16
HF Beacons / Re: Gendarme
« on: August 10, 2022, 1627 UTC »
Gendarme coming through at about an S3 on the KFS SDR, at 1625z on 8/10/2022.
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Signals That Go Bump In The Night
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When I'm lying in the bunk of the campervan in a remote location, there's definitely something magical associated with receiving the signals from these distant (and probably also remote) beacons. I know I don't need to explain that kind of magic to you!
I was planning to head up to Silverton. A fellow camper was sending videos and pictures of the free camping locations there, and it looked beautiful. He sent me a video of a moose that was just 20 or 30 feet from their campsite. I had a fuel pump issue though and, by the time it was fixed, decided to head east into Utah instead. I do intend to make it to Silverton one day though.
Yep. It's almost unnerving, those first few times in low-noise environments. I really wanted my receiver AF gain to go to 11, until the sweet sound of a loud CW signal popped straight out of the speaker.
I don't know what to say about MB's weird rant, other than to express my opinion that it is antithetical to the spirit of these forums. DW, I hope you'll continue to check in here from time to time. The strong signal of your whooper makes it a dependable and friendly sound on the bands - much like the sound of the foghorns on ships in the San Francisco Bay, when I used to live a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, or the distant sound of an Amtrak horn at night.
Jim - your consistent reporting here forms the backbone of this forum. It's much appreciated.
Thanks Chris! It is so easy nowadays to take SW receive capability along with me on my trips, that there is no good reason not to. Although I don't listen anywhere near as much as I could, I pull the receiver out when I feel so inclined, and figure that every single data point helps, even if it is only one or two.
One pleasant surprise has been how low the band noise often is, when I'm away from all the RFI in the large metro area that I call home. At first, I even thought there was something wrong with the receiver!
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17
HF Beacons / Re: Coastal Slider Back On 4109.5
« on: August 06, 2022, 2133 UTC »
I've never heard CS, and a decent listening antenna is not going to happen at home anytime soon, so I resorted to the online SDR's. It's a very clear S3-S4 on the KPH SDR, and about S1 on KFS. Nice to hear it for the first time.
18
HF Beacons / Re: Cry Baby Beacon
« on: July 12, 2022, 0032 UTC »
Although I'm not copying it from my current QTH in SW Utah, I hope to be heading a bit further north next week. Will take a listen for it then.
19
HF Beacons / Re: HIKER
« on: July 09, 2022, 2301 UTC »
From my current QTH in Panguitch, in SW Utah, I am copying what I am told is Hiker, on about 7998.17KHz. About 90 beeps every 60 seconds.
I first heard it on 7/07/2022 at 0930 MDT (1530z) at about a 539, and again on 7/09/2022 at 1700 MDT (2300z) at about a 419.
Receiver is the Belka DX with 28" whip.
I first heard it on 7/07/2022 at 0930 MDT (1530z) at about a 539, and again on 7/09/2022 at 1700 MDT (2300z) at about a 419.
Receiver is the Belka DX with 28" whip.
20
HF Beacons / Re: New whooper beacon on 4095.65
« on: June 20, 2022, 0540 UTC »
That sounds like a very plausible explanation for the glitchy reception of DW Jim. DW is quite strong in Southern Utah and, as you observed, sounds fine. At about 1130pm MDT on 6/19/2922 (0530z on 6/20/2022) DW was 13.0V, otmp 76, itmp 86, pv = 1.
Receiver for the above was my plucky little Belka-DX with the telescopic whip.
Receiver for the above was my plucky little Belka-DX with the telescopic whip.
21
HF Beacons / Re: 4095.6 - the Desert Whooper Returns
« on: June 20, 2022, 0526 UTC »
syfr - yes, the Belka-DX is a very handy little radio. There are quite a few birdies throughout the spectrum but other than that, the performance for such a small receiver is excellent. As for the telescopic whip flopping around, there are 2 solutions that I know of. The first is to gently bend the lugs in the BNC jack, as shown in this video -
https://youtu.be/93Az-Y92yf0
The second is to fabricate a support bracket, details of which can be seen by joining the FB group called, "Belka DX Users" and performing a search for "antenna".
Other than listening for specific beacons, I haven't done any general SWL'ing while here in Utah yet. I need to rectify that!
https://youtu.be/93Az-Y92yf0
The second is to fabricate a support bracket, details of which can be seen by joining the FB group called, "Belka DX Users" and performing a search for "antenna".
Other than listening for specific beacons, I haven't done any general SWL'ing while here in Utah yet. I need to rectify that!
22
HF Beacons / Re: 4095.6 - the Desert Whooper Returns
« on: June 17, 2022, 0604 UTC »Again, that's a pretty iconic image in my head of a guy laying in the bunk with a small radio to listen to HF!
I've been to that area a number of times and usually camp closer to Silverton but where you are there are some nice places to pull out along with public campgrounds and small lakes. Hope you are having great weather!
When I'm lying in the bunk of the campervan in a remote location, there's definitely something magical associated with receiving the signals from these distant (and probably also remote) beacons. I know I don't need to explain that kind of magic to you!
I was planning to head up to Silverton. A fellow camper was sending videos and pictures of the free camping locations there, and it looked beautiful. He sent me a video of a moose that was just 20 or 30 feet from their campsite. I had a fuel pump issue though and, by the time it was fixed, decided to head east into Utah instead. I do intend to make it to Silverton one day though.
23
HF Beacons / Re: Gendarme
« on: June 17, 2022, 0550 UTC »
I was so far out in the sticks there was no electrical noise to be heard as static that late in the fall. I was sure the receiver had got bounced around and broke when I first heard all that dead air.
Yep. It's almost unnerving, those first few times in low-noise environments. I really wanted my receiver AF gain to go to 11, until the sweet sound of a loud CW signal popped straight out of the speaker.
I don't know what to say about MB's weird rant, other than to express my opinion that it is antithetical to the spirit of these forums. DW, I hope you'll continue to check in here from time to time. The strong signal of your whooper makes it a dependable and friendly sound on the bands - much like the sound of the foghorns on ships in the San Francisco Bay, when I used to live a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, or the distant sound of an Amtrak horn at night.
Jim - your consistent reporting here forms the backbone of this forum. It's much appreciated.
24
HF Beacons / Re: 2097.3 kHz. "A" Beacon Returns...Again...
« on: June 08, 2022, 0809 UTC »
It was a strong signal (S5 - S6) on my little Belka-DX with the set top whip, at just before 0700z (1am local) on June 7th 2022, in the Valley of the Gods, near Monument Valley in southern Utah.
25
HF Beacons / Re: 2097.3 kHz. "A" Beacon Returns...Again...
« on: May 21, 2022, 1029 UTC »
From the bunk of my campervan (can't sleep) about 14 miles north of Durango, CO. At 1002z (0402 MDT), the A beacon was an S2-S3 on my Belka-DX with set-top whip.
I don't have a way to precisely zero-beat the signal, which is why I don't quote the frequency, but it is close to 2097.3 KHz.
I don't have a way to precisely zero-beat the signal, which is why I don't quote the frequency, but it is close to 2097.3 KHz.
26
HF Beacons / Re: 4095.6 - the Desert Whooper Returns
« on: May 21, 2022, 1023 UTC »
From the bunk of my campervan with my Belka-DX and set-top whip. About 14 miles north of Durango, CO at 7800 feet. DW was about an S2.
1005z (0405 MDT) 12.9V, itmp 63, itmp 72, pv 1
1005z (0405 MDT) 12.9V, itmp 63, itmp 72, pv 1
27
HF Beacons / Re: 4095.6 - the Desert Whooper Returns
« on: May 14, 2022, 0442 UTC »
Well, DW is so easy to hear out west, it's almost like shooting fish in a barrel, but here goes. I'm still in my campervan, but am now 6 miles west of Bayfield, CO at a height of 6900 feet.
With my little Belka-DX and the 28" set-top whip, DW was varying between a 419 and a 549, at 0434z on 5/14/2022. Telemetry was 13.0, 80, 85, 1.
With my little Belka-DX and the 28" set-top whip, DW was varying between a 419 and a 549, at 0434z on 5/14/2022. Telemetry was 13.0, 80, 85, 1.
28
HF Beacons / Re: Gendarme
« on: May 11, 2022, 0246 UTC »A very nice catch, Dave! This beacon, and Rainy, have been on my to-catch list for years.
p.s. I've been following your trip via your FB posts, nice to see you're mixing some radio in with your other adventures!
Thanks Chris! It is so easy nowadays to take SW receive capability along with me on my trips, that there is no good reason not to. Although I don't listen anywhere near as much as I could, I pull the receiver out when I feel so inclined, and figure that every single data point helps, even if it is only one or two.
One pleasant surprise has been how low the band noise often is, when I'm away from all the RFI in the large metro area that I call home. At first, I even thought there was something wrong with the receiver!
29
HF Beacons / Re: 2097.3 kHz. "A" Beacon Returns...Again...
« on: May 11, 2022, 0237 UTC »
A beacon heard with the 29" set-top whip on my Belka-DX in the bunk of my camper van. 5/09/2022 at 0718z. S1-S2 in Chaco Canyon, NM.
30
HF Beacons / Re: 4095.6 - the Desert Whooper Returns
« on: May 11, 2022, 0217 UTC »
That's a great logo Jim, and very appropriate!
I heard DW on the 28" set-top whip on my Belka-DX, in the bunk of my campervan at Chaco Canyon, NM. 5/09/2022 at 0703z. S1-S2. bat = 13.0, otmp = 56, itmp = 65, pv = 1
I heard DW on the 28" set-top whip on my Belka-DX, in the bunk of my campervan at Chaco Canyon, NM. 5/09/2022 at 0703z. S1-S2. bat = 13.0, otmp = 56, itmp = 65, pv = 1
