UnID beacon: 4111.4 kHz

[stendec]

Using the KPH SDR, I'm hearing a slow dasher beacon on 4111.3 kHz, sending a ~1.5 second dash with every 2 seconds. The signal is an S4 with some fading.

STENDEC

[stendec]

...and it's gone. It sent a few longer (10-second) dashes, then stopped transmitting around 2315Z while I was to switching between other west coast SDRs.

What's with all the short-lived beacons lately? Just testing?

STENDEC

[zeak]

Not necessarily a beacon, at that frequency it could simply be a Marine Mobile user testing equipment. Maybe a user keying up a TX and ATU In the past did it plenty of times myself.

"4063-4438 kHz HF 4 MHz marine band - USB voice calling/distress 4125 kHz, DSC calling/distress 4207.5 kHz "

see: https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/HF_marine.

Zeak,

[stendec]

The 4111.3 signal was heard for at least a couple of hours of 1.5 sec dashes every 2 secs, before the longer dashes started for a few minutes.
That's a long time for a user to be testing/tuning maritime mobile equipment.  But you may be right, Zeak - in that it was some sort of transmitter testing going on, which would explain why some of the recent 'beacons' seem to disappear after a few hours.

STENDEC

[zeak]

Stendec,

My apologies! From your original mention I got the impression the signal you were seeing was very short term rather than being longer term the hour or so you mention in your last.

4111.4kHz would be on or about ITU Channels 416 and 417. In the past I've seen what might be some sort of regular traffic there, its been during 0800-1100Z and only during the winter months, which from this location (DM12) could mean the point of origin might be the Baltic region. I'll keep an ear on that frequency.

Zeak