I don't usually use this blog to plug stuff in the magazine, since technically the whole thing is supposed to get you interested in MT. In my own (somewhat biased) opinion, MT is the best radio magazine out there, and if you aren't getting it, you are missing a lot.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I have to report that Larry Van Horn's Milcom column in the February 2009 MT is a real winner. It contains information that's been going back and forth in e-mail for months concerning possible major changes to US Coast Guard radio communication. There's also some good data on the meanings of new military callsigns being heard on the bands.
Check it out!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
80 Meter Waterfall Pictures
Users of a web radio receiver in Europe have been reporting an unknown net or nets with waterfall pictures and seldom if ever a callsign ID. This uses frequencies around 3585 to 3595 in the 80 meter amateur band. The players are unknown, though a couple of e-mail addresses displayed are on Ukranian and German servers. Some players are almost certainly from the former Soviet Union.
Waterfall pictures are images that appear right on the spectrum tuning display given by most digital radio decoding programs. They've been around a while. They are created by scanning a graphic file into pulsed or amplitude-modulated audio tones corresponding to lines of pixels in the file. Some ham programs do this, as does a fun little shareware program called Audiopaint.
First I heard of the 80-meter activity was from a posting to the UDXF mailing list by Robert, KB7AQD. This particular station was creating large numbers right on the waterfall spectrum display. These corresponded to dB below full power, and as the power was lowered the numbers became fainter.
Today, the 25th of January, I ran across one station on approximately 3588 kHz USB. It was sending a graphic "CQ test" call, like this:
The e-mail address is actually for gmail.com. The bottom got cut off due to tuning.
Here's another one, sent at 1940 UTC today. It's a cute lil' doggie:
And here's an elephant, sent at 1945:
The blob on the spectrogram after the picture is a burst of BPSK125. It is an identifier, but probably not one for the same station. It decodes to:
DK4XI-8:72 Pskmail v.0.7.24 - 19:45:19
DK4XI is a German ham active on packet and APRS modes. It strongly appears that this identifier is for an automatic transmitter associated with a European PSK e-mail network not related to the 80 meter waterfall pictures.
Another picture, that I didn't get a spectrum of, contains the web address www.funkbasis.de. This goes to a CB/ham forum in Germany.
????????????
Waterfall pictures are images that appear right on the spectrum tuning display given by most digital radio decoding programs. They've been around a while. They are created by scanning a graphic file into pulsed or amplitude-modulated audio tones corresponding to lines of pixels in the file. Some ham programs do this, as does a fun little shareware program called Audiopaint.
First I heard of the 80-meter activity was from a posting to the UDXF mailing list by Robert, KB7AQD. This particular station was creating large numbers right on the waterfall spectrum display. These corresponded to dB below full power, and as the power was lowered the numbers became fainter.
Today, the 25th of January, I ran across one station on approximately 3588 kHz USB. It was sending a graphic "CQ test" call, like this:
The e-mail address is actually for gmail.com. The bottom got cut off due to tuning.
Here's another one, sent at 1940 UTC today. It's a cute lil' doggie:
And here's an elephant, sent at 1945:
The blob on the spectrogram after the picture is a burst of BPSK125. It is an identifier, but probably not one for the same station. It decodes to:
DK4XI-8:72 Pskmail v.0.7.24 - 19:45:19
DK4XI is a German ham active on packet and APRS modes. It strongly appears that this identifier is for an automatic transmitter associated with a European PSK e-mail network not related to the 80 meter waterfall pictures.
Another picture, that I didn't get a spectrum of, contains the web address www.funkbasis.de. This goes to a CB/ham forum in Germany.
????????????
Friday, January 23, 2009
Google Earth Pt. Reyes Tour Ends
What you want to do now is zoom Google Earth out to a high altitude. 50 miles should do it. This puts you in space, and you qualify for astronaut wings, but that's not relevant here.
Get Point Reyes in the middle of the screen so you can see it all. Notice the large line etched in the ground in such a manner as to separate the point from the land to its east. This line starts down south around Bolinas and Stinson Beach at 37 degrees 54 minutes 23 seconds North Latitude by 122 40 33 West Longitude. It heads out to sea on the north end of Tomales Bay, at about 38 degrees 14 minutes 46 seconds North by 122 59 01 West.
This is California's notorious San Andreas Fault. Point Reyes National Seashore is on a plate tectonic boundary, and the motion on this long strike-slip fault will eventually break it away from the rest of California, creating an island. Tomales Bay is where this has already happened.
While of course this is a geologic process requiring millions of years, about 20 feet of this motion happened all at once on a stretch from here clear to Cape Mendocino. This event is better known as the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Now go part way up Tomales Bay to a spot on its east shore:
38° 8'39.22"N 122°52'40.99"W
This puts you in a rather picturesque shoreside complex with one big old building and several smaller cottages. This is the Marshall receiving station originally built by Marconi after the earthquake destroyed the original KPH in the Palace Hotel down in San Francisco.
As with other Marconi Hotels in the world, the Marconi company created a very attractive and comfortable, not to mention highly self-sufficient complex where the staff lived. This was necessary, given the remote locations of the stations. To the left of the main hotel with its veranda, were cottages for the station manager and chief engineer.
Various white objects in the large clearings to the north and east suggest possible former antenna locations. Some equipment remains on exhibit at the site, and I believe there may still be landlines in existence enabling remote operation of KPH from there.
When Marconi Wireless left the United States not altogether voluntarily after World War I, the subsequent Radio Corporation of America (RCA) owned the property. KPH did not move until after World War II. RCA eventually sold to a series of other owners, including the Synanon program. It was ultimately confiscated by the IRS, and then abandoned. Now it is park service property. It is being restored, and made available as a conference center.
The transmitters were in the old "power house" at the Bolinas facility, which we've already looked at.
Marshall is the VERY small town to the north, on the little inlet and former marina type thing called Marconi Cove. I believe it's all ranch land now. There's really not much in the way of habitation at all.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society has sought to do remote KPH operations from Marshall.
Get Point Reyes in the middle of the screen so you can see it all. Notice the large line etched in the ground in such a manner as to separate the point from the land to its east. This line starts down south around Bolinas and Stinson Beach at 37 degrees 54 minutes 23 seconds North Latitude by 122 40 33 West Longitude. It heads out to sea on the north end of Tomales Bay, at about 38 degrees 14 minutes 46 seconds North by 122 59 01 West.
This is California's notorious San Andreas Fault. Point Reyes National Seashore is on a plate tectonic boundary, and the motion on this long strike-slip fault will eventually break it away from the rest of California, creating an island. Tomales Bay is where this has already happened.
While of course this is a geologic process requiring millions of years, about 20 feet of this motion happened all at once on a stretch from here clear to Cape Mendocino. This event is better known as the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Now go part way up Tomales Bay to a spot on its east shore:
38° 8'39.22"N 122°52'40.99"W
This puts you in a rather picturesque shoreside complex with one big old building and several smaller cottages. This is the Marshall receiving station originally built by Marconi after the earthquake destroyed the original KPH in the Palace Hotel down in San Francisco.
As with other Marconi Hotels in the world, the Marconi company created a very attractive and comfortable, not to mention highly self-sufficient complex where the staff lived. This was necessary, given the remote locations of the stations. To the left of the main hotel with its veranda, were cottages for the station manager and chief engineer.
Various white objects in the large clearings to the north and east suggest possible former antenna locations. Some equipment remains on exhibit at the site, and I believe there may still be landlines in existence enabling remote operation of KPH from there.
When Marconi Wireless left the United States not altogether voluntarily after World War I, the subsequent Radio Corporation of America (RCA) owned the property. KPH did not move until after World War II. RCA eventually sold to a series of other owners, including the Synanon program. It was ultimately confiscated by the IRS, and then abandoned. Now it is park service property. It is being restored, and made available as a conference center.
The transmitters were in the old "power house" at the Bolinas facility, which we've already looked at.
Marshall is the VERY small town to the north, on the little inlet and former marina type thing called Marconi Cove. I believe it's all ranch land now. There's really not much in the way of habitation at all.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society has sought to do remote KPH operations from Marshall.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
More Point Reyes Google Earth Coordinates
As promised, here's part two of our Google Earth tour of Point Reyes, CA:
38° 6'6.95"N 122°56'12.98"W
These will put you just north of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and south of the bunkerlike headquarters and receiving facility for NMC. This is the US Coast Guard Communications Master Station, Pacific. Pictures of CAMSPAC can be found on the Internet. It's a relatively new and very impressive facility. Note the large tower and rotary antenna just to the building's north.
The large treeline north from that shows one edge of the fenced off antenna farm. Two right angle bends in the fence take you south and then east until you're back near where you started. The lighting isn't very good, but close examination of the area thus bounded will show a number of shadows that are obviously structures holding up wire antennas.
"But wait," you ask, "It sure looks like there are antennas south of the fence."
You are right. These are for:
38° 5'44.22"N 122°56'51.28"W
These put you bang on top of KPH's historic old receiver building. This is a neat old structure put up by RCA to serve originally as the point-to-point receive site for much of the Pacific Rim. This was a prestige operation (and a very lucrative one), and the building has a lot of details visible in ground photos that are again all over the Internet. Note the tree-lined access road going northwest from Sir Francis Drake.
KPH moved here after World War II. Between the two stations, RCA put up a LOT of antennas here, some of which are sort of visible on Google Earth. This farm goes clear northeast to the NMC fence line mentioned before. There's another access road, some undistinguishable structures, and an interesting trail leading almost due west to what sure looks like a tower base with a large ground radial system.
There are other buildings and antennas in this area. These were formerly used by KMI, San Francisco (Inverness) Radio. This was the big AT&T High Seas station that could be heard 24/7 running commercial ship-to-shore phone calls from cruise ships to the landline phone network. Along with WOO, New York (Ocean Gate) Radio, and WOM, Miami Radio, these fed into High Seas Operator positions in Pennsylvania where the calls were completed. All gone.
This entire area is also part of Point Reyes National Seashore. Here too, the Maritime Radio Historical Society seeks to preserve the radio heritage of skilled operators at sea, and the consummate professionals who served them ashore as operators, technicians, and workers.
38° 6'6.95"N 122°56'12.98"W
These will put you just north of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and south of the bunkerlike headquarters and receiving facility for NMC. This is the US Coast Guard Communications Master Station, Pacific. Pictures of CAMSPAC can be found on the Internet. It's a relatively new and very impressive facility. Note the large tower and rotary antenna just to the building's north.
The large treeline north from that shows one edge of the fenced off antenna farm. Two right angle bends in the fence take you south and then east until you're back near where you started. The lighting isn't very good, but close examination of the area thus bounded will show a number of shadows that are obviously structures holding up wire antennas.
"But wait," you ask, "It sure looks like there are antennas south of the fence."
You are right. These are for:
38° 5'44.22"N 122°56'51.28"W
These put you bang on top of KPH's historic old receiver building. This is a neat old structure put up by RCA to serve originally as the point-to-point receive site for much of the Pacific Rim. This was a prestige operation (and a very lucrative one), and the building has a lot of details visible in ground photos that are again all over the Internet. Note the tree-lined access road going northwest from Sir Francis Drake.
KPH moved here after World War II. Between the two stations, RCA put up a LOT of antennas here, some of which are sort of visible on Google Earth. This farm goes clear northeast to the NMC fence line mentioned before. There's another access road, some undistinguishable structures, and an interesting trail leading almost due west to what sure looks like a tower base with a large ground radial system.
There are other buildings and antennas in this area. These were formerly used by KMI, San Francisco (Inverness) Radio. This was the big AT&T High Seas station that could be heard 24/7 running commercial ship-to-shore phone calls from cruise ships to the landline phone network. Along with WOO, New York (Ocean Gate) Radio, and WOM, Miami Radio, these fed into High Seas Operator positions in Pennsylvania where the calls were completed. All gone.
This entire area is also part of Point Reyes National Seashore. Here too, the Maritime Radio Historical Society seeks to preserve the radio heritage of skilled operators at sea, and the consummate professionals who served them ashore as operators, technicians, and workers.
Use of BPL Declines in US
ARRL:
BPL (Broadband Over Power Lines) refers to the use of HF frequencies for broadband transmission of Internet packets over power company lines. The system has not been successful in the US market for a number of reasons, but the FCC for political reasons continues to push its use. IBM recently announced that it will work with power companies to implement BPL in rural areas beyond the reach of DSL and cable.
BPL is not the same as the home powerline networking system that is causing such a severe problem in Europe and South America. The use of these latter devices, more typically known as PLC (Power Line Communications) or PLT (Power Line Telecommunication), continues to increase rapidly.
According to the FCC figures, the category "Power Line and Other" dropped from 5420 lines in June 2007 to just 5274 six months later [out of 121.2 million Internet connections -Hugh]. It is not known how many of these are "Power Line" and how many are "Other."
"Despite the enormous and unwarranted hype given to BPL by the FCC under Chairmen Powell and Martin, the message from the marketplace is clear: BPL is going nowhere as a means of delivering broadband connectivity to consumers," observed ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Still, the FCC has unfinished business with respect to BPL. It has been nine months since the federal Court of Appeals ordered the Commission to correct the errors it committed in adopting rules that inadequately protect licensed radio services from BPL interference, yet the FCC has made no effort to comply.
BPL (Broadband Over Power Lines) refers to the use of HF frequencies for broadband transmission of Internet packets over power company lines. The system has not been successful in the US market for a number of reasons, but the FCC for political reasons continues to push its use. IBM recently announced that it will work with power companies to implement BPL in rural areas beyond the reach of DSL and cable.
BPL is not the same as the home powerline networking system that is causing such a severe problem in Europe and South America. The use of these latter devices, more typically known as PLC (Power Line Communications) or PLT (Power Line Telecommunication), continues to increase rapidly.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
PLT Buzz Reaches Geek Sites
Thanks to the efforts of the UKQRM group, the disastrous effect of powerline communication devices on HF radio is becoming publicized where it matters. This is in the computer professional press, which reaches the people who make the purchase decisions.
An informative story, which is about as technically correct as writing about the radio hobby ever gets, appears on The Register site:
This was also excerpted on ISPReview, another UK IT site.
Both embed this latest YouTube video, ominously (and accurately) entitled, Power Line Signalling: The Death of H.F. Radio.
Other links:
UK citizens' petition to save shortwave
UK interference report database
UKQRM web site
Also check out the UKQRM video page for a comprehensive look at what is going on in the UK (and starting to happen in the USA!).
---------
Added 1/25/08
The discussions on geek sites have led to hostile comments to the effect that short wave radio is obsolete, and should be abolished anyway. Apparently, we have done a poor job of informing the public of the consequences of eliminating the only long-distance communications system that does not depend on wires and/or links controlled and maintained by third parties.
Some people have even made remarks to the effect that they will stop using their PLC adapters when their cold dead hands are pried from them.
It would appear that we have something of a fight on our hands.
Bring 'em on.
An informative story, which is about as technically correct as writing about the radio hobby ever gets, appears on The Register site:
'Interfering' BT Vision attracts campaigner glares
Ham radio enthusiasts call up trading standards
By Bill Ray
Posted in Telecoms, 15th January 2009 11:33 GMT
Campaigners complaining about interference generated by BT's Vision product have financed independent tests to show that the kit BT is pushing fails to conform to the appropriate EU standards, prompting a complaint to trading standards officers.
Shortwave radio users have been complaining for a while about interference generated by networking over mains wiring, with BT taking the majority of the flak, but until now the protestors have been complaining to Ofcom on the basis of illegal broadcasting. By demonstrating that retailers are selling kit that fails to meet EU standards the protestors could prevent its sale, not to mention the possibility of fines for those manufacturing or importing the kit.
...
This was also excerpted on ISPReview, another UK IT site.
Both embed this latest YouTube video, ominously (and accurately) entitled, Power Line Signalling: The Death of H.F. Radio.
Other links:
UK citizens' petition to save shortwave
UK interference report database
UKQRM web site
Also check out the UKQRM video page for a comprehensive look at what is going on in the UK (and starting to happen in the USA!).
---------
Added 1/25/08
The discussions on geek sites have led to hostile comments to the effect that short wave radio is obsolete, and should be abolished anyway. Apparently, we have done a poor job of informing the public of the consequences of eliminating the only long-distance communications system that does not depend on wires and/or links controlled and maintained by third parties.
Some people have even made remarks to the effect that they will stop using their PLC adapters when their cold dead hands are pried from them.
It would appear that we have something of a fight on our hands.
Bring 'em on.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Will There Be A Cycle 24?
Your guess is as good as mine. Both of our guesses are as good as those of the most high powered astrophysicists, solar-terrestrial experts, and everyone else out there.
In short... we're in new territory here.
One good thing is that I found a low-noise discussion forum where they discuss space weather and radio propagation instead of "global warming" and government policy.
Right here:
http://solarcycle24com.proboards106.com/index.cgi?board=general
In short... we're in new territory here.
One good thing is that I found a low-noise discussion forum where they discuss space weather and radio propagation instead of "global warming" and government policy.
Right here:
http://solarcycle24com.proboards106.com/index.cgi?board=general
Is Solar-Terrestrial Activity the Lowest Ever?
Well, maybe not. However, one important index is showing the lowest long term averages since that data series began in the 20th century.
Ap, the planetary "A" index derived from measurements of geomagnetic activity, continues to show historically low smoothed averages. Examination of data shows that this phenomenon began in 2005, and continues up to the most recent measurements permitted by the design of the average.
Ap, of course, does not directly measure solar activity. However, it is a reliable indicator of magnetic activity caused solely by energetic events on the sun.
Scientists are divided on the prospect of a low or nonexistent Cycle 24. There is also an ongoing debate as to whether such a misfire would mark the start of a major extended solar lull (a "Dalton Minimum"), causing an extended spell of cold climate (a "Little Ice Age").
Just about everything readily available online is more about politics than science. This is because the solar lull has become a major reason for contention between advocates of different government policies with regard to "global warming." The result is that it's hard to find anything addressing prospects for radio propagation.
And so we wait and see, while band conditions remain dreadful. Maybe there will be a Cycle 24 strong enough to create the improved HF propagation that we've become used to, and maybe there won't. Meanwhile, the weak signals are further disrupted by a huge increase in noise from popular consumer electronics.
Not all of the depressions this year are economic. It does appear as if HF DXing has fallen on hard times.
Ap, the planetary "A" index derived from measurements of geomagnetic activity, continues to show historically low smoothed averages. Examination of data shows that this phenomenon began in 2005, and continues up to the most recent measurements permitted by the design of the average.
Ap, of course, does not directly measure solar activity. However, it is a reliable indicator of magnetic activity caused solely by energetic events on the sun.
Scientists are divided on the prospect of a low or nonexistent Cycle 24. There is also an ongoing debate as to whether such a misfire would mark the start of a major extended solar lull (a "Dalton Minimum"), causing an extended spell of cold climate (a "Little Ice Age").
Just about everything readily available online is more about politics than science. This is because the solar lull has become a major reason for contention between advocates of different government policies with regard to "global warming." The result is that it's hard to find anything addressing prospects for radio propagation.
And so we wait and see, while band conditions remain dreadful. Maybe there will be a Cycle 24 strong enough to create the improved HF propagation that we've become used to, and maybe there won't. Meanwhile, the weak signals are further disrupted by a huge increase in noise from popular consumer electronics.
Not all of the depressions this year are economic. It does appear as if HF DXing has fallen on hard times.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
New Google Earth Coordinates for Pt. Reyes, CA
Google Earth appears to have greatly improved its images of the Bolinas area. This is on Point Reyes, north of San Francisco, and is home to some truly historic old antenna farms. Visibility of antenna hardware used to be practically nonexistent, but now you can make out quite a bit.
We begin our tour at 37°54'52.32"N by 122°43'30.26"W. These coordinates put you right alongside the venerable RCA transmitting facility used by proud old KPH for commercial maritime communications. Much of this building was shared by RCA's real money making operation. This was KET, the West Coast hub for many point-to-point fixed-station links that connected up the entire Pacific Rim in the days before satellites. In the past few years, the facility has also been used by KSM, a new Maritime Radio Historical Society station with a commercial license on traditional coast station frequencies.
This building was added onto, and both halves are clearly visible. At least on my monitor, if you look real hard you can make out the many open-feed wires coming out of this building to the two long wooden structures to the northwest and southeast that show as white lines. From there you can easily trace the H structures that still carry largely intact balanced feeders to the two major parts of one of the world's great antenna farms.
At either end, right angle marks on the ground suggest the presence of large rhombics, once used by the point-to-point station. Closer in, a small service road leads southwest to a square building right on the cliffside by the ocean. This is the original "Power House," that held the Marconi company spark transmitters and subsequent RF alternators.
The massive antenna structure for these is mostly gone, but several of the concrete bases for the 300 foot support towers remain. One of these is just northeast of the building, looking like a white donut. Shadows make it possible to spot many poles that hold up wire antennas of various types. Several of these are still in use by the Maritime Radio Historical Society.
The land is now part of the Point Reyes National Seashore, and some of the main transmitting building is now used for offices of "Commonwealth." They at least used to operate a small 12-MHz sea surface research radar near the old Marconi building. It does not interfere with maritime frequencies.
Now go almost due north a bit, to coordinates 37°55'32.46"N by 122°43'52.57"W. These put you dead on top of the transmitter building used by NMC, the US Coast Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC Point Reyes).
It's hard to miss the fairly new log periodic just due south, and various other circles, masts, and square fences make it easy to see the positions of various HF antennas. This farm is actually right next to KPH, separated by a low fence which shows up as a line running southwest to northeast all the way back up to the street (Mesa Road).
More on Point Reyes later.
We begin our tour at 37°54'52.32"N by 122°43'30.26"W. These coordinates put you right alongside the venerable RCA transmitting facility used by proud old KPH for commercial maritime communications. Much of this building was shared by RCA's real money making operation. This was KET, the West Coast hub for many point-to-point fixed-station links that connected up the entire Pacific Rim in the days before satellites. In the past few years, the facility has also been used by KSM, a new Maritime Radio Historical Society station with a commercial license on traditional coast station frequencies.
This building was added onto, and both halves are clearly visible. At least on my monitor, if you look real hard you can make out the many open-feed wires coming out of this building to the two long wooden structures to the northwest and southeast that show as white lines. From there you can easily trace the H structures that still carry largely intact balanced feeders to the two major parts of one of the world's great antenna farms.
At either end, right angle marks on the ground suggest the presence of large rhombics, once used by the point-to-point station. Closer in, a small service road leads southwest to a square building right on the cliffside by the ocean. This is the original "Power House," that held the Marconi company spark transmitters and subsequent RF alternators.
The massive antenna structure for these is mostly gone, but several of the concrete bases for the 300 foot support towers remain. One of these is just northeast of the building, looking like a white donut. Shadows make it possible to spot many poles that hold up wire antennas of various types. Several of these are still in use by the Maritime Radio Historical Society.
The land is now part of the Point Reyes National Seashore, and some of the main transmitting building is now used for offices of "Commonwealth." They at least used to operate a small 12-MHz sea surface research radar near the old Marconi building. It does not interfere with maritime frequencies.
Now go almost due north a bit, to coordinates 37°55'32.46"N by 122°43'52.57"W. These put you dead on top of the transmitter building used by NMC, the US Coast Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC Point Reyes).
It's hard to miss the fairly new log periodic just due south, and various other circles, masts, and square fences make it easy to see the positions of various HF antennas. This farm is actually right next to KPH, separated by a low fence which shows up as a line running southwest to northeast all the way back up to the street (Mesa Road).
More on Point Reyes later.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Some More Israeli Intelligence Freqs
E10 being reported on:
2743 ULX
3415 ART
5230 ULX
6270 ULX
6986 ART
Happy new year!
2743 ULX
3415 ART
5230 ULX
6270 ULX
6986 ART
Happy new year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
"Numbers" Activity Increases In Gaza Crisis
The Israeli phonetic alphabet station (E10) became much more active soon after the air strikes began in Gaza. Also more time slots have messages, and new messages come out more frequently.
E10 can start on the hour, half-hour, or sometimes even 15 minutes after the hour. Most schedules come between 1800 and 2300 UTC.
Recently logged E10 frequencies:
3150 PCD
3270 ULX
4270 PCD + 2 abnormal PCD strings
4560 YHF
4880 ULX
5435 ART
6840 EZI + 1 abnormal EZI string
In addition, 4270 and 4880 are frequently jammed.
4XZ, the Israeli Navy CW station that broadcasts weather and coded "numbers" like traffic is being heard on 2680 and 4331 around 1700 UTC.
E10 can start on the hour, half-hour, or sometimes even 15 minutes after the hour. Most schedules come between 1800 and 2300 UTC.
Recently logged E10 frequencies:
3150 PCD
3270 ULX
4270 PCD + 2 abnormal PCD strings
4560 YHF
4880 ULX
5435 ART
6840 EZI + 1 abnormal EZI string
In addition, 4270 and 4880 are frequently jammed.
4XZ, the Israeli Navy CW station that broadcasts weather and coded "numbers" like traffic is being heard on 2680 and 4331 around 1700 UTC.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Mini "Night of Nights" on New Year's Eve
For the last several years, the Maritime Radio Historical Society amateur radio station K6KPH has participated in the annual ARRL Straight Key Night. This is an informal CW activity that runs from New Year's Eve into New Year's Day (US time). The only rule is that participants use a plain simple old straight telegraph key like the one they probably used to learn code. There are no scores or awards, but you can nominate good fists you hear on the air for honorable mentions. It's harder than it sounds!
For 2008-2009, the MRHS activity has been expanded into what is almost a mini Night of Nights (the Morse Code observance in July where several old stations send CW for around 6 hours). KSM (the MRHS commercial CW station at the KPH site) will be active on CW, RTTY, and Sitor-B (FEC mode). KLB, a ShipCom commercial station in Washington state, will also participate.
This activity gives a good chance to hear mediumwave transmissions under optimal winter-night conditions. In general, propagation should be quite a bit different from July.
All operation commences with the start of Straight Key Night, at 0000 UTC 1 January 2009 (after the Leap Second!). Here are the frequencies(kHz):
KLB
CW: 488 500
K6KPH QSX for CW calls from hams
3550
7050 (Vintage RCA transmitter)
14050
Don't forget that straight key.
KSM
CW: 426 500
4350.5 (Vintage RCA tx)
6474.0 (ditto) 8438.3
12993 (vintage Press Wireless tx)
16914
Teleprinting: 8433 12631
Baudot is 170/45
Sitor is 170/100 mode B (FEC)
K6KPH/KSM QSL to
Ms. Denice Stoops
QSL Mistress, MRHS
PO Box 381
Bolinas, California 94926
USA
MRHS mailing list:
Radiomarine-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
For 2008-2009, the MRHS activity has been expanded into what is almost a mini Night of Nights (the Morse Code observance in July where several old stations send CW for around 6 hours). KSM (the MRHS commercial CW station at the KPH site) will be active on CW, RTTY, and Sitor-B (FEC mode). KLB, a ShipCom commercial station in Washington state, will also participate.
This activity gives a good chance to hear mediumwave transmissions under optimal winter-night conditions. In general, propagation should be quite a bit different from July.
All operation commences with the start of Straight Key Night, at 0000 UTC 1 January 2009 (after the Leap Second!). Here are the frequencies(kHz):
KLB
CW: 488 500
K6KPH QSX for CW calls from hams
3550
7050 (Vintage RCA transmitter)
14050
Don't forget that straight key.
KSM
CW: 426 500
4350.5 (Vintage RCA tx)
6474.0 (ditto) 8438.3
12993 (vintage Press Wireless tx)
16914
Teleprinting: 8433 12631
Baudot is 170/45
Sitor is 170/100 mode B (FEC)
K6KPH/KSM QSL to
Ms. Denice Stoops
QSL Mistress, MRHS
PO Box 381
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Friday, December 19, 2008
Holiday Greetings from Utility World
A discussion on UDXF gave me the idea for this year's card. It's a spectrogram picture made by DIGTRX 3.11. This is a freeware RDFT file transfer program used on occasion by Cuban Intelligence for the "numbers."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
US Congress Investigates "Dysfunctional" FCC
We were right all along. Or at least that's the conclusion of a Congressional investigating committee, which confirms serious malfeasance at the US Federal Communications Commission.
Their new majority report paints a picture of an opaque FCC, with a culture of fear and a tendency to suppress data conflicting with politically motivated decisions. Gee, this sounds quite a bit like many other parts of the Bush administration, does it not?
Here are some relevant parts of a news report posted to the ARRL web site:
But the best parts concern the FCC's deliberate ignoring of data that conflicted with its allegedly prejudiced decision on Broadband over Power Lines (BPL):
Farther down, Martin is accused of lying to Congress:
It is certainly everyone's hope that a new broom in Washington can sweep away some of these wannabe communication lobbyists who have so damaged the FCC.
Full story is at ARRL.org.
Their new majority report paints a picture of an opaque FCC, with a culture of fear and a tendency to suppress data conflicting with politically motivated decisions. Gee, this sounds quite a bit like many other parts of the Bush administration, does it not?
Here are some relevant parts of a news report posted to the ARRL web site:
On Tuesday, December 9, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce -- the congressional committee that oversees the Federal Communications Commission -- released its majority staff report "on the bipartisan investigation of the FCC's regulatory processes and management practices." The report -- Deception and Distrust: The Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Kevin J. Martin -- stated that the investigation was prompted "by allegations to the effect that [FCC] Chairman Kevin J. Martin has abused FCC procedures by manipulating or suppressing reports, data and information."
...
Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce echoed Stupak's concerns: "Any of these findings, individually, are cause for concern. Together, the findings suggest that, in recent years, the FCC has operated in a dysfunctional manner and Commission business has suffered as a result. It is my hope that the new FCC Chairman will find this report instructive and that it will prove useful in helping the Commission avoid making the same mistakes."
But the best parts concern the FCC's deliberate ignoring of data that conflicted with its allegedly prejudiced decision on Broadband over Power Lines (BPL):
Concerning BPL, the report alleges that FCC officials "ignored complaints of radio frequency interference caused by BPL high-speed Internet technology, delayed an enforcement investigation for two years and improperly withheld engineering data regarding BPL from the public."
The report found that in October 2004, as then-Chairman Michael Powell issued his final rule "defining BPL access and setting technical and administrative requirements to protect licensed radio operators from harmful interference," the FCC "withheld from the public certain engineering reports on which it relied in promulgating the rule" from the final rule and order.
Even though the BPL rules were adopted during Powell's tenure, the report found that "it was under Chairman Martin that the Enforcement Bureau and the General Counsel continued to withhold the redacted engineering reports and insisted on doing so in the course of the ensuing litigation [with the ARRL]."
Farther down, Martin is accused of lying to Congress:
The report also showed instances of where Chairman Martin "manipulated, withheld or suppressed data, reports and information," and said Martin's "manipulation [of another report] may have damaged the credibility of the Commission, and certainly undermined the integrity of the staff. Moreover, it was done with the purpose of affecting the congressional decision-making, in that it was issued as a report to Congress."
It is certainly everyone's hope that a new broom in Washington can sweep away some of these wannabe communication lobbyists who have so damaged the FCC.
Full story is at ARRL.org.
Solar CME May Affect HF Propagation Monday
Posted Saturday December 13 2008 at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm :
On Friday December 12, 2008 fleeting sunspot group #11009 produced a C class solar flare before setting around the west limb of the Sun. This is the first C class solar flare since April 03, 2008.
Also a filament eruption occurred in the northwest quadrant of the Sun beginning at approximately 0615 UTC. This produced a weak partially geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal mass ejection (CME) that "may" impact Earth's geomagnetic field in a minor way (Kp 3) on or about Monday December 15, 2008.
On Friday December 12, 2008 fleeting sunspot group #11009 produced a C class solar flare before setting around the west limb of the Sun. This is the first C class solar flare since April 03, 2008.
Also a filament eruption occurred in the northwest quadrant of the Sun beginning at approximately 0615 UTC. This produced a weak partially geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal mass ejection (CME) that "may" impact Earth's geomagnetic field in a minor way (Kp 3) on or about Monday December 15, 2008.
Monday, December 08, 2008
USCG Cutters Getting New HF ALE Radios
U.S. Coast Guard chooses Thales HF-ALE radios for surface ships
CLARKSBURG, Md., 21 Nov. 2008. U.S. Coast Guard leaders needed medium-powered high-frequency automated link establishment (HF-ALE) radios for Coast Guard cutter surface ships to be acquired over the next five to seven years. They found their solution from Thales Communications Inc. in Clarksburg, Md.
Thales's systems are going aboard the Coast Guard's fleet of 75 cutters of varying classes, including high- and medium-endurance cutters and the polar icebreaker fleet.
More here
Monday, December 01, 2008
IARU Region 1 Passes New 40 Meter Bandplan
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) concluded its meeting in November with an agreement on a new voluntary band plan for the expanded 40 meter amateur band.
IARU regions coincide with those of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Region 1 is Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and all of Russia east to its Bering Strait border with (gasp) the United States. Region 2 is North and South America, plus Greenland. Region 3 is Asia (minus Asiatic Russia), the Central and South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. Antarctica and the Arctic are split up accordingly, as the lines run clear to the poles.
On March 29, 2009, an ITU agreement will kick in, expanding 40 meters in Region 1 from 7000-7100 kHz to 7000-7200. AM broadcasters in Region 1 will no longer be coordinated in this part of the "41 meter band," though it is not known whether all will actually move anytime soon. Furthermore, broadcasters in Region 3 will not have to move unless interference from legally operating amateurs becomes a problem.
The major change for hams is to move most voice operation above 7100 kHz, somewhat more in harmony with the United States rules. Night time 40 meter users in the US will hopefully not be required as often to work crossband or cross-mode to contact voice DX stations. However many countries don't have required band segments by mode, and band plans are voluntary in such cases.
Here's the band plan:
7.000-7.025 CW, contest preferred (existing prime DX-chasing segment worldwide)
7.025-7.040 CW QRP, Center of Activity 7030
7.040-7.047 Narrow band digital (PSK31, etc)
7.047-7.050 Narrow band digital, auto allowed
7.050-7.053 All digital, auto allowed
7.053-7.060 All digital
7.060-7.100 All modes, 7070 digital voice, 7090 SSB QRP
7.100-7.130 All modes, Region 1 Center of Activity 7110
7.130-7.200 All modes, SSB contest preferred, SSTV 7165
7.175-7.200 All modes, priority for intercontinental
IARU regions coincide with those of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Region 1 is Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and all of Russia east to its Bering Strait border with (gasp) the United States. Region 2 is North and South America, plus Greenland. Region 3 is Asia (minus Asiatic Russia), the Central and South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. Antarctica and the Arctic are split up accordingly, as the lines run clear to the poles.
On March 29, 2009, an ITU agreement will kick in, expanding 40 meters in Region 1 from 7000-7100 kHz to 7000-7200. AM broadcasters in Region 1 will no longer be coordinated in this part of the "41 meter band," though it is not known whether all will actually move anytime soon. Furthermore, broadcasters in Region 3 will not have to move unless interference from legally operating amateurs becomes a problem.
The major change for hams is to move most voice operation above 7100 kHz, somewhat more in harmony with the United States rules. Night time 40 meter users in the US will hopefully not be required as often to work crossband or cross-mode to contact voice DX stations. However many countries don't have required band segments by mode, and band plans are voluntary in such cases.
Here's the band plan:
7.000-7.025 CW, contest preferred (existing prime DX-chasing segment worldwide)
7.025-7.040 CW QRP, Center of Activity 7030
7.040-7.047 Narrow band digital (PSK31, etc)
7.047-7.050 Narrow band digital, auto allowed
7.050-7.053 All digital, auto allowed
7.053-7.060 All digital
7.060-7.100 All modes, 7070 digital voice, 7090 SSB QRP
7.100-7.130 All modes, Region 1 Center of Activity 7110
7.130-7.200 All modes, SSB contest preferred, SSTV 7165
7.175-7.200 All modes, priority for intercontinental
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Shuttle Landing On for EDW ~30/2125 UTC
Bad weather forecasts next two days at KSC caused a decision to go with the first Edwards AFB landing option. The Los Angeles City Fire Department is warning people to expect the distinctive sonic booms, since there hasn't been a landing on this track right over L.A. in years:
Please anticipate twin 'sonic booms' across SoCal at 1:20-1:25 PM today due to Space Shuttle Endeavour landing at Edwards AFB. -Brian Humphrey [LAFD Public Service Office] ###
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Space Shuttle Landing Tomorrow (Sunday)
From NASA:
Southern CA note: The first EDW landing opportunity, which would be at 1:25 PST, has a ground track directly over Los Angeles, ensuring nice big sonic booms. The second opportunity tracks more to the north, over Santa Barbara.
Final Full Day in Space for STS-126,
Landing Set for Sunday
Saturday, November 29, 2008 2:52 PM
The STS-126 crew spent its final full day in space Saturday. The crew tested space shuttle Endeavour's flight control surfaces and reaction control system thrusters in preparation for a Sunday landing. The two landing opportunities at Kennedy Space Center are for 12:19 p.m. and 1:54 p.m. EST. However, an unfavorable weather forecast in Florida called for two more landing opportunities at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 4:25 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Southern CA note: The first EDW landing opportunity, which would be at 1:25 PST, has a ground track directly over Los Angeles, ensuring nice big sonic booms. The second opportunity tracks more to the north, over Santa Barbara.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Alleged HomePlug Document Suggests Awareness of Interference Issue
Publically, the two standardizing industry associations for the HomePlug and DS2 powerline communication standards act as if there's no problem with RF emissions from devices which are basically wideband transmitters putting appreciable HF energy into AC power lines, which unintentionally serve as very efficient transmitting antennas.
A document alleged to be an internal "executive seminar" at the HomePlug Alliance has been posted to the files section of UKQRM. If this is real, it strongly suggests that someone working for the HomePlug Alliance is completely aware that a problem exists. Members of UKQRM can go to that group's files section and download this document.
What we have here is something at least resembling an internal presentation of PowerPoint-like slides stored as a .PDF file. Its heading on each slide is "Homeplug Executive Seminar." It shows measurements proving that their devices do not meet European electromagnetic compatibility standards, and had to gain the CE mark by exploiting loopholes. Subsequent slides claim that it's all just a problem with the standard test setup, which is simply unfair to powerline devices, that's all.
If this means that the whole idea of sending data through active power lines is so stupid that excessive RF power must be used to make it work even a little, I agree.
From page 4:
This is accompanied by a chart which looks like a dBuV over frequency run. Indeed, it shows 85 dBuV all the way across HF under their test parameters, except for sharp notches in some (NOT ALL) ham radio bands. This is indeed well in violation of EMC standards.
What do you do if you fail the test? Why claim that the standard is too old fashioned, of course, and rig up your own test so your product passes, despite a known EMC problem. Continuing, on page 5:
The "Final Solution?" Why, pressure international bodies to change the law, of course. Page 6:
And, if that doesn't work, of course maybe if you lobby hard enough, the ITU will simply clear out a huge swath of HF for you. Page 8:
In other news, BPL is not dead. IBM announced that it seeks to build an extensive system to bring broadband to rural areas. In other words, if you try to escape the cities, you will find that HF has been jammed in the country too.
I'm glad I'm not a conspiratologist. The idea of a worldwide total blockage of HF would have me going on Art Bell (or his replacement) by now.
A document alleged to be an internal "executive seminar" at the HomePlug Alliance has been posted to the files section of UKQRM. If this is real, it strongly suggests that someone working for the HomePlug Alliance is completely aware that a problem exists. Members of UKQRM can go to that group's files section and download this document.
What we have here is something at least resembling an internal presentation of PowerPoint-like slides stored as a .PDF file. Its heading on each slide is "Homeplug Executive Seminar." It shows measurements proving that their devices do not meet European electromagnetic compatibility standards, and had to gain the CE mark by exploiting loopholes. Subsequent slides claim that it's all just a problem with the standard test setup, which is simply unfair to powerline devices, that's all.
If this means that the whole idea of sending data through active power lines is so stupid that excessive RF power must be used to make it work even a little, I agree.
From page 4:
Safety, immunity and harmonics are correct but almost all PLC devices pass over the CISPR 22 class A, B limits so failed the test and we could not generate (directly) the DoC (Declaration of Conformity) needed for Europe
This is accompanied by a chart which looks like a dBuV over frequency run. Indeed, it shows 85 dBuV all the way across HF under their test parameters, except for sharp notches in some (NOT ALL) ham radio bands. This is indeed well in violation of EMC standards.
What do you do if you fail the test? Why claim that the standard is too old fashioned, of course, and rig up your own test so your product passes, despite a known EMC problem. Continuing, on page 5:
Several studies have been done on this current issue
• Some experts have demonstrated that the current interface used for the test was not accurate for the powerline and have proposed their own schematics (gaining up to 10 dB so passing class A and B)
Few competent bodies have proposed their own method
• They created their own measurement method and built for the manufacturer, the TCF (Technical Construction File: this is the second official way to gain the CE mark, specially when a unit do not follow at 100 % the harmonized standards)
• So they demonstrated with their method that the unit will not harm the “network”
• With this TCF, the CE mark could be affixed to the product so the PLC device could be sold in Europe
The "Final Solution?" Why, pressure international bodies to change the law, of course. Page 6:
A sub group of the CISPR was created to work on this issue
• The interface used to test the CISPR 22 test was developped a long time ago and is not fair for a measurement on the power line
• CISPR SC I PLT TG is working to find a test method that will properly test power line communications ports.
And, if that doesn't work, of course maybe if you lobby hard enough, the ITU will simply clear out a huge swath of HF for you. Page 8:
As of today the best case for this new CISPR I 89
standard is 2009
ITU-R: We have also investigated the possibility to
obtain a dedicated band for the PLC, it will take if
accepted around 10 to 15 years…
During this interim period the TCF will be always
the best compromise but could be subject to
discussion…
In other news, BPL is not dead. IBM announced that it seeks to build an extensive system to bring broadband to rural areas. In other words, if you try to escape the cities, you will find that HF has been jammed in the country too.
I'm glad I'm not a conspiratologist. The idea of a worldwide total blockage of HF would have me going on Art Bell (or his replacement) by now.
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