Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Robin
http://www.radiobuoy.com/proimages/ktr.doc

is a doc file in somewhat cryptic English translation with specs on their 
beacons

10 watts, 500 hours on one pile of D cells

Robin


- Original Message - 
From: "GeorgeWallner" 
To: ; 
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 19:20
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages


> On Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:37:26 -0400
>  Herb Schoenbohm  wrote:
>> These fish beacons are sometimes very strong and
>>normally out in the Gulf of Mexico.  I just wish I could >replicate the QRP 
>>transmitter 
>>and antennaor is it >just the saltwater ground?
>>
>  Herb,
>
> It is simple: 2 W output, 10 foot whip wiht loading coil,
> and a 3000 mile wide perfect ground plane. Easy. :-)
>
> 73,
>
> George
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
> 

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Robin
an experiment to see if a couple of photos will make it through-  I shrunk them to be 
small enough that they might be tolerated -  but I suspect they will be stripped off


these are two of the fish beacons we found washed up on shore at VP6DX.  you can read the 
freq on one of them 2202 KHz.  the smaller one we found actually has a small micro and 3 
boards.. in another shot you can read the ID on the PROM-  EK92.  the bigger one with the 
D cell stack intact shows Z5 for the callsign.  What is amazing is that these two were 
virtually intact-  and were not the corroded pile of electronics you would have expected


a pile of D cells for ballast, a buoy with a whip, and a simple CW ID timer, and thousands 
of miles of sea water and you have QRP heard round the world


73

robin, WA6CDR

I tried to find a better link, but here is one on a commercial fishing supplies 
site
http://www.commercial-fishing.net/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&category_id=15&product_id=27&Itemid=179

if that doesn't make it through try
http://www.commercial-fishing.net/
and marine electronics
Radio Beacon


I know nothing about these people, its just the first useful example I found for a source 
for the beacons we hear


Robin



- Original Message - 
From: "GeorgeWallner" 

To: ; 
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 19:20
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages



On Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:37:26 -0400
 Herb Schoenbohm  wrote:

These fish beacons are sometimes very strong and
normally out in the Gulf of Mexico.  I just wish I could >replicate the QRP transmitter 
and antennaor is it >just the saltwater ground?



 Herb,

It is simple: 2 W output, 10 foot whip wiht loading coil,
and a 3000 mile wide perfect ground plane. Easy. :-)

73,

George
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread GeorgeWallner
On Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:37:26 -0400
  Herb Schoenbohm  wrote:
> These fish beacons are sometimes very strong and 
>normally out in the Gulf of Mexico.  I just wish I could >replicate the QRP 
>transmitter and antennaor is it >just the saltwater ground?
> 
  Herb,

It is simple: 2 W output, 10 foot whip wiht loading coil, 
and a 3000 mile wide perfect ground plane. Easy. :-)

73,

George
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Topband: Info from VK6LK

2012-06-11 Thread Bruce
- Original Message - 
From: Robin Lyon 
To: Bruce 
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 6:53 PM
Subject: Re: CONDX


Bruce,
 Thanks for the information. The band was dead here , except for 
QRN.
We had a bad storm on Sunday evening and Mike, VK6HD, lost his 90 foot tower 
and all LF antennas. The forecast is for another storm tonight.
73
Robin..
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Herb Schoenbohm
These fish beacons are sometimes very strong and normally out in the 
Gulf of Mexico.  I just wish I could replicate the QRP transmitter and 
antennaor is it just the saltwater ground?


Herb




On 6/11/2012 6:01 PM, Sam Harner wrote:
>
> These kind of beacons are common for use at the starting end of long lines
> set by commercial fisherman so they can locate and retrieve the long lines
> sometimes as long as 50 miles commonly set for sword fish and tuna he off
> the east coast  and surely everywhere else  FYI   also one that is commonly
> hear on 1850 ssb is one that ID's "AD3" Sam
>
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: topband-boun...@contesting.com
> [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Milt -- N5IA
> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 4:50 PM
> To: Mike Waters; gali...@comcast.net; topband
> Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages
>
>
> For those that are interested in what one of these units looks like you can
> go to https://bmoran.onehub.com/fishing-beacon-pictures/pages/files
>
> There is a group of my photos, taken on Ducie Atoll, of the fishing beacon
> which Robin, WA6CDR and I found while installing the Beverage antennas at
> VP6DX.
>
> de Milt, N5IA
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Mike Waters
> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 1:02 PM
> To: gali...@comcast.net ; topband
> Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages
>
> Those blasted illegal fishnet buoy transmitters are in use all over the
> world. I haven't spent much time on 160 in over a year, and I almost forgot
> about them till you mentioned them. I could usually only hear them on a
> Beverage.
>
> I thought someone once mentioned on the Topband list that if you call CQ or
> hold a QSO on top of one, they will move frequency, sometimes completely
> outside 160m. If my memory serves me, the frequency can be remotely
> controlled by the fishermen who use them.
>
> One ham (somewhere) was compiling a list of fishnet beacon callsigns and
> their locations.
>
> On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
> after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
> the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.
>
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com
>
> On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 12:14 PM, joe  wrote:
>
>> I could hear them fine on the L so they probably weren't too far away.
>>
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
>
> -
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2433/5062 - Release Date: 06/11/12
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: RI1ANF on Topband

2012-06-11 Thread Jim Brown
On 6/11/2012 2:51 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> Jim is slightly optimistic.  The "nominal" audio frequency for the
> JT65A software is 1270.5 Hz and the "window" is ± 1000 Hz (see: pg
> 35, JT65-hf-setup.pdf distributed with the JT65HF package by W6CQZ).

Joe is right -- it's 2 kHz wide.  Thanks for the correction.

73, Jim K9YC
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Sam Harner


These kind of beacons are common for use at the starting end of long lines
set by commercial fisherman so they can locate and retrieve the long lines
sometimes as long as 50 miles commonly set for sword fish and tuna he off
the east coast  and surely everywhere else  FYI   also one that is commonly
hear on 1850 ssb is one that ID's "AD3" Sam




-Original Message-
From: topband-boun...@contesting.com
[mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Milt -- N5IA
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 4:50 PM
To: Mike Waters; gali...@comcast.net; topband
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages


For those that are interested in what one of these units looks like you can
go to https://bmoran.onehub.com/fishing-beacon-pictures/pages/files

There is a group of my photos, taken on Ducie Atoll, of the fishing beacon
which Robin, WA6CDR and I found while installing the Beverage antennas at
VP6DX.

de Milt, N5IA


-Original Message-
From: Mike Waters
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 1:02 PM
To: gali...@comcast.net ; topband
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

Those blasted illegal fishnet buoy transmitters are in use all over the
world. I haven't spent much time on 160 in over a year, and I almost forgot
about them till you mentioned them. I could usually only hear them on a
Beverage.

I thought someone once mentioned on the Topband list that if you call CQ or
hold a QSO on top of one, they will move frequency, sometimes completely
outside 160m. If my memory serves me, the frequency can be remotely
controlled by the fishermen who use them.

One ham (somewhere) was compiling a list of fishnet beacon callsigns and
their locations.

On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 12:14 PM, joe  wrote:

> I could hear them fine on the L so they probably weren't too far away.
>
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2433/5062 - Release Date: 06/11/12
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: RI1ANF on Topband

2012-06-11 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV

> Since the window is about 2.7 kHz wide, a JT65 signal is about 220 Hz
> wide, and signals can be decoded with some overlap, at least a dozen
> signals can simultaneously call and be decoded.

Jim is slightly optimistic.  The "nominal" audio frequency for the
JT65A software is 1270.5 Hz and the "window" is +/- 1000 Hz (see: pg
35, JT65-hf-setup.pdf distributed with the JT65HF package by W6CQZ).
In practice most transceivers do not work very well in the bottom 200
Hz or so of the "window" due to IF filter roll-off leaving room for
8 to 10 signals maximum.

73,

... Joe, W4TV



On 6/11/2012 4:21 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 6/11/2012 1:02 PM, Mike Waters wrote:
>> On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
>> after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
>> the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.
>
> This would be a great application for JT65A, which could allow many NA
> stations to work him.
>
> The traditional way to call someone on JT65A is to zero-beat them on the
> waterfall.  The better way to call a DX station is to NOT zero beat
> them, but rather to spread out like a split pileup. Since the window is
> about 2.7 kHz wide, a JT65 signal is about 220 Hz wide, and signals can
> be decoded with some overlap, at least a dozen signals can
> simultaneously call and be decoded.  JT65A activity on 160M is from
> about 1838.5 - 1841.2, transmitting by feeding a USB transmitter with a
> carrier of 1838 kHz.
>
> The software of choice is JT65-HF. It is freeware, well documented in a
> pdf, and very easy to use. A QSO typically takes 5-6 minutes to complete.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Milt -- N5IA
For those that are interested in what one of these units looks like you can go 
to https://bmoran.onehub.com/fishing-beacon-pictures/pages/files

There is a group of my photos, taken on Ducie Atoll, of the fishing beacon 
which Robin, WA6CDR and I found while installing the Beverage antennas at VP6DX.

de Milt, N5IA


-Original Message- 
From: Mike Waters 
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 1:02 PM 
To: gali...@comcast.net ; topband 
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages 

Those blasted illegal fishnet buoy transmitters are in use all over the
world. I haven't spent much time on 160 in over a year, and I almost forgot
about them till you mentioned them. I could usually only hear them on a
Beverage.

I thought someone once mentioned on the Topband list that if you call CQ or
hold a QSO on top of one, they will move frequency, sometimes completely
outside 160m. If my memory serves me, the frequency can be remotely
controlled by the fishermen who use them.

One ham (somewhere) was compiling a list of fishnet beacon callsigns and
their locations.

On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 12:14 PM, joe  wrote:

> I could hear them fine on the L so they probably weren't too far away.
>
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2433/5062 - Release Date: 06/11/12
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Topband: RI1ANF on Topband

2012-06-11 Thread Jim Brown
On 6/11/2012 1:02 PM, Mike Waters wrote:
> On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
> after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
> the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.

This would be a great application for JT65A, which could allow many NA 
stations to work him.

The traditional way to call someone on JT65A is to zero-beat them on the 
waterfall.  The better way to call a DX station is to NOT zero beat 
them, but rather to spread out like a split pileup. Since the window is 
about 2.7 kHz wide, a JT65 signal is about 220 Hz wide, and signals can 
be decoded with some overlap, at least a dozen signals can 
simultaneously call and be decoded.  JT65A activity on 160M is from 
about 1838.5 - 1841.2, transmitting by feeding a USB transmitter with a 
carrier of 1838 kHz.

The software of choice is JT65-HF. It is freeware, well documented in a 
pdf, and very easy to use. A QSO typically takes 5-6 minutes to complete.

73, Jim K9YC


___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Mike Waters
Those blasted illegal fishnet buoy transmitters are in use all over the
world. I haven't spent much time on 160 in over a year, and I almost forgot
about them till you mentioned them. I could usually only hear them on a
Beverage.

I thought someone once mentioned on the Topband list that if you call CQ or
hold a QSO on top of one, they will move frequency, sometimes completely
outside 160m. If my memory serves me, the frequency can be remotely
controlled by the fishermen who use them.

One ham (somewhere) was compiling a list of fishnet beacon callsigns and
their locations.

On another subject, you may be able to hear RI1ANF (South Shetland Islands)
after dark. I've heard him to the SSE the past two nights on 1826.5 through
the lightning QRN. K3JJG in PA was copying him better than I was.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 12:14 PM, joe  wrote:

> I could hear them fine on the L so they probably weren't too far away.
>
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Mike Waters
Hi Joe,

There was quite a bit of discussion about fishnet beacons here a year or
two ago. If you search back through the Topband archives, you might find
your answer.
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Topband/

A couple of web sites had a list of them.

What antenna did you hear them on? Your 140' BOG or your inverted-L?

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 10:22 AM, joe  wrote:

> Yep, indeed it is!  Now to figure out where they are coming from?  Hi
> Hi.  Thanks Mike.
>
> On Mon, 2012-06-11 at 08:38 -0500, Mike Waters wrote:
> > Sounds like fishing net beacons, Joe.
> >
> > http://www.genesisradio.com.au/VK2DX/fishnet.html
>
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread joe
Yep, indeed it is!  Now to figure out where they are coming from?  Hi
Hi.  Thanks Mike.

On Mon, 2012-06-11 at 08:38 -0500, Mike Waters wrote:
> Sounds like fishing net beacons, Joe.
> 
> http://www.genesisradio.com.au/VK2DX/fishnet.html
> http://www.w8ji.com/ndb%20beacon%20fish%20buoy%20net%20beacons.htm
> 
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com
> 
> On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 3:58 AM, joe  wrote:
> 
> > I've been copying strange 4 character cw messages between 1.975 - 1.985 at
> > approx. 0835Z for the past few days.  Characters groups include 4HAE, PEA2,
> > AJL2, 4EKI, AHD9.  Signals are fairly weak. Anyone else copying these
> > signals or know what they are?  -Joe
> >
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread Mike Waters
Sounds like fishing net beacons, Joe.

http://www.genesisradio.com.au/VK2DX/fishnet.html
http://www.w8ji.com/ndb%20beacon%20fish%20buoy%20net%20beacons.htm

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 3:58 AM, joe  wrote:

> I've been copying strange 4 character cw messages between 1.975 - 1.985 at
> approx. 0835Z for the past few days.  Characters groups include 4HAE, PEA2,
> AJL2, 4EKI, AHD9.  Signals are fairly weak. Anyone else copying these
> signals or know what they are?  -Joe
>
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Reminder: Summer Stew Perry contest June 16-17

2012-06-11 Thread Herb Schoenbohm
I will try to be there Alessandro.

Herb, KV4FZ




On 6/11/2012 5:57 AM, IZ5MOQ wrote:
> Nice one, I will try to do something saturday night, till the SR.
>
> I hope to work another "summer" new one.
>
> @ Herb, KV4FZ - I will focus for you this time!
>
> 73
>
> Alessandro, IZ5MOQ
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Brian Moran"
> Subject: Topband: Reminder: Summer Stew Perry contest June 16-17
>
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Re: Topband: Reminder: Summer Stew Perry contest June 16-17

2012-06-11 Thread IZ5MOQ
Nice one, I will try to do something saturday night, till the SR.

I hope to work another "summer" new one.

@ Herb, KV4FZ - I will focus for you this time!

73

Alessandro, IZ5MOQ


- Original Message - 
From: "Brian Moran" 
Subject: Topband: Reminder: Summer Stew Perry contest June 16-17

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


Topband: Strange CW Coded Messages

2012-06-11 Thread joe
I've been copying strange 4 character cw messages between 1.975 - 1.985
at approx. 0835Z for the past few days.  Characters groups include 4HAE,
PEA2, AJL2, 4EKI, AHD9.  Signals are fairly weak. Anyone else copying
these signals or know what they are?  -Joe

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK