HF Aeronautical Frequencies #4 (5-6 MHz)

5025.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

5026.0             USAF Zulu discrete

5062.5.0          RDARA Philippines

5085.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

5167.5.0          RDARA Alaska

5224.0             Stockholm LDOC

5282.0             Stockholm LDOC

5290.0             Stockholm LDOC

5340.0             Ternate Radio, Sultan Babulla AP, Indonesia

5447.5.0          RDARA Philippines

5450.0             RAF VOLMET

5451.0             RDARA 10F 11B 12F 12H 13I 13J

5451.0             RDARA Uruguay

5451.0             ARINC HFDL 16 - Guam

5454.0             RDARA 10 12E 13F 13J

5454.0             RDARA Chile

5457.0             RDARA 10C 13N

5460.0             RDARA 10B 10E 12C 13D

5463.0             RDARA 11B 13H 13K 13M

5464.0             RDARA Cambodia

5466.0             RDARA 10B 13I

5469.0             RDARA 11B 13G

5470.0             RDARA Libya

5470.0             RDARA Russia Nsib

5472.0             RDARA 10A 10D 13H

5475.0             RDARA 10A 10D 12E 12F 13G

5481.0             RDARA 2A 2C 4B 6G 7D 9C 10C 10E 12E 12J 13E 13F 13K 14D 14G

5484.0             RDARA 1B 3A 3C 6A 9B 10A 10D 12C 12G 13H

5484.0             RDARA India NE

5484.0             RDARA Madagascar

5487.0             RDARA 2C 6G 10C 12E

5487.0             Russia - RDARA SW

5487.0             RDARA CIS SW

5490.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6D 10A 10D 12C 13C

5490.0             RDARA Thailand

5493.0             AFI-4

5493.0             RDARA 3B 6G

5493.0             RDARA Russia FE

5496.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6F 10A 10D 12C 12J 13I

5499.0             RDARA 3B 6G

5499.0             VAFI

5502.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6B 10C 12C 13M

5505.0             VEUR - Shannon VOLMET

5505.0             RDARA 3B 6G

5505.0             Russia - CIV Aero

5505.0             RDARA Mongolia

5508.0             RDARA 2B 2C 6F 7 9B 11B 12F 13N

5508.0             RDARA Colombia

5508.0             ARINC HFDL 01 - San Francisco

5511.0             RDARA 3A 5B 6G

5514.0             RDARA 2C 3B 3C 6E 11B 13C

5514.0             RDARA Pakistan

5514.0             ARINC HFDL 02 - Molokai

5517.0             AFI-3

5517.0             RDARA 3A 6G

5520.0             CAR

5520.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 6D 7

5520.0             RDARA Thailand NW

5523.0             RDARA 2A 6G 9B 11B 12G 13I

5526.0             SAM-2 (Piarco, Cayenne)

5526.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 5D 6E 10F 14

5526.0             RDARA Greenland

5526.0             RDARA Myanmar

5526.0             RDARA Russia Nsib

5529.0             LDOC W 1/2

5529.0             LDOC Moscow

5529.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

5530.0             RDARA Guatemala

5532.0             LDOC W 1/5

5535.0             LDOC W 1/4

5538.0             LDOC W 2/5

5538.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

5541.0             LDOC W 1/4

5541.0             Stockholm LDOC (Night Primary)

5544.0             LDOC W 2/5

5544.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

5544.0             ARINC HFDL 15 - Al Muharraq

5547.0             CEP-2

5547.0             RDARA 2A 4A 6G 7F 13H 13K

5547.0             RDARA Argentina

5547.0             ARINC HFDL 07 - Shannon

5548.0             Stockholm LDOC

5550.0             CAR

5550.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 5D 6C 6E 14G

5550.0             Russia - RDARA FE

5550.0             RDARA Russia FE

5550.0             RDARA Indonesia

5553.0             RDARA 6G 10B 13C

5556.0             RDARA 2 3 12F

5556.0             RDARA Colombia S

5557.0             Russia - RDARA FE

5557.0             RDARA Russia FE

5559.0             RDARA 2A 4A 6G 10E 12G 13J

5562.0             RDARA 2C 3B 3C 10C 12D 13D

5562.0             RDARA Cuba

5562.0             RDARA Bolivia

5565.0             SAT-2

5565.0             RDARA 6G 9B 10A

5565.0             RDARA Papua-NG

5566.0             RDARA Colombia

5568.0             RDARA 1A 3A 3C 5B 6D 7F 10B 12 13J

5568.0             Russia - RDARA FE

5568.0             RDARA Russia FE

5568.0             RDARA India

5568.0             RDARA Bhutan

5568.0             RDARA Guatemala

5571.0             RDARA 6G 11B 13C

5574.0             CEP-1

5574.0             RDARA 2B 2C 4B 6D 13G

5574.0             RDARA Indonesia

5574.0             RDARA Argentina

5577.0             RDARA 1C 5A 6G 7B 10E 13C 13J 13K

5580.0             RDARA 3A 3B 6A 6C 14G

5580.0             VCAR

5580.0             RDARA India N

5580.0             RDARA Nepal

5580.0             RDARA Indonesia

5583.0             RDARA 1E 5A 5C 6G 7B 9 10B 12E 12F 12H 13E 13F

5583.0             ARINC HFDL 05 - Auckland

5586.0             RDARA 2C 3C 10A

5586.0             RDARA Russia C/CIS

5589.0             RDARA 12C

5589.0             VMID

5589.0             ARINC HFDL 11 - Panama

5592.0             RDARA 6G 7C 9D

5592.0             VNAT

5592.0             RDARA New Zealand

5595.0             Norway RDARA

5595.0             RDARA 1C 2B 6B 10C 12E

5596.0             RDARA Russia NW

5596.0             RDARA Myanmar

5598.0             NAT-A

5598.0             RDARA 6G

5601.0             RDARA 3A 3B 6A

5601.0             VSAM

5601.0             RDARA Pakistan

5601.0             RDARA India W

5604.0             RDARA 2A 2C 4B 6G 10 12A 12E 12F 13E 13F 13K 14

5607.0             RDARA 2B

5610.0             RDARA 6G

5610.0             RDARA India

5613.0             RDARA 2B 12C

5616.0             NAT-C

5616.0             RDARA 6G

5619.0             RDARA 2B 12J

5622.0             RDARA 1D 6G

5622.0             ARINC HFDL 14 - Krasnoyarsk

5625.0             RDARA 3A 5B 6B 10D

5628.0             NP-1

5628.0             RDARA 1D 6G

5631.0             RDARA 6D 10A

5631.0             RDARA Papua-NG

5631.0             RDARA Thailand NE

5631.0             RDARA Indonesia

5631.0             RDARA Alaska

5634.0             AFI-5/ INO-1

5634.0             RDARA 6G

5637.0             RDARA 1D 3C

5637.0             RDARA Greece

5637.0             RDARA Mediterr.

5640.0             RDARA 6G

5640.0             VEUR

5643.0             SP

5643.0             RDARA 3C

5646.0             NCA-1

5646.0             RDARA 12G

5646.0             Saudia company LDOC, Jeddah

5649.0             NAT-C

5649.0             SEA-2?

5652.0             AFI-2

5652.0             ARINC HFDL 04 - Riverhead

5655.0             EA-2

5655.0             SEA-2

5655.0             ARINC HFDL 06 - Hat Yai

5658.0             MID-2

5661.0             EUR-A

5664.0             NCA-3

5667.0             NP-3

5667.0             MID-1

5670.0             SEA-1

5670.0             RDARA Mauritania

5673.0             VSEA

5676.0             VNCA

5680.0             RAF/ Shanwick SAR (Day)

5687.0             RAAF, RNZAF, German AF

5690.0             RDARA Iran

5695.5             RDARA Venezuela

5696.0             USCG Safety of Flight (Night)

5705.0             USAF Zulu discrete

5708.0             USAF Scope Command ALE

5711.0             RDARA Brazil

5715.0             RDARA Mongolia

5720.0             ARINC HFDL 03 - Reykjavik

5733.0             SEA-3

5790.0             RDARA Egypt

5800.0             USAF Zulu discrete

5830.0             RDARA Egypt

5859.0             RDARA Egypt

5875.0             USAF Zulu discrete

5910.0             RDARA Greece

HF Aeronautical Frequencies #3 (4-5 MHz)

4045.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

4058.0             RDARA Lesotho

4095.0             Russia - Dushanbe ACC

4095.0             RDARA CIS

4123.0             RDARA Antarctica

4405.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

4454.0             RDARA Philippines

4465.0             Russia - RDARA FE

4465.0             RDARA Russia FE

4472.0             USAF Zulu discrete

4495.0             USAF Zulu discrete

4545.0             RDARA Russia

4594.0             Stockholm LDOC

4637.5             RDARA USA

4651.0             RDARA 1D 6C 6G 10B 10E 13E 13F

4654.0             LDOC W 1/2

4654.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

4657.0             RDARA 2A 2C 3B 6A 6E 13H

4660.0             RDARA 2B 2C 9B 10C 13D 13M

4660.0             ARINC HFDL 13 - Santa Cruz

4663.0             RDARA 6G 10F 13E 13F 13K

4663.0             VNCA

4663.0             Russia

4666.0             CWP-2

4666.0             Norway RDARA

4666.0             RDARA 1C 10B 10D 10E

4666.0             RDARA Norway

4669.0             SAM-1

4669.0             MID-3

4669.0             RDARA 6G 10C 10D

4672.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 4A 6G 11B 13K

4672.0             Russia - RDARA NW

4672.0             RDARA Russia NW

4675.0             NAT-D

4675.0             RDARA 6A 6E 9C 13G

4678.0             NCA-2

4678.0             RDARA 10D 13I 14A 14G

4681.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 10B 12E

4681.0             ARINC HFDL 08 - Johannesburg

4684.0             RDARA 3A 3C 10E 13J 14B 14C

4684.0             RDARA Australia W

4686.0             Russia

4687.0             LDOC W 1/2/3

4687.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

4688.0             RDARA CIS

4690.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6G 10B 13M

4690.0             Stockholm LDOC

4693.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3 10B 12C 13I 14D

4693.0             RDARA Australia SC

4696.0             RDARA 2 6G 9 10 13J

4696.0             Russia - RDARA FE

4696.0             Russia - CIV Aero

4696.0             RDARA Russia FE

4705.0             Russia - CIV Aero

4712.0             Russia - RDARA C

4712.0             RDARA CIS C

4718.0             RDARA Antarctica

4720.0             Russia - RDARA Nsib

4720.0             RDARA Russia Nsib

4721.0             USAF Scope Command ALE

4724.0             USAF GHFS Primary

4728.0             Russia - RDARA SC

4728.0             RDARA Russia SC/CIS

4745.0             USAF Zulu discrete

4755.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

4765.0             Russia - CIV Aero

4885.0             Russian Air Force

HF Aeronautical Frequencies #2 (3-4 MHz)

3001.0             RDARA 6A 6E

3004.0             NCA-3

3004.0             RDARA 11B 13K

3004.0             Flight Test (Rockwell/Boeing)

3007.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow0

3007.0             LDOC W 2/3 (Companies)

3010.0             LDOC W 1/4 (Companies)

3013.0             LDOC W 2/5 (Companies)

3013.0             Barrow LDOC (ARINC)

3016.0             NAT-A

3016.0             SEA-1

3016.0             RDARA 9D 13G

3016.0             EA-1

3016.0             Russia - RDARA

3016.0             RDARA Argentina

3016.0             RDARA Russia NW

3016.0             ARINC HFDL 08 - Johannesburg

3019.0             NCA-1

3019.0             RDARA 11B 13K

3023.0             RAF/ Shanwick SAR (Night)

3032.0             RAAF, RNZAF

3046.0             Russia - RDARA C

3046.0             RDARA Russia C

3059.0             USAF Scope Command ALE

3068.0             USAF Zulu discrete

3095.0             RDARA Saudi-Arabia

3102.0             Russia - RDARA FE

3102.0             RDARA Russia FE

3116.0             USAF Zulu discrete

3134.0             USAF Zulu discrete

3137.0             USAF Scope Command ALE

3143.0             USAF Zulu discrete

3151.0             Bulgarian LDOC

3175.0             RDARA Egypt (old)

3245.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3255.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3281.0             Flight Test

3295.0             USAF Zulu discrete

3349.0             Old Alaskan RDARA

3401.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 9B 12C 13K

3401.0             RDARA Russia FE

3404.0             RDARA 3A 3C 9C 9D 10B

3404.0             VAFI

3407.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 7C 12D 14D

3407.0             RDARA Russia - FE

3407.0             RDARA Cuba

3410.0             RDARA 1D 3C 11B 13J

3413.0             CEP-1

3413.0             RDARA 3B 6G 13C 14A 14E

3413.0             VEUR - Shannon VOLMET

3413.0             RDARA Russia - FE

3416.0             RDARA 1D 2A 2B 3A 6D

3416.0             RDARA Indonesia

3419.0             AFI-2

3419.0             RDARA 3B 3C 9B 10D 12J 13I

3419.0             RDARA Papua-NG

3422.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6G

3422.0             Russia - RDARA NW

3422.0             RDARA Russia NW

3425.0             RDARA 3B 3C 9B 10D 13D

3425.0             RDARA Russia CE

3425.0             RDARA SP-9

3425.0             RDARA Papua-NG

3428.0             RDARA 2B 2C 11B 13J

3431.0             RDARA 3A 3B 5B 6G

3434.0             RDARA 2A 2C 6F 11B 13G

3437.0             RDARA 3B 4A 6G 13M

3440.0             RDARA 2A 2C 6F 12

3440.0             Russia - RDARA C

3440.0             RDARA Russia C

3443.0             RDARA 3A 3B 4B 6E 11B 13N

3443.0             Russia - RDARA FE

3443.0             RDARA Russia FE

3446.0             RDARA 1D 6G 10E 13F 14

3449.0             RDARA 2B 2C 6G 10A 13M

3452.0             AFI-1

3452.0             CEP-1

3452.0             SAT-1

3452.0             RDARA 3A 3C 5A 5C 14C

3452.0             RDARA Australia

3455.0             CAR

3455.0             CWP-1

3455.0             RDARA 2A 2C 7B 13H

3455.0             ARINC HFDL 07 - Shannon

3458.0             RDARA 1B 10D 13C 13J 13K

3458.0             VSEA

3461.0             RDARA 7F 9C 12E 12F 12G 12H 14

3461.0             VNCA

3461.0             Russia - RDARA FE

3461.0             RDARA Russia FE

3461.0             RDARA Australia West/Central

3464.0             RDARA 1C 6G 12C 13K

3467.0             AFI-3

3467.0             MID-2

3467.0             SP

3467.0             RDARA 10B 13D

3470.0             SEA-1/3

3470.0             RDARA 1C 10A 13G

3470.0             RDARA Norway

3470.0             RDARA Alaska

3473.0             RDARA 1B 6C 10E 13C

3476.0             NAT-F

3476.0             INO-1

3476.0             RDARA 9B 13F

3479.0             SAM-C

3479.0             SAM-2

3479.0             SAM-2

3479.0             EUR-A

3479.0             RDARA 6A 6B 14

3482.0             RDARA 5D 6G

3485.0             VNAT - New York, Gander

3485.0             EA-2

3485.0             SEA-2

3485.0             RDARA 7H 13H

3488.0             RDARA 1B 5B 6B 10B 12E 12F 12G 12H 14B 14F

3488.0             RDARA Colombia

3491.0             EA-1

3491.0             RDARA 1E 4A 10C 13E

3494.0             LDOC W 2

3494.0             ARINC LDOC San Francisco, NY, Santa Cruz

3494.0             NY LDOC (ARINC, remote in Bolivia)

3494.0             SF LDOC (ARINC, rmt in Barrow)

3494.0             Stockholm LDOC (Night Primary)

3497.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow

3520.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3595.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3608.0             RDARA Philippines

3650.0             RDARA Iran

3658.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3695.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3765.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3815.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

3834.0             RDARA Philippines

3872.5.0          RDARA Philippines

3900.0             ARINC HFDL 03 - Reykjavik

3906.0             Russia - RDARA FE

3906.0             RDARA Russia FE

3931.5             Russian Air Force

HF Aeronautical Frequencies #1 (2-3 MHz)

RDARA  = Regional & Domestic Air Route Area

MWARA= Major World Air Route Area

V = VOLMET = Flying Weather

LDOC = Long-Distance Operational Control

HFDL = High-Frequency Data Link

2435.0             RDARA Mongolia

2495.0             RDARA Russia

2562.0             RDARA Egypt

2635.0             Russia - RDARA

2648.0             RDARA Alaska?

2655.0             RDARA Russia

2682.0             Russia - CIV Aero

2763.0             RDARA Spain

2770.0             Russia - CIV Aero Night

2793.0             RDARA Uruguay

2805.0             USAF Scope Command ALE

2811.0             RDARA Cuba

2815.0             RDARA Libya

2835.0             RDARA India

2851.0             NCA-2

2851.0             RDARA 2A 3B 3C 9C 11B 13E 13F 14 Angola Congo US Flight Test

2851.0             RDARA Angola

2851.0             RDARA Congo DR

2854.0             SAT-2

2854.0             RDARA 3A 3B 6E 10B

2857.0             RDARA 2B 2C 6B 13J

2860.0             RDARA 1B 3A 3C 9B 10B 12E 12J 13I Uruguay

2860.0             RDARA Uruguay

2860.0             VAFI

2863.0             RDARA 2A 2C 7B 13C 13J 13K

2863.0             VPAC

2866.0             RDARA 2C 3C 4B 6D 10A Alaska

2866.0             RDARA Alaska

2868.0             RDARA Russia FE

2868.0             RDARA Angola

2869.0             CEP-2

2869.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6G 10E 13C 14G

2869.0             Russian VOLMET S

2872.0             NAT-C

2872.0             RDARA 3B 6A 6E 13G

2872.0             RDARA India

2875.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6G 10A 12G

2875.0             RDARA Alaska

2878.0             AFI-4

2878.0             RDARA 3B 3C 11B 13I 13J 14

2878.0             RDARA Alaska

2881.0             RDARA 1B 2A 2B 3A 6C

2881.0             VSAM

2884.0             RDARA 2C 3B 6D

2884.0             Russia - RDARA

2884.0             RDARA Russia FE

2887.0             CAR

2887.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 7E 13I 14C

2890.0             RDARA 1B 6G 13J

2893.0             RDARA 2C 3 4B 10D 12F

2893.0             Ukraine RDARA

2896.0             RDARA 2A 2B 3A 6G

2896.0             LDOC Moscow

2899.0             NAT-C

2899.0             RDARA 5D 6G 13H

2902.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 6G 12J

2902.0             Russia - RDARA

2902.0             Belorussia RDARA

2902.0             RDARA Russia FE

2905.0             RDARA 3A 3C 5C 9B

2905.0             VNAT

2908.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 13M

2911.0             RDARA 3A 5B 6G 10A

2911.0             RDARA Alaska

2914.0             RDARA 2B 2C 3B 13D

2917.0             RDARA 2A 6E 6G

2920.0             RDARA 2B 2C 6B 12C 13J

2920.0             Russia - ?

2923.0             RDARA 3A 6A

2923.0             RDARA India NE

2923.0             RDARA Nepal

2923.0             RDARA Pakistan

2926.0             RDARA 2A 2C 4A 6F 1OC 12J

2926.0             Russia - RDARA

2926.0             RDARA CIS

2929.0             RDARA 2B 9B

2931.0             RDARA Pakistan

2932.0             NP 1/2/3

2932.0             RDARA 2A 2C 13K

2935.0             RDARA 3 10D

2938.0             RDARA 2 6G

2941.0             RDARA 2A 6F

2941.0             Russian VOLMET

2944.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow0

2944.0             SAM-1

2944.0             MID-3

2944.0             RDARA 10A 10E 14G

2945.0             RDARA Myanmar

2947.0             RDARA 6A

2947.0             RDARA Myanmar

2947.0             RDARA Bangladesh

2947.0             RDARA India

2950.0             RDARA 2 3C 7C 10F 12A 14A 14D

2950.0             VCAR

2950.0             RDARA Greenland

2953.0             RDARA 4A 6G

2956.0             RDARA 6C 7F 10A 12E 12F 12G 12H 13F

2956.0             VMID

2956.0             RDARA Indonesia

2956.0             RDARA Alaska

2959.0             RDARA 3A

2962.0             NAT-E

2962.0             RDARA 6G

2965.0             RDARA 1E 7B 10C 12F 12J 13H

2965.0             VSEA

2965.0             RDARA Argentina

2968.0             RDARA 3B 5B 6G

2971.0             NAT-D

2971.0             RDARA 5D 6G 13G

2973.0             RDARA Myanmar

2974.0             RDARA 1D 3C

2977.0             RDARA 1C 6G 13M

2980.0             RDARA 1D 3C 12C

2983.0             Norway RDARA

2983.0             RDARA 1C 6G 13D

2983.0             RDARA Norway

2983.0             RDARA North Sea

2986.0             RDARA 3C 5A 13N

2986.0             Russia - RDARA

2986.0             RDARA Russia FE

2989.0             RDARA 1D 6G

2989.0             RDARA Greece

2992.0             ARINC HFDL 09 - Barrow0

2992.0             MID-1

2992.0             RDARA 10A 10E 13C

2995.0             RDARA 6G

2998.0             CWP-2

2998.0             RDARA 7D 12E 12F 12G 12H 13F

2998.0             VEUR

2998.0             ARINC HFDL 07 - Shannon

U. of Twente WebSDR is Back!

Readers of this blog might have seen my previous reports on the situation that was created with the ground-breaking WebSDR site when the amateur radio club at the University of Twente in the Netherlands was moved into a new building with no access to the outside.

As I noted at the time, those familiar with universities, and their various rules and procedures, will have no difficulty imagining the nightmare of a group of students getting the physical plant department to make a hole in an outside wall of a campus building.  This alone took months, and it was then followed by issues with lightning protection, grounding, metal in the building, interference, and so on.

But now, nearly two years later, the WebSDR is back, and with more coverage of utility bands!  I haven't had much time to play with it, but it looks promising. Right now, it covers everything 0-30 MHz, and its small active antenna does an excellent job.

As before, the WebSDR is reached at:

http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

International Lighthouse Weekend in Progress

The next weekend 18-19 August 2012 is the annual "International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend". Many HF amateur radio stations shall be transmitting from lighthouses and lightships around the world. 

Usually they use CW and SSB, very rarely RTTY 45 baud - 170 Hz.

For more information:

* http://illw.net/  - International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
* http://illw.net/index.php/entrants-list-2012
* http://arlhs.com/  - Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society

73 Costas SV1XV
Athens, Greece

The SDR Chronicles (#5: Conclusions)

Abstract:

After five weeks of daily use, my conclusion is that the Excalibur Pro, and down-converting SDRs in general, are useful for Utility DXing.

Report:

As noted early on, this radio is less like something you listen to, and more like something you use like a tool.  You wield it.  It's not for beginners, unless you want a learning curve.  It's best to learn the radio jargon and the basic DXing mind set the usual ways, thus becoming ready to unleash the power of the Excalibur Pro.

Hams will prefer the Flex, which also has a 100-watt transmitter.  They might also like any of quite a few smaller, cheaper boxes intended for experimenters.  Hams and DXers also have a viable alternative in the Perseus, another experimenter's favorite, though I'm glad my agonizing decision process led to the WiNRADiO.

WiNRADiO provides a programming language, Radio Basic. This will be worth exploring at some point. It is like the old BASIC that most people my age learned to program with, minus the line numbers.  I hated line numbers anyway.  They made it much slower to edit your code.  FORTRAN, a compiled language with a roughly similar syntax, got along for generations just fine without them.

Here are my gripes about the Excalibur Pro:

Gripe #1: The AGC seems dodgy.  The overshoot on CW can get pretty annoying.  Maybe it needs more fiddling with the parameters. These are, thank goodness, mostly brought out to the user, though I give the caution that the wrong settings can turn a basically good radio into a barely listenable radio in seconds.  While I don't expect any digital substitute to sound like a good analog loop such as on my Drake R-4, it would be nice for it to sound like my DSP-based NRD-545.

Gripe #2: While the keyboard shortcuts are user-definable and helpful, it would be nice to have something like Photoshop, where the user can create combinations that do whole new actions not on the default list.

Gripe #3: There aren't enough hours in a day to have fun with the thing.

Here are my likes about the Excalibur Pro:

Like #1: The waterfalls, though not as configurable as I would like, are very good for playing Whack-A-Mole, quickly logging signals on different frequencies when the going gets heavy.  Right before the last CME, during a red-hot 11 meter opening, I logged 54 different Spanish language "freeband" frequencies in under an hour.  One quickly gets used to what different modes look like, spending less time searching through other noises for the pay dirt.  In a similar manner, I've been able to get a good handle on what the Mexican military has been up to for the years since it vanished from ALE.  You'll have to read the column for that one, though.

Like #2: The "spectrum analyzer" window at the bottom can give a very quick overview of HF's condition in a very short time.  The opening mentioned above became evident when this display suddenly lit up at the high end, which is usually just textures made by this QTH's legendary noise floor.  Again, a task that might have taken tens of minutes can be done in about that many seconds.

Like #3: This same window is perfect for finding and displaying the various "funny noises" on HF that everyone has meant to seriously investigate but never quite had the time. It's easy to get a sense of what's really going on in such swept-carrier oddities as The Squiggle, The Frog, and chirp sounders. The latter can be used to get a sense of propagation by where the diagonal lines disappear.  None of this has generated any answers yet, but it helps one ask the right questions.

Like #4: The optional frequency extension to 50 MHz has its uses, such as quickly confirming all CHP's new frequencies without having to tie up the scanner for what is basically grunt work.  It will be fun to see if the fall's low-VHF skip can be DXed in the same manner as HF.

CONCLUSION:

This project was definitely worth the non-trivial financial investment required.

Updated Night of Nights Frequency List

From MRHS:

The Transmitter Department has advised that KFS 17026.0kc may be unavailable for Night of Nights XIII due to an antenna problem. All other KPH, KFS and KSM frequencies are reported operational.

For complete Night of Nights information see our Web site at:

http://radiomarine.org/gallery/show?keyword=nonxi&panel=pab1_5#pab1_5

--- Freq List ---

KPH

KPH will transmit on 426, 500, 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and 22477.5.   MF and 22Mc will be on Henry transmitters, rest of KPH HF on 1950s vintage RCA K and L sets.

KPH operators will listen for calls from ships on on 500kc and ITU Channel 3 in all HF bands. The Channel 3 frequencies are 4184.0, 6276.0,  8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0 and 22280.5kc

Reception reports may be sent to:
Maritime Radio Historical Society
P.O. Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA

-----

KFS

KFS will transmit on 12695.5 and 17026.0 -
KFS 17026.0 may be unavailable due to an antenna problem

12695.5 will be on a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15. 17026.0 will be on a 1990 vintage Henry HF5000D transmitter.

KFS will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3. 
 
Reception reports same as KPH

-----

KSM

KSM will transmit on 426, 500, 6474, 8438.3 and 12993.

 A failure of any of  the RCA transmitters may cause a KSM tx to be diverted to cover KPH.   KSM will listen for calls from ships on 500 and HF Channel  3.

Reception reports same as KPH

-----

WLO

WLO will transmit on 2055.5 (tentative), 4343.0, 8658.0, 12992.0 and 16968.5. 

WLO will listen for calls from ships on HF Channel 3.

Reception reports may be sent to:

WLO Radio
7700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA

-----

KLB

KLB will transmit on 488, 500 (A1 & A2), 8582.5.

KLB will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and 8368.0.

Reception reports same as WLO

-----
SS AMERICAN VICTORY/KKUI
WWII Victory ship SS AMERICAN VICTORY/KKUI will be on the air attempting to contact all the coast stations above.  They'll use the best calling frequency for the prevailing propagation at the time but they usually call KSM on 12552.0.

-----
K6KPH

Amateur station K6KPH will transmit and listen on 3550, 7050 14050 and 21050kc for KPH, KFS and KSM reception reports.

Night of Nights XIII is in 10 Days!

What is Night of Nights XIII?

It is the thirteenth act of defiance since the last commercial Morse code message was (supposedly) sent in the USA. This message was passed at 0001 UTC on July 12, 1999 over most remaining CW transmitters in the US.

Then came silence, until a hardy band of True Believers called the Maritime Radio Historical Society convinced the Point Reyes National Seashore to let them attempt a seemingly impossible task.  This was, believe it or not, to restore the biggest and best commercial maritime flame thrower on the whole West Coast.  Yes, we mean no less than RCA's mighty KPH, the Power House, The House Marconi Built, with its miles of antennas and several large buildings full of equipment, none of which had been scrapped, or even turned off in some cases.

It immediately became a matter of doing The Lord's Work for a lot of radio people, especially on the West Coast.  Sometimes, a man just has to do what a man has to do.

The result was a gathering at the receive building near Inverness, CA, for a celebration of Morse code on the anniversary of its US commercial demise.  I doubt that anyone knew that it would become a semi-religious observance to be awaited eagerly every year.

KPH is now a call sign at Globe's Dixon Supersite used for digital traffic. Each year, on this night alone, Globe grants permission to use the KPH and KFS calls again.  The rest of the year, the majestic facilities on Pt. Reyes are used by KSM, believe it or not a recently licensed commercial CW/RTTY/SITOR station. It is QSX every weekend and whenever a special event gives an opportunity to demonstrate the way radio used to be. Yes, it will take your radiotelegraph traffic, and yes, OBS and AMVERs are free. 


Where do we listen?

Tentative CW frequencies (in kHz) are:

KPH: 426 500 4247 6477.5 8642 12808.5 17016.8 22477.5

KFS: 500 12695.5 17026

KSM: 426 500 6474 8438.3 12993


What do we hear?

The stations will send special messages, plus the usual salutes to maritime ROs who lost their lives in their dedication to safety at sea.  There is also usually a roll call of vanished coastal stations, and a traffic list of the sort once heard regularly on these stations.  If it's like the other years, one of the ships on this list will be RMS Titanic.  As one of the station managers once said, "There is no such thing as a dead message."

Usually, at least one ship actually calls up on one of the QSX frequencies and works KPH or the other stations, using the old commercial procedures. 


Are other stations involved again?

Maybe.  Despite the recent private equity transaction involving ShipCom, Rene has announced his intention to participate. Very tentative CW frequencies (in kHz) are:

WLO (AL): 2055.5 4343 12992 16968.5

KLB (WA): 488 500 8582.5


Do I get to play too?

Always, if you're a ham.  K6KPH will have its usual CW skeds on 4 bands, from the Pt. Reyes site:

K6KPH: 3550 7050 14050 21050

Signal reports of the big transmitters can be passed right to the receive bldg in this manner.


What happens if I show up?

You find the receive building, go inside, and get cake.  You have a great time with some serious radio people.

Doors open at 3:00pm, first transmission at 5:01pm (0001 UTC)

The receive building is a large, impressive, white structure at the end of a road, with the address of 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Point Reyes National Seashore, past the oyster company and G Ranch.


Information: info@radiomarine.com or +1 415-663-8982

Point Reyes is really pretty.  Remote, chilly, and windy, but awfully pretty.  Pop over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, get on a road you've seen in many car commercials, and just keep going until you get there.

In other years, the hard core of the hard core have been able to arrange admission to the transmit building some miles north in Bolinas, which is not for people who get uneasy around electricity.  I do not know if that is the case this year.  The transmitters are, of course, remotely controlled from the receive building, though techs are present for the Night of Nights.  You'll just have to ask the MRHS what the policy is this year.


Do they QSL?

In past years, this has been handled by Denice Stoops, who was the only female telegraph operator at the original KPH, or perhaps at any commercial Morse station in the US.  Tragically, though, she suffered a bad stroke right after realizing her dream of shipping out on a vessel.  She is recovering, and MRHS will tell you where to write her.

Therefore, I do not have the QSL information, but in the past the veries have been on leftover RCA radiogram blanks using a telegrapher's mill.


Why is this night like no other nights?

On all other nights, we plow through the utility bands trying to decode, or at least identify, more funny noises than anyone can imagine.  On this night alone, we listen to the rhythms of dahdidah didahdahdit didididit, and of course the eminently danceable dahdidah dididahdit dididit.  We hear an era of large, flashing, glass bottles and iron men.  We try once again to copy commercial bulletins by ear.  We hoist one (or more) for people who communicate through funny beeps in the air.

We REALLY thank the MRHS for keeping huge loud old KPH alive.