Drift Net Beacons Circa 1130 UTC 23 APRIL 2019

[ChrisSmolinski]

Even though it was already daylight, conditions seemed good this morning, so I decided to see what I could hear:

1915 BCR9
1923 BGD0
1926 CS9
1939 ALT9
1940 AEK8
1948 AA9
1949 XM2
1950 AYO1
1951 ET2
1959 ARE8
1968 AXS5
1971 BQ8
1974 4MRU
1979 AXG2
1983 BN3
1993 JF13

As of 1314Z I am still hearing some of them. These have to be just off the Atlantic coast.

[Looking-Glass]

Thanks for posting Chris, unfortunately none of those you have logged tally with my data sheet here for the period March/April.

Have on 1927 MZ2 1256z 18th Mar 2019 as the closest frequency wise  but nil on 1926.

Been giving them ago tonight in between NDBing and have bagged six new unique calls to add to the list.

Pity you are not on the Pacific coast of the USA where I think we might get close to linking some of them...

[ChrisSmolinski]

Yes, I suspect our logs will rarely, if ever, overlap.

What do you think about using the HFU Wiki to consolidate a listing of DNB beacons based on logs? (One additional factor I just realized, DNBs will come and go as they are put into service and removed, and may even be relocated to the other side of the world on occasion)

[Looking-Glass]

It's a good idea Chris, but as you mentioned the beacons are not permanent, they are frequency wise, but are shifted around by the company as they see fit.

The list would only be current for around six to eight weeks at most, judging by my loggings (they disappear in that period usually, but not always), as the beacon is either brought back to the mother ship and shut off or utilised later at another location.

Good idea the list, but we need more people to be proactive in an effort to monitor and log them accurately.  Currently there is virtually zero participation on this site (from the Pacific region) so we should wait awhile longer to see if some more serious monitors, especially from west coast North America and especially Asia where I think dividends will be paid.

Thanks for the heads up a few postings back about them being above 2.700MHz too, have logged three above that frequency with the highest 2.777MHz last night.

[Teotwaki]

I don't have an effective antenna but I still try to catch driftnet beacons. Seems silly to post up and say "Tried listening today.  Heard nothing" just to show I am interested in the topic.   

A list of any sorts would be a great help with defining where to listen and what might be heard.

[Venom6733]

i dont live near the ocean but i do live near the great lakes...would there be drift beacons in there or is that more of a ocean thing???

[Teotwaki]

i dont live near the ocean but i do live near the great lakes...would there be drift beacons in there or is that more of a ocean thing???

Hi Venom

Compared to the large oceans the Great Lakes are much more confined. I believe drift nets would be a hazard to all boats and would not be allowed.

Because HF propagation can cover long distance you might want to still try to listen.

Have you ever heard the "A" letter beacon on 2097.3 KHz? It is pretty strong and supposedly in Arizona. If you can hear that beacon you might try listening for DNB's

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drift_netting