: UHF mil air
« on: November 02, 2018, 1836 UTC »
364.200 AM 1815Z 02OCT18
WIZARD ALPHA calling for station last heard on NORAD aicc. Possible JSTARS related activity.
Unid station just popped up on aicc with test count 1835Z. WIZARD ALPHA "requesting ground team(?) at this time" 1838Z.
Unid station now giving lat lon coords starting with "38" 1840Z.
Pretty sure this is JSTARS, references to tracking target at a specified lat/lon, 33k feet, 650 knots 1846Z.
WIZARD ALPHA calling HUNTRESS ( CP NEADS SOCC ID/Surveillance section, Rome AFB, NY) with recommendation to not change orbit and remain within 100 nm of specified location1859Z.
WIZARD ALPHA calling HUNTRESS re do you see my track at X location, squawk 1200 1900Z. Sigs much stronger now and here I have to stop playing radio.
260.800 AM 1835Z 02OCT18
ZOMBIE 20 calling on listed freq, ZOMBIE resolves to KC-135R/T 319th ARW Grand Forks AFB, ZOMBIE call previously noted as CAP refueling tanker.
WIZARD ALPHA calling for station last heard on NORAD aicc. Possible JSTARS related activity.
Unid station just popped up on aicc with test count 1835Z. WIZARD ALPHA "requesting ground team(?) at this time" 1838Z.
Unid station now giving lat lon coords starting with "38" 1840Z.
Pretty sure this is JSTARS, references to tracking target at a specified lat/lon, 33k feet, 650 knots 1846Z.
WIZARD ALPHA calling HUNTRESS ( CP NEADS SOCC ID/Surveillance section, Rome AFB, NY) with recommendation to not change orbit and remain within 100 nm of specified location1859Z.
WIZARD ALPHA calling HUNTRESS re do you see my track at X location, squawk 1200 1900Z. Sigs much stronger now and here I have to stop playing radio.
260.800 AM 1835Z 02OCT18
ZOMBIE 20 calling on listed freq, ZOMBIE resolves to KC-135R/T 319th ARW Grand Forks AFB, ZOMBIE call previously noted as CAP refueling tanker.
2545
Utility / Re: Interesting NAVTEX message 11/02/2018
« on: November 02, 2018, 1826 UTC »
This is what you get when you remote everything.
2546
Equipment / Re: Computer Run Shortwave
« on: November 01, 2018, 1859 UTC »
The RSP2 is used every day, sometimes to cover a single voice or digital mode channel, but often as a multi vrx sdr with either SDRuno or SDR Console v3, SDR Console v3 is pretty much my goto for vrx work as it seems to employ more decimation than HDSDR and does vrx while HDSDR doesn't do vrx at all. HDSDR is about the lowest cpu use sdr app worth running. What I really want is a winrad internal pci sdr, installs on the pci bus. I'm not a fan of usb radio at all, nor firewire radio as in the case of the flexradios.
Vrx is virtual receiver, you can deploy more than one rx detection and demodulation mode as well as different filters, For example, I have 3 vrx in use on two hfdl channels and one ale channel in the low 11mHz zone. Then I set up decoders for hfdl, ale, and the ale channel often carries Mil 110A so have a decoder up for that too. One sdr rig, one sdr control app, multiple reception instances.
Some sdrs do vrx, some don't. Some sdrs cover 10MHz swaths of spectrum, some only offer the bandwidth of your soundcard. The sdrs that offer multiple vrx can have those vrx anywhere in their passband. The usual trade off is the wider bandwidths typically suffer from imd and dynamic range issues but sure make for an impressive display.
Here's some reviews of the lower priced and lower bitrate sdrs;
http://www.udxf.nl/The-RTL-SDR-V3.pdf
http://www.udxf.nl/SDRPlay_RSP2_SDR.pdf
Vrx is virtual receiver, you can deploy more than one rx detection and demodulation mode as well as different filters, For example, I have 3 vrx in use on two hfdl channels and one ale channel in the low 11mHz zone. Then I set up decoders for hfdl, ale, and the ale channel often carries Mil 110A so have a decoder up for that too. One sdr rig, one sdr control app, multiple reception instances.
Some sdrs do vrx, some don't. Some sdrs cover 10MHz swaths of spectrum, some only offer the bandwidth of your soundcard. The sdrs that offer multiple vrx can have those vrx anywhere in their passband. The usual trade off is the wider bandwidths typically suffer from imd and dynamic range issues but sure make for an impressive display.
Here's some reviews of the lower priced and lower bitrate sdrs;
http://www.udxf.nl/The-RTL-SDR-V3.pdf
http://www.udxf.nl/SDRPlay_RSP2_SDR.pdf
2547
Equipment / Re: Great Limited Space Antenna
« on: November 01, 2018, 1835 UTC »
The good thing is just about any conductor will serve as an hf antenna, no matter the polarity of the signal.... to a degree.
2548
Equipment / Re: Great Limited Space Antenna
« on: October 31, 2018, 1845 UTC »
This screencap shows some multipath in the tuning eye pattern on the scope;
https://www.filemail.com/d/blxgylfoarsrnot
https://www.filemail.com/d/blxgylfoarsrnot
2549
Equipment / Re: Computer Run Shortwave
« on: October 31, 2018, 1844 UTC »
I don't mind used because as long as it works that's all I need. Used is going to be cheaper than new obviously. I'd really like to have a Perseus, but even used those are more than I care to spend on a sdr. So I'll settle for a sdriq as they have 14 bits of resolution and typically sell for around $150. There are a number of newer sdr rigs out there that employ a 14bit adc or higher so don't limit your choices to my ideas. Many of the guys here roll sdr rigs and have experience with them so ask around and see what they think about their rigs. I must admit that thread I linked to in my post above gets very technical and it's easy to get lost in the numbers if you don't have a basic understanding of what is being discussed, so learning about sdr rigs is a worthwhile effort. Long story short, they're amazing even if lacking knobs.
As to comparing sdr rigs to table top rigs like HAM hf rigs or Icom R75s and whatnot, I feel once a sdr has 14bits of adc they will be as hardy or hardier than typical HAM rigs and table top shortwave sets.
As to comparing sdr rigs to table top rigs like HAM hf rigs or Icom R75s and whatnot, I feel once a sdr has 14bits of adc they will be as hardy or hardier than typical HAM rigs and table top shortwave sets.
2550
VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: UHF mil air
« on: October 31, 2018, 1752 UTC »
AR315 ongoing 343.250MHz 1743Z 31OCT18
Female boom op (boom operators are in the tanker and are the master of ceremonies).
"stable ready"
Female boom op (boom operators are in the tanker and are the master of ceremonies).
"stable ready"