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Author Topic: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16  (Read 3034 times)

Offline jFarley

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Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« on: November 04, 2016, 2153 UTC »
Was tuning above the MW band when I noted a flareup of multiple drift net beacons at 2107 UTC.  Very fady, and getting IDs was next to impossible.  Freqs noted:

1713.48
1744.63
1775.79
1802.50
1806.94
1838.095
1869.25
1900.40
1931.56
1962.71

The opening lasted for less than 2 minutes, and we will be watching in the future!
Joe Farley, Near Chicago
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2016, 2204 UTC »
Thanks for the tip, I notice several here on the waterfall.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
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Offline jFarley

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2016, 2216 UTC »
Great!  I don't know where these were from, but it's interesting that 10 popped up nearly simultaneously.  I was accustomed to these beacons having rather long pauses between idents.  It kind of suggests that wherever they were from, there might have been a lot of them.

I kept looking for a while, but they never returned.
Joe Farley, Near Chicago
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QSLS appreciated to:    jfarley44@att.net

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2016, 2248 UTC »
One thing I have noticed from my DGPS recording sessions is how you can have a very brief opening for several minutes, and then boom, it is gone. Recording an entire band really is the way to go. It will be nice when we can record all of 0-30 MHz 24/7, store it for a few days or weeks, and go back to look for things (or better yet have some automated search tools). Maybe once we get PetaByte (PB) hard drives.

I did some searching online to see how these things work, regarding FCC licensing. It seems to be... they often aren't licensed, and their legality is somewhat dubious. Sounds like the perfect target for us to DX  ;D
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2016, 2139 UTC »
I heard these three around 2130z:

1884 4MVZ
1902 KR2
1969 TCE1
« Last Edit: November 05, 2016, 2258 UTC by ChrisSmolinski »
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline jFarley

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2016, 2256 UTC »
I was watching for a while around 2100z, and at that time, a couple did pop up.  These were very short lived.

Interestingly, something popped up on 1710 at the same time, and I had audio for about 15 seconds.  A YL was giving weather, but no clues as to the city or region were given.  This did not sound like anything I have heard on the 1710 station in Chicago.
Joe Farley, Near Chicago
SDR-IQ / R8 / R7
Remote Resonant Loops for HF and LF / ALA 1530
Active 60" Whip / PA0RDT
QSLS appreciated to:    jfarley44@att.net

Offline tesla

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Re: Drift Net Beacons 2107 UTC 4Nov16
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2016, 0124 UTC »
I remember back in the late 80s hams contacted the FCC and told them about these  beacons
in the 160 meter band...the FCC said such things did not exist...LOL

 

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