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Author Topic: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021  (Read 1697 times)

Offline alleycat

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U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« on: May 01, 2021, 0132 UTC »
I am hearing "Net Control" exchanging traffic with various stations such as "Desert Eagle", "Sunspot 05" and "Highcard Sierra". One lengthy exchange involved an "unclassified request for information" to "Send a highway sit rep for the following areas of interest" after which locations on Interstate and State highways in 13 states were identified.

Some of the stations exhibit strong signals (S7 and higher, with low noise & no fading) in Binghamton, NY. The chatter sounds like MARS, but the callsigns don't. Can someone tell me what I'm actually listening to? Sample at https://www.lutins.org/temp/radio/6986.5_2021-05-01_0115z.mp3
allen lutins - KC2KLC
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Offline ~SIGINT~

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2021, 0200 UTC »
Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). This is generally a training net for members passing message and data traffic.

Offline alleycat

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2021, 0255 UTC »
So MARS stations are using military-style callsigns now instead of the familiar more-like-amateur-callsigns (like AA2S) that I used to hear years ago?
allen lutins - KC2KLC
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Offline myteaquinn

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2021, 0119 UTC »
Tonight, 06 May 2021 at 0116z; the callsigns are "Highcard" with a single letter (spoken in NATO phonetics). Such as: "Highcard Alpha", "Highcard Sierra".

I assume Highcard to be one word for this usage.
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Offline Zoidberg

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2022, 0109 UTC »
19 Oct 2022
6986.5 USB
0100 UTC -- same heard via PA SDR, presumably MARS net. "Highcard Alpha, this is Highcard Sierra" etc.
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Offline Pigmeat

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2022, 1143 UTC »
They've used that frequency for years. It's a good reason for pirates to stay well away from it.

People sometimes forget how high up those planes are. They could be close or a couple of thousand miles away.

Offline autovon

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Re: U.S. mil network? 6986.5 USB 0120z 1 May 2021
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2022, 0102 UTC »
On again tonight 0102z.  Hearing standard MARS callsigns
Default RX location is Wisconsin using various wire antennas. Other RX will be noted.

Offline ~SIGINT~

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Re: U.S. MARS 6986.5 USB 0120 UTC 01 MAY 2021
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2022, 0146 UTC »
The frequency and network is pretty much active daily with voice, ALE and data.