Pescadores Freebanders and UNID Radio Nets 43 meters 6-7 MHz 11 Dec 2018

[R4002]

Monitored using the COMMSIGMA SDR on the CT/MA border.  Starting at 1630 local time (2130 UTC) and ending at 1700 local time (2200 UTC).

6200 kHz USB - Weak traffic here, presumably marine HF-SSB traffic
6205 kHz USB - Spanish language, very weak
6210 kHz USB - Several stations heard, OMs and at least one YL - Spanish language, informal QSOs
6215 kHz USB - very active with Spanish language, as per usual, presumed fishing fleets fishery radio on calling frequency
6230 kHz USB - Meteo broadcast, SIO 222 at 2139 UTC
6232 kHz USB - UNID weak signals, sounds like Spanish but not 100% sure due to poor copy
6235 kHz USB - Sounds like two QSOs going at once, hearing a Spanish word here and there
6238 kHz USB - Two OMs heard chatting, more Spanish, poor copy
6241 kHz USB - OM and YL talking, Spanish language, good signal at 2140 UTC, OM laughing
6294.5 kHz LSB - Spanish language, informal chatter about whats up tomorrow, maybe closer to 6294.6 kHz
6306 kHz LSB - Spanish language chatter getting obliterated by "rushing" ute data signal at 2145 UTC
6306 kHz USB - weak Portuguese heard for a moment
6335 kHz LSB - Portuguese chatter, sounds like the 6925 kHz LSB crowd a bit
6345 kHz LSB - similar to 6335 LSB, multiple stations at once
6556 kHz USB - Spanish language, likely freebanders
6610 kHz USB - UNID language, lots of QRM from 6612 USB, presumed Spanish or Portuguese
6612 kHz USB - UNID language, lots of QRM from 6610 USB, presumed Spanish or Portuguese freebanders
6688 kHz USB - More freebanders (Spanish speaking)
6695 kHz USB - Spanish language, presumed freebanders
6697.7 kHz USB - Spanish speaking stations, distorted audio
6740 kHz USB - Spanish language, laid-back chatter
6775.5 kHz USB - Spanish, weak
6783 kHz USB - Spanish language, getting clobbered by click-click-click wideband QRM (radar?)
6785 kHz USB - similar to 6783 kHz USB, but completely unlistenable due to QRM
6842 kHz LSB - very strong Spanish, one of the stations has carrier reinserted, heard mention of "the sea" at 2154 UTC
6872 kHz USB - OM reading characters in French - possibly a military station
6885 kHz USB - Spanish language, freebanders or outbanders, good signals until the wideband QRM returns at 2157 UTC
6925 kHz LSB - Portuguese....the usual suspects
6950 kHz USB - Spanish
6960 kHz LSB - Spanish
6965 kHz LSB - Portuguese language
6974 kHz USB - Spanish, with QRM from nearby signals, OM whistling into mic at 2159 UTC
6977 kHz LSB - Portuguese, mixing with several other signals
6977 kHz USB - Spanish, with QRM
6980 kHz USB - more Spanish language chatter, weak
6985 kHz USB - Spanish, sounds like CB operators at this point
6990 kHz USB - Spanish, freebanders
6999 kHz LSB - Spanish, more of the same all over 43 meters

[ChrisSmolinski]

I noticed an interesting one last night, it seemed to be alternating transmissions on 6960 AM and 6964 AM. Too weak to hear any details, but I suspect some sort of QSO, probably from South America.

[R4002]

It seems like the just below 7000 kHz 40 meter band zone is actually quite popular with South American traffic (and fishing fleets, of course).  I think as the band conditions for propagation to Latin America improve we’ll hear more of these interesting signals.  Going with the 11 meter freeband analogy...hearing folks using AM does make sense.  The 6950-7000 kHz region seems particularly active and like freeband CB and the 6900 kHz crowd they use the mode switch as a way to find a clear channel.  Combine that with the possibility that older-generation gear is being used and AM mode peskies or freebanders or whatever they are makes sense. 

On 6842 kHz one of the stations was operating in AME or SSB with carrier re-inserted which I found interesting...especially since all the stations he was talking two appeared to be using regular SSB.