Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year from Utility World!

It's zero Zulu - utility New Year's. Happy New Year to all reading this blog!

[UDXF] K6KPH on for SKN - KSM Too

The MRHS amateur station K6KPH will participate in the annual Straight Key Night once again this New Year's Eve.

Coast station KSM will be on the air as well to give listeners a chance to hear the station in later evening hours than usual.

Straight Key Night is sponsored by the ARRL for those who love Morse and enjoy practicing the art using manual, non-electronic keys. K6KPH will be on 3550kc and 7050kc. Both Denice Stoops and myself will be at the key.

For information about Straight Key Night see:

http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/skn.html

KSM will be on the air as well. Transmissions will take place on 426kc in the medium frequency band and on 4, 6, 8 and 12Mc HF. Press and weather will be transmitted. It's our hope that the lateness of the hour and the winter season will allow listeners to copy the station on frequencies they may not have heard before. We're especially hopeful that distant listeners will be able to copy us on 426kc.

Operations will probably begin sometime between 2100 and 2200 Pacific time (0500 - 0600Z) and last for about two hours.

Reception reports and QSLs may be sent to the QSL Mistress at:

Denice Stoops
PO Box 381
Bolinas, CA 94924-0381
USA

VY 73,

RD

=================================
Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
=================================

Saturday, December 26, 2009

MARS Gets New Name As It Fine-Tunes Mission

MARS has changed its name slightly to "Military Auxiliary Radio System." Also, the US Navy/Marine Corps MARS will not be closing down.

From ARRL:

On Wednesday, December 23, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued an Instruction concerning MARS, effective immediately. This Instruction gives the three MARS services -- Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps -- a new focus on homeland security and a new name: Military Auxiliary Radio System. The Instruction is the first major revision to MARS since January 26, 1988 -- as such, the first revision since the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, two major events that changed the way Amateur Radio dealt with emergency communications.

...

In the past, MARS had focused primarily on emergency communications and health and welfare support. The DoD's Instruction now directs the three MARS services to provide "contingency radio communications" to support US government operations, DoD components and "civil authorities at all levels," providing for national security and emergency preparedness events. MARS units will still continue to provide health and welfare communications support "to military members, civilian employees and contractors of DoD Components, and civil agency employees and contractors, when in remote or isolated areas, in contingencies or whenever appropriate." MARS must also be capable of operation in "radio only" modes -- without landlines or the Internet -- and sustainable on emergency power (when public utility power has failed); some MARS stations must be transportable for timely deployment.

...

This revision -- which was years in the making -- keeps the Navy/Marine Corps MARS intact; until now, members of this MARS service were concerned that their part of MARS might be terminated by Navy commanders.

Full story is here.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

So Who Is GM-11F?

"GM-11F" is the identification on mysterious radiofaxes apparently coming from the Ukraine, perhaps the Russian Navy in Sevastopol, on 5103 and 7090 kHz USB. These have been seen in Germany for at least a year. Content is the usual marine weather information. One transmission occurs daily at 1430 UTC.

7090 kHz is in the 40 meter amateur band, but other Russian military stations also operate there. This includes one of those single-letter beacon clusters (ENIGMA designator MX). "D" (Sevastopol, 7038.7) and "C" (Moscow, 7039.0) are especially loud pretty much 24/7 in central Europe.

The Last Time This Blog Will Ever Mention Power Line Telecommunication (Unless HF Becomes Useless)

http://swling.com/blog/

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Largest Cycle 24 Sunspot Group Yet

Sunspot group 1025 has appeared on the sun. It is 7 times the diameter of Earth, and definitely part of Cycle 24. Best yet, it is very active, with well-developed plage and strongly contorted magnetic lines.

Daily radio flux has jumped to 82, with the latest K index remaining low at 1. These are numbers which can definitely improve HF propagation.

Unfortunately, a C-class flare in this region has caused a coronal mass ejection aimed in the general direction of the Earth. It will arrive in about a day and a half, probably while we still have a southward interplanetary magnetic field (Bz). It is likely to cause beautiful auroras, and not-so-beautiful degradation of high-latitude and transpolar paths.

Plenty of data on both events is at spaceweather.com.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Japanese 3-Letter Call Signs #4

These are from various unofficial sources. As always with utility radio, it's only as good as the people who've taken the time to research it.

JOx This block was coast stations; these might be old/ obsolete:

JOE Omaezaki fishing guild (old)
JOF Choshi, may be used in Antarctica
JOG Shizuoka Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station (old)
JOH Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Laboratory
JOI Miyagi Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station JOJ Iwate Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JOK Yokohama International Marine Signal Station
JOL Aomori Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JOM Kochi Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JON Makurazaki fishing association
JOO Ibaraki Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JOP First fishing town Ama Association
JOQ Second fishing town Ama Association
JOR Chiba Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JOS Nagasaki Radio (old public coastal station, now off air)
JOT URA fishermen's union, Muroto
JOU Nagasaki Radio (old coastal station)
JOV URA fishermen's union, Watanoha
JOW Fishery cooperative, Misakicho Yagasaki
JOX Mie Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JOY Aburatsu fishing association
JOZ (JOZ, JOZ2-7) HF broadcasting

JPx This block mostly police, JPA might be INTERPOL

These calls may also be obsolete:
JPV Fishermen's union Kesennuma
JPW Chiba Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station
JPX Great Japan Sugar, Daito Jima
JPY Far Seas Fisheries Association, Fukuoka, Trawlers
JPZ Far Seas Fisheries, Nagasaki Trawler Association

JSC Call currently used at Kagoshima for Kyodo News FAX on 16971 kHz, 5kW

Japanese 3-Letter Call Signs #3

These are from various unofficial sources. As always with utility radio, it's only as good as the people who've taken the time to research it.

JIA## Aero, includes Tokyo Volmet, now Kagoshima (NTT closed Nazaki)

JJx This block is mostly governmental:

JJC Newspaper facsimile (Kyodo)
JJD Radio astronomy data (Ursigrams, etc), was 10415 kHz
JJD2 Radio astronomy data, was 15950 kHz
JJF2 Navy submarine comm on VLF
JJY Frequency Standards Bureau, off HF

JKx A series of JKx2n calls for NHK HF broadcasting

JMx Mostly Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) for wx:

JMB Call was used for wx at Nazaki, fate unknown
JMB37 JMA, Fussa, was 14665 kHz
JMC Marine Weather Agency, may be VHF only
JMG (JMG-JMG6) JMA, Intl. Regions, was Nazaki (NTT closed site)
JMH (JMH2,3,4,5,6) JMA FAX, tx now Kagoshima
JMI (JMI-JMI4) JMA, Intl. Hemisphere, Tokyo was 13963 kHz
JMJ (JMJ-JMJ6) JMA, Ibaraki Prefecture, was 18441.2 kHz (off air)
JMN22 JMA, Naha, 14940 kHz

JNx This block is for the Coast Guard:

JNA CG, Tokyo
JNB CG, Naha
JNC CG, Maizuru
JND CG, Akita
JNE CG, Hiroshima
JNG CG, Ishigaki
JNH CG, Tanabe
JNI CG, Hakodate
JNJ Coast Guard 10th Maritime Safety HQ, Kagoshima
JNK CG, Sasebo
JNL CG, Otaru
JNN CG, Shiogama
JNO CG, Kochi
JNP CG, Esashi
JNR Coast Guard 7th Maritime Safety HQ, Kitakyushu
JNS CG, Urakawa
JNT CG, Nagoya
JNU CG, Muroran
JNV CG, Niigata
JNW CG, Wakkanai
JNX CG, Kushiro
JNZ CG, Fushiki

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Japanese 3-Letter Call Signs #2

These are from various unofficial sources. As always with utility radio, it's only as good as the people who've taken the time to research it.

JGx This block for government and fishery:

JGA Fuji meteorological observatory
JGC Coast Guard/ Customs, Yokohama
JGD Coast Guard/ Customs, Kobe

JHx This block for fishery, with some gaps:

JHA Ibaraki Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Wireless Nakaminato
JHB Fisheries Kushikino
JHC Chiba Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Radio
JHD Fisheries Hakodate Radio Association
JHE Ehime Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative Wireless, Fukaura
JHF Niigata Fishery
JHG Fishing Usuki
JHH Fisheries Owase
JHI Fisheries Cooperative Wireless Natikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture
JHJ Fisheries Cooperative Ootsuti Wireless
JHK Hakodate
JHL Fisheries Tosashimizu
JHM Aomori Fisheries
JHO Otaru fisheries
JHP Fisheries Ofunato
JHQ Fisheries Shiogama
JHS Fisheries Karatsu
JHT Miyako (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JHU Nemuro fishing cooperative
JHW Abashiri Fisheries
JHX High-Samani Fishing (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JHY Port of Nagoya
JHZ Fisheries Monbetsu

Japanese 3-Letter Call Signs #1

These are from various unofficial sources. As always with utility radio, it's only as good as the people who've taken the time to research it.

JBx This block for common carriers other than NTT
JCx This block for NTT common carriers
JDx This block for NTT coastal stations

JFx This block for Fishery Radio Stations:

JFA Central Fisheries National Radio ("Chuo Gyogyo")
JFB Mugi Tokushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Radio
JFC Fisheries Radio Association, Misaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
JFD Ishikawa Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative wireless [Ogi]
JFE Fisheries Radio Association, Okinawa
JFF Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Wireless Corporation
JFG Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Radio
JFH Tuna Fisheries Cooperative Associations in Mie Prefecture
JFI National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative, Hyogo Prefecture [Kasumi]
JFJ Unknown company
JFK Shimonoseki (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JFK2 Akkeshi Radio Association (Whaling)
JFL Fisheries Suzaki
JFM Kochi Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative wireless, Muroto
JFN Tobata (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JFO Fukuoka (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JFP Miyazaki Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative, Aburatsu
JFQ Makurazaki
JFR Radio Association of Fisheries, Nagasaki
JFS Aomori Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative
JFT Kamaishi Fisheries Cooperative Wireless
JFU Ishinomaki (Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing
JFV Kesennuma
JFW Fukushima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Radio, Iwaki
JFX Kagoshima Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Radio
JFY Wakkanai ( Terrestrial radio facilities for fishing)
JFZ Kushiro Fisheries Cooperative (ship equipment)

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

"JFC-FAX" Copied in California

This grungy picture faded up and down at just the right time. It doesn't look like much, but it's enough to identify yet another Japanese fishery station transmitting radio faxes on HF. This was on 16907.5 kHz USB at 0030 UTC on December 9:



Thankfully, fax is a "fuzzy" mode, and people can make decisions computers can't. I knew all but the first two letters of the station callsign. Now I know them too.

JFC is a radio station at the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center, Misaki, Japan. It has been reported before on Japanese fishery frequencies. Back when there were such things as sunspots, the "JFC-FAX" transmission was seen in Australia on 22559.0 kHz, alternating with other prefectural fisheries.

This brings the number of prefectural fishery fax stations identified in the US up to three. The others are JSC, Kagoshima, and JFW, Fukushima. Primary frequencies for all the fishery fax transmissions are 6414.5, 8658.0, 16907.5, 22559.6 kHz USB. Normal dial offset for fax is around 1.9 kHz lower.

The fishery radio has many other frequencies and modes, often encrypted. What's for sure is that whoever is using some of this stuff does not want the public knowing it.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

JMH Wave Chart Received 1 December 09

This chart was received from JMH, Tokyo Meteo (via Kagoshima) on December 1:



As many may know, JMH ("Tokyo Meteo") and the Tokyo VOLMET both changed their transmitter locations on March 4, 2009. They moved from the old Nazaki transmitting site (36.10N by 139.51E) to Kagoshima Fishery Radio (31.19N 130.31E). Kagoshima Prefecture is in the extreme south of Japan, well situated to cover the Pacific Ocean.

Alaskan DXer Attu Bosch has made an interesting point on the SWL Nomad blog, that the "fishery radio" might not always be what it seems.

Here's what I know, and it's not much:

These stations receive funding from various government and private sources;

They broadcast a vast amount of sometimes rather secretive information all over HF in all modes, not just radiofax;

Their coverage is much larger than the area of primary interest to the Japanese fishery (though this might just be the nature of HF propagation, or be designed to include fleets working closer to the US west coast);

And some of it is scrambled, or encrypted.


What I don't know is whether this less public content is commercial data meant only for subscribers, communication by and for specific companies or fleets, or something else. As always in utility, the people who know aren't telling.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Stormy West Pacific November28

This interesting surface chart was sent by KVM 70, Hawaii, this morning on 16135.0 kHz USB (dial frequency 16133.1), at 1815 UTC:



Note the path of Super Typhoon Nida, which has taken the predicted curve to the northeast away from Japan. Everything's going up and around those two huge highs to the east.

UPDATE 29 NOV: Nida has stalled out, now moving very slowly northwestward, expected to curve westward and dissipate.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HLL Korean Typhoon Warning Chart

This fuzzy chart was received late last night in SoCal, around 0800 UTC, on 9165 kHz USB (assigned channel center). It shows the plotted and forecast path of Super Typhoon Nida, a monster with a well-developed stadium-effect eye and 145 kt sustained winds around it.



Fortunately, longer term forecasts show Nida curving eastward and missing Japan, while losing strength out at sea.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Interesting Maritime CW Activity Coming Up Saturday

From Richard Dillman:

World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young (DD-793)/NTTH will be on the air again this Saturday, as will WWII Victory ship SS American Victory/KKUI. Both ships will attempt to communicate with KSM, as they did last Saturday. But this Saturday they will also attempt to contact each other. Both ships will be using their original radio equipment which has been restored to operation.

Beginning at about 1700GMT both ships will call KSM on ITU global calling channel 3 for the 12Mc band, 12552.0kc. NTTH will use a working frequency of 12453.5kc (primary) or 12423.0kc (secondary). As always, when in communication with either ship, KSM will key all HF and MF transmitters to give the greatest number of listeners the best chance to hear at least one side of the exchange. KSM will also announce the working frequency to be used by the ship(s) to give listeners a chance to listen for them as well.

KSM will begin its Morse press broadcast at 1800GMT as usual but will interrupt the broadcast to answer calling ships if needed. Otherwise the KSM "wheel" will be heard on all HF transmitters. KSM will send the traffic list at 2100GMT and high seas North Pacific weather at 2130GMT as usual. KSM press and weather RTTY broadcasts will begin at 1900GMT as usual.


KSM CW Frequencies (in kHz):

426
500
4350.5
6474.0
8438.3
12993.0
16914.0
22445.8

STS-129 To Land Friday

From NASA:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew are expected to return to Earth on Friday, Nov. 27, after an 11-day mission. The two landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are at 9:44 a.m. and 11:19 a.m. EST.

NASA will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Atlantis and its crew to land. If bad weather prevents a return to Florida on Friday or Saturday, both Kennedy and the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California will be activated for consideration on Sunday. For recorded updates about the shuttle landing, call 321-867-2525.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Japanese FAX Warning Map

Part of a Kyodo News transmission received here in SoCal at 0430 UTC on 25 November 09. Frequency was the usual 16971.0 kHz USB (dial reading 1.9 kHz lower).



I suspect from the mention of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), that these are warning areas for some type of rocket or missile activity.

WGS-84 refers to the datum for the map coordinates (World Geodetic System 1984), and IGS is the International GNSS Service. Yes, a nested acronym. GNSS is for Global Navigational Satellite Systems, referring to the US GPS and the Russian GLONASS.

GPS is, of course, yet another acronym, for Global Positioning System. GLONASS is a translation of the Russian acronym for ГЛОбальная НАвигационная Спутниковая Система. It translates as GLObal NAvigation Satellite System.

More New Cherry Ripe Frequencies

Eddy Waters in Australia has reported that the 0700 UTC broadcast of the UK MI6's Cherry Ripe numbers station (E03a) has new frequencies as well.

These are 19884 and 21866 kHz USB.

Cherry Ripe Frequency Change

According to Eddy Waters in Australia, the British MI6 numbers station called Cherry Ripe (E03a) has changed the frequency of its broadcast at 0500 UTC.

The new frequency is 21866 kHz USB. There is probably a parallel transmission on another new frequency, but Eddy has not found it.

Old frequencies (now unused) were 16525.0 and 18565.0 kHz USB.

As we know, Cherry Ripe has moved its transmitter site from Guam to Humpty Doo in Australia's Northern Territory. This is a "numbers" transmission that is no doubt intended for spies. Target area remains Mainland China.

The station signs on with a musical tune of an old British folk song (from which the name Cherry Ripe comes). A "female" digitally sampled voice then gives number groups in English.

Friday, November 20, 2009

STS-129 Upgrades ISS Ham Capability

Tomorrow's EVA includes the installation of new ham radio antennas to the International Space Station, and a general upgrade to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) equipment.

ARRL:

Besides taking spare parts to the International Space Station (ISS) this coming Monday, the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) will deliver the module antennas for Columbus -- the laboratory built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and host of two Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) antennas.

...

Astronauts will install and deploy our ARISS antennas during the second spacewalk of STS-129. The ham team will monitor the spacewalk activity via a NASA real-time teleconference call. "The new antennas will increase opportunities for the many hams who covet making contacts with astronauts and cosmonauts," White [ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO] explained. "Frequencies available for transmission to and from Columbus will be 2 meters, 70 centimeters, L-band and S-band. To start, the two Ericcson radios (2 meters and 70 centimeters) that are already on the ISS (but seldom used) will be moved and installed in Columbus."

...

The antenna -- along with another VHF antenna -- was developed by ARISS in cooperation with the ESA to support an experiment involving the maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS)," Ransom [NASA ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO] explained. "Both antennas will be installed on the Earth-facing starboard edge of the Columbus module. The AIS antenna will be forward and the ARISS antenna will be aft. The ARISS team is planning to migrate some stowed Amateur Radio gear to take advantage of the new antenna."

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Chilean Navy Forecast Chart, Nov. 17

Chart received here in 120/576 FAX from Playa Ancha (Valparaiso) Radio, Chile. Note the large area covered by the Chilean weather office. It goes clear into Antarctic waters.

NASA STS-129 Booster Recovery Ops on 9132 kHz

Listener "MDMonitor" passes along the following. May be useful next time.

9132.0 BRD (NASA Booster Recovery control): 1936 USB w/Freedom Star (NASA Booster Recovery vessel) advising that countdown has resumed & they are ready to launch.

Monday, November 16, 2009

STS-129 Count Is On Time

Astronauts are in the vehicle, and count is proceeding for a launch at 2:28 PM Eastern Standard Time (1928 UTC). This is a space station resupply mission with an approximately 5-7 minute launch window.

Weather is near perfect.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Latest Honolulu Weather Fax Schedule

This is the 2009 schedule as broadcast by the station. It is more up to date than most of the ones on the Internet:


HONOLULU, HAWAII, U.S.A.

CALL SIGN KVM70

FREQUENCIES
9982.5 0519-1556 F3C 4 KW
11090 ALL BROADCAST TIMES F3C 4 KW
16135 1719-0356 F3C 4 KW
120/576

0519/1719 TEST PATTERN
0524/1724 SIGNIFICANT CLOUD FEATURES 03/15 D
0535/1735 CYCLONE DANGER AREA 03/15 E
0555/1755 STREAMLINE ANALYSIS 00/12 B
0615/1815 SURFACE ANALYSIS 00/12 C
0635/1835 EAST PACIFIC GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 06/18 G
0649/1849 SW PACIFIC GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 06/18 H
0701/1901 24HR SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 A
0714/1914 48HR SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 A
0727/1927 72HR SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 A
0740/1940 WIND/WAVE ANALYSIS 00/12 B
0753/1953 24HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 B
0806/2006 24HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 4
0816/2016 48HR SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 1
0826/2026 48HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 1
0836/2036 48/96 HR WAVE PERIOD, SWELL DIR 00/12 1
0846/2046 rebroadcast/ 96HR SURFACE FORECAST 12/12 1
0856/2056 rebroadcast/ 96HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 12/12 1
0906/2106 PACIFIC GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 06/18 5
0917/2117 SURFACE ANALYSIS (PART 1 NE PACIFIC) 06/18 2
0930/2130 SURFACE ANALYSIS (PART 2 NW PACIFIC) 06/18 3
0943/2143 TROPICAL GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 06/18 Y
0954/2154 TROPICAL SURFACE ANALYSIS 06/18 Z
1008/2208 24HR TROPICAL WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1042/2242 CYCLONE DANGER AREA 09/21 E
1102/2302 48HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 B
1115/2315 72HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 B
1128/2328 SEA SURFACE TEMPS LATEST F
1141/2341 rebroadcast 24HR WIND/WAVE FORECASTS 00/12 B
1154/2354 STREAMLINE ANALYSIS 06/18 B
1214/0014 SURFACE ANALYSIS 06/18 C
1234/0034 EAST PACIFIC GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 12/00 G
1248/0048 SW PACIFIC GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE 12/00 H
1300/0100 SCHEDULE PART I
1320/0120 SCHEDULE PART II
1340/0140 SYMBOLS OR PRODUCT NOTICE BULLETIN
1400/0200 24HR TROPICAL SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1410/0210 48HR TROPICAL SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1420/0220 72HR TROPICAL SURFACE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1430/0230 48/72 HR TROPICAL WAVE PER,SWELL DIR 00/00 Z
1440/0240 TROPICAL SEA STATE ANALYSIS 12/00 Z
1450/0250 rebroadcast 24HR WIND/WAVE FORECASTS 00/12 Z
1500/0300 48HR TROPICAL WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1510/0310 72HR TROPICAL WIND/WAVE FORECAST 00/12 Z
1520/0320 rebroadcast/SEA STATE ANALYSIS 00/00 1
1530/0330 SURFACE ANALYSIS(PART 1 NE PAC) 12/00 2
1543/0343 SURFACE ANALYSIS(PART 2 NW PAC) 12/00 3
1556/0356 TROPICAL SURFACE ANALYSIS 12/00 Z

MAP AREAS:
A. 30S - 50N, 110W - 130E
B. 30S - 30N, 110W - 130E
C. EQ - 50N, 110W - 130E
D. 30S - 50N, 110W - 160E
E. EQ - 40N, 80W - 170E
F. EQ - 55N, 110W - 160E
G. 05S - 55N, 110W - 155E
H. 40S - 05N, 130W - 165E
1. 20N - 70N, 115W - 135E
2. 20N - 70N, 115W - 175W
3. 20N - 70N, 175W - 135E
4. 18N - 62N, EAST OF 157W
5. 05N - 55N, EAST OF 180W
Y. 05N - 32N, EAST OF 130W
Z. 20S - 30N, EAST OF 145W


STREAMLINES ARE LINES OF CONSTANT WIND DIRECTION. WIND SPEEDS ARE GIVEN BY WIND BARBS INDEPENDENT OF STREAMLINES.

THE SIGNIFICANT CLOUD FEATURES CHARTS DEPICT CLOUD FEATURES BASED UPON IMAGES FROM THE VARIOUS GEOSTATIONARY AND POLAR ORBITING SATELLITES OVER THE PACIFIC. ABBREVIATIONS ON THESE CHARTS INCLUDE: AC - ALTOCUMULUS; AS - ALTOSTRATUS; BKN - BROKEN; CB - CUMULONIMBUS; CC - CIRROCUMULUS; CI - CIRRUS; CS - CIRROSTRATUS; CU - CUMULUS; FEW - FEW; ISOL - ISOLATED; LYRS - LAYERS; NS - NIMBOSTRATUS; OVC - OVERCAST; SC - STRATO-CUMULUS; SCT - SCATTERED; TCU - TOWERING CUMULUS; TSTM - THUNDERSTORM

RADIOFAX FREQUENCIES ARE ASSIGNED FREQUENCIES. TO CONVERT TO CARRIER FREQUENCIES, SUBTRACT 1.9 KHZ FROM THE ASSIGNED FREQUENCIES.

YOU MAY ADDRESS COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BROADCAST TO:

Meteorologist In Charge
National Weather Service
2525 Correa Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96822
PHONE: (808) 973-5270/FAX: (808) 973-5281
E-Mail norman.hui@noaa.gov

Many of these charts also broadcast via Pt. Reyes, CA and Kodiak, AK

If you have access to the World Wide Web be certain to check out the following webpages. See these pages for further links.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov NWS Homepage
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm NWS Marine Page
cell.weather.gov Cellphone page
mobile.weather.gov Mobile Page

(Schedule Effective Nov 03, 2008 Information dated Apr 06, 2009)

Friday, November 13, 2009

CFH Fax Image of Nor'Ida, 11/12

This fax sent by CFH, Canadian Forces METOC Centre, Halifax, NS is a 24-hour prognostic chart showing Nor'Ida taking shape in the Mid-Atlantic.

Nor'Ida is the name that people have started giving the combination of the remnants of Hurricane Ida and a cold front. This grew into a Perfect Storm type of nor'easter, which went on to cause considerable damage and some loss of life in VA, NC, and other states.

Frequency was 13508.0 USB, at 12/1716 UTC.



US state lines are no longer visible on this reduced image, but the forecast position of the low is just off North Carolina.

STS-129 Pre-Launch & Countdown for Monday 11/16

Nov. 4, 2009

Allard Beutel
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-211

NASA SETS STS-129 PRELAUNCH EVENTS AND COUNTDOWN DETAILS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - News conferences, events and operating hours for the news center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., are set for the upcoming launch of space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle's STS-129 mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to lift off at 2:28 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 16.

A NASA blog will update the countdown beginning Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Originating from Kennedy, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch. During the mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle Web site can read about the crew's progress and watch the mission's three spacewalks live. As Atlantis' flight concludes, the NASA blog will detail the spacecraft's return to Earth. For NASA's launch blog and continuous mission updates, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the shuttle launch countdown, mission and landing. To follow, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

Two STS-129 astronauts are tweeting about their pre-launch preparation and are expected to provide updates to their Twitter accounts during the shuttle mission. Bobby Satcher, an orthopedic surgeon, can be followed at: http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Bones and http://www.twitter.com/ZeroG_MD. The latter account focuses on a discussion of medical issues for space exploration.

His crewmate Leland Melvin can be followed at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Flow

Detailed lists of countdown milestones, news briefing times and participants, and hours of operation for Kennedy's news center and media credentialing office are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

8658.0 Japanese Fishery FAX

Someone is sending FAX fishery information from Japan out to fleets operating in the East Pacific. The frequencies are the ones listed in old utility guides as "Chuo Fishery" or "Chuo Gyogyo" (same thing, different languages). This was 8658.0. A parallel exists on 16907.5. It hasn't been audible in California, but it has been confirmed by Eddy Waters in Australia.

Here's one I snagged at 0650 UTC last night:



The information has to do with fish market prices in Japan. Martin Foltz, another DXer in SoCal, ran one of his intercepts past a Japanese speaker. It was identified as a mackerel market table sent by the "Fukushima Business Radio Station" from the Fukushima Prefecture Fishery on the island of Honshu. Efforts continue to track down this transmitter out of the 900 or so fishery radio stations in Japan.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Air Recon Taskings for 11/10

000
NOUS42 KNHC 091430
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
0930 AM EST MON 09 NOVEMBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 10/1100Z TO 11/1100Z NOVEMBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-165

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM IDA
FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 72
A. 10/1200Z,1500Z
B. AFXXX 0911A IDA
C. 10/0915Z
D. 30.0N 88.2W
E. 10/1100Z TO 10/1530Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

III. NOTE: WINTER STORM REQUIREMENTS ARE NEGATIVE.
JWP

T.S. Ida Advisory #23

000
WTNT31 KNHC 091443
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM IDA ADVISORY NUMBER 23
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL112009
900 AM CST MON NOV 09 2009

...IDA WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM...

AT 9 AM CST...1500 UTC...ALL HURRICANE WARNINGS AND WATCHES ALONG THE GULF COAST HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE AUCILLA RIVER FLORIDA...INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

AT 900 AM CST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IDA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.3 WEST OR ABOUT 185 MILES...300 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ABOUT 285 MILES...460 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH AND THEN TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF IDA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST TUESDAY MORNING. AFTER LANDFALL...A TURN TO THE EAST IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS CONTINUE TO DECREASE AND ARE NOW NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TODAY AS IDA APPROACHES THE COAST.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM FROM THE CENTER.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB...29.41 INCHES.

RAINS FROM IDA WILL BE REACHING THE COAST OVER PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST NORTHWARD INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

...SUMMARY OF 900 AM CST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...26.5N 88.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 340 DEGREES AT 17 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1200 PM CST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 300 PM CST.

$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Air Recon Taskings for 11/9-10

000
NOUS42 KNHC 081500
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1000 AM EST SUN 08 NOVEMBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 09/1100Z TO 10/1100Z NOVEMBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-164

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. HURRICANE IDA
FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 70
A. 09/1800Z,10/0000Z
B. AFXXX 0711A IDA
C. 09/1630Z
D. 26.9N 88.5W
E. 09/1700Z TO 10/0000Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO -- TEAL 71
A. 10/0300Z,0600Z,0900Z
B. AFXXX 0811A IDA
C. 10/0045Z
D. 28.6N 88.3W
E. 10/0200Z TO 10/0900Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: CONTINUE 3-HRLY FIXES
IF SYSTEM REMAINS A THREAT.

3. REMARKS: P-3 RESEARCH CONTINUING EVERY 12 HRS.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

III. NOTE: WINTER STORM REQUIREMENTS ARE NEGATIVE.
JWP

Hurricane Ida Advisory #20

000
WTNT31 KNHC 082048
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
HURRICANE IDA ADVISORY NUMBER 20
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL112009
300 PM CST SUN NOV 08 2009

...CENTER OF IDA MOVING INTO THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA TO MEXICO BEACH FLORIDA. THIS WATCH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN TO CABO CATOCHE. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE WARNING AREA.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM TULUM TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM PUNTA ALLEN NORTHWARD TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN AND FROM CABO CATOCHE WESTWARD TO SAN FELIPE. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF PINAR DEL RIO.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLE OF YOUTH.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IDA. ADDITIONAL TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED TONIGHT OR MONDAY.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 300 PM CST...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IDA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 86.3 WEST OR ABOUT 95 MILES... 155 KM...WEST-NORTHWEST OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA AND ABOUT 510 MILES...815 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH AND AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ARE EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK... IDA IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT AND MONDAY... AND BE NEAR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IDA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...AND IDA IS FORECAST TO GRADUALLY WEAKEN ON MONDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE JUST REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS 976 MB...28.82 INCHES.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES.

RAINS WILL BE INCREASING WELL IN ADVANCE OF IDA ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST...BUT WILL BECOME STEADIER AND HEAVIER BY MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY FROM THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST NORTHWARD INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.

A STORM SURGE COULD RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

...SUMMARY OF 300 PM CST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...22.2N 86.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...976 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 600 PM CST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 900 PM CST.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN/ROBERTS

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Air Recon Taskings for 11/7-9

000
NOUS42 KNHC 061545
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1045 AM EST THU 06 NOVEMBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 07/1100Z TO 08/1100Z NOVEMBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-162

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 70
A. 07/1600Z
B. AFXXX 0211A IDA
C. 07/1115Z
D. 17.2N 84.7W
E. 07/1500Z TO 07/1900Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO - TEAL 71
A. 08/0600Z
B. AFXXX 0311A IDA
C. 08/0145Z
D. 18.7N 85.4W
E. 08/0500Z TO 08/0900Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: POSSIBLE 6 HRLY
FIXES BEGINNING AT 08/1800Z

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

III. NOTE: WINTER STORM REQUIREMENTS ARE NEGATIVE.
CAD


000
NOUS42 KNHC 071500
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1000 AM EST SAT 07 NOVEMBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 08/1100Z TO 09/1100Z NOVEMBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-163

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM IDA
FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 70
A. 08/1800Z,09/0000Z
B. AFXXX 0411A IDA
C. 08/1500Z
D. 21.0N 86.0W
E. 08/1700Z TO 09/0000Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO -- TEAL 75
A. 09/0000Z
B. AFXXX 0511A IDA
C. 08/1730Z
D. NA
E. NA
F. 24,000 TO 33,000 FT

FLIGHT THREE -- TEAL 71
A. 09/0600Z,1200Z
B. AFXXX 0611A IDA
C. 09/0330Z
D. 22.8N 87.2W
E. 09/0500Z TO 09/1200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2.SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: CONTINUE 6-HRLY FIXES.
A SYNOPTIC SURVEILLANCE MISSION AT 10/0000Z.

3. REMARKS:
A. A RESOURCE PERMITTING FIX AT 08/1200Z.
B. P-3 RESEARCH MISSIONS EVERY 12 HRS BEGINNING
AT 08/2000Z.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

III. NOTE: WINTER STORM REQUIREMENTS ARE NEGATIVE.
SEF

Ida: Our November Visitor

000
WTNT31 KNHC 072049
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM IDA ADVISORY NUMBER 14
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL112009
400 PM EST SAT NOV 07 2009

...IDA NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH...STILL MOVING NORTHWARD...

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM TULUM TO CABO CATOCHE. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM PUNTA ALLEN NORTHWARD TO SAN FELIPE. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF
PINAR DEL RIO. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS COULD SPREAD ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN CUBA ON SUNDAY AND A HURRICANE WARNING MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THIS AREA LATER TONIGHT.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLE OF YOUTH.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 400 PM EST...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IDA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 84.3 WEST OR ABOUT 200 MILES...325 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF COZUMEL MEXICO AND ABOUT 195 MILES...320 KM...SOUTH OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...IDA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE YUCATAN CHANNEL ON SUNDAY AND INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO SUNDAY NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IDA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE TONIGHT OR SUNDAY...BUT WEAKENING IS FORECAST AFTER IT ENTERS THE GULF OF MEXICO.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 990 MB...29.23 INCHES.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

...SUMMARY OF 400 PM EST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...18.9N 84.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH OR 355 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...990 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 700 PM EST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1000 PM EST.

$$
FORECASTER BROWN/CANGIALOSI

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Afternoon US Kyodo News is JSC, Not JJC

Still getting great reception of the Kyodo News FAX on 16971 kHz USB, 60/576. Today I caught a sign-on, identifying the transmitting station as JSC, Kagoshima Radio, not the usual JJC, Tokyo.



Some Googling around turned up the following (badly translated) information:

07.04.12 [April 2007 -hugh] 16971kHz 10kW JSC Fisheries Kagoshima consignment sent to radio stations (for the direction of Hawaii)


I interpret this to mean that this one frequency is broadcast for part of the day over a separate transmitter with a different beam. This certainly explains why only part of Kyodo's 24/7 sked is being sent, and why it's so much louder on the US Pacific Coast than any of the others. It sounds like a special contract to transmit a newspaper to Japanese fishing boats operating in the Eastern Pacific.

You learn something new every day in this hobby.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #13 (7500-8000)

7501.35 Unid J3E USB voice
7508.00 RAT21 F1B Russian Mil?
7531.30 RIJ8 R7B Wtk200/Fvb(30.9/28.7)
7534.00 RCE56 F1B 75 Bd
7556.30 FUG G7D French Navy Stanag 4285
7556.40 FUG J2B French Navy
7556.50 FUG J2B French Navy
7566.00 Unid A1B CW
7595.08 Unid A1B CW [Numbers hrd here]
7595.80 Unid F1B 170hz, 50bd ITA2
7595.83 Carabineri? F1B 50 Bd
7596.00 Unid A1A CW
7596.00 Unid F1B Baudot, 250hz, 75 Bd
7598.00 Unid J3E LSB in Italian
7600.00 Unid J3E Arabic Language
7600.40 3A7D A1B CW Russian or Chinese clg DKG6
7601.15 Unid A1B CW Russian or Chinese
7602.00 TA7D A1B CW Russian or Chinese
7605.00 471 A3E Clandestine 5 Fig Groups
7615.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7621.50 Unid D7D Digital Transmission
7622.00 Unid A1B CW
7624.00 Unid D7D Digital Transmission
7625.00 RRL2 F1B Encrypted 100/500
7630.00 RTV2 F1B Encrypted 100/500
7635.00 RWA50 F1B Encrypted 100/500
7636.50 Unid A1A
7646.00 DDH7 (Pinneberg) F1B 50/450 ITA2 - Hamburg Meteo
7650.00 RBW45 F1B 96 Bd
7654.00 Spanish Fishermen J9W Secure voice
7656.00 Unid H3E USB in English
7664.00 RIW A1A Russian Mil
7668.00 9200 J7D ALE
7672.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7672.00 Unid F1B 500hz,100bd (ITA2)
7690.00 EZI H3E [E10]
7690.00 EZI2 H3E [E10]
7696.00 RYH F1B 75 Bd
7701.30 RNS61 R7B Wtk 200(00.9/98.7)
7710.00 Unid R3E USB in English
7710.00 RRG F1B 75 Bd
7718.00 Unknown F1B Globedata 100/200
7720.00 Unid J3E LSB Italian sailors
7722.00 Unid J3E Oriental Language
7723.00 Unid J3E Spanish Fishermen
7723.00 KHF F1B Agana, Guam Globedata 100/200
7726.00 Unid J3E USB maritime tfc
7735.00 Unid J3E USB English
7735.00 Unid J3E USB tfc in Spanish
7740.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7740.00 Unid J3E USB
7742.00 Unid A1B CW
7743.00 Unid A1B CW
7753.00 WNU F1B Slidell Radio, Globedata
7758.00 Unid A1B CW
7760.00 ULX2 H3E [E10]
7778.70 Unid F1B Sitor-A,170hz,100bd
7780.00 Unid J3E USB maritime in English
7789.00 T8C7 A1A Tactical C/S Mil Net
7793.30 WNU F1B Slidell Radio, Globedata
7802.00 Unid A1B CW
7811.00 AFRTS J3E USN voice channel relay
7816.70 Unid F1B Embassy Tfc To Cairo
7818.00 Unid J3E Fishing
7825.00 ? A1A Morse
7833.00 Unid A1B CW
7836.00 ? F1B 50 Bd Reversals
7841.00 Unid F1B Shift=250hz, 50bd
7845.00 G7D 2400 Bd Stanag 4285
7848.00 ? J1B 12 Tone Piccolo
7850.00 CHU R3E Canadian time station
7853.00 7J9T A1B Russ or Chinese mil
7855.50 FDI 22 F1B French mil, 50/850
7859.00 REG6 A1B
7875.00 Unid J3E Spanish Fishermen
7880.00 DDK3 (Pinneberg) F1C Hamburg Meteo Fax 120/576
7886.00 Unid J3E USB
7887.00 ? A3E Clandestine
7888.00 Unid J3E USB English, North Sea
7898.00 Unid J3E Fishermen
7902.00 Unid J3E Spanish Fishermen
7904.75 Unid J2B
7905.00 IB9 J7D 125 Bd
7906.00 T1L1 A1A Mil
7911.00 Unid J3E Vietnamese fishing
7911.01 KZAH A1A Mil?
7918.00 YHF R3E [E10]
7918.00 YHF2 R3E [E10]
7918.00 Unid R3E USB at sea
7921.81 Unknowh G7D 2400 Bd Stanag 4285
7929.00 Unid J3E Usb
7932.00 VDPM A1B Mil
7935.00 Unid A3E Pirate?
7950.00 Unid J3E USB
7950.00 ? A3E German Pirate
7951.19 FDI22 F1B French mil 75 Bd
7959.00 "8" F1B 1khz, 100 Bd, Baudot
7959.30 RAE6 R7B
7961.80 Unid G7D 2400 Bd
7965.00 RMP A1A Russian mil
7969.00 PHVZ A1B Mil
7970.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7971.00 Unid J3E Spanish Fishermen
7974.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7979.00 Unid J3E Spanish Fishermen
7985.00 Unid D7D Digital Transmission
7987.00 Unid A1B CW Morse
7989.15 Unid F1B Arq-E 46 Baud
7990.00 RBA2 F1B 40 Bd
7990.00 Cyprus P0N Pulse
7994.00 Unid A1A Morse; Russian PVO
7998.02 RFL9 F1B

JJC Tokyo News FAX Received Nov 3

You know the fall DX season has arrived when Southern California has a relatively clear copy on the Kyodo News FAX from Japan. This is the best one I've received in a long time.

Frequency was 16971.0 kHz USB, time was just after zero UTC. Parameters were 60/576.



It's worth repeating that, unlike the weather charts, the news FAX is copyrighted material, reproduced here at a greatly reduced size under fair use for the purposes of amateur radio propagation reporting. Any unauthorized commercial use would probably prompt Kyodo to start scrambling the faxes again. We'd hate to lose the last news FAX on the air for DXing.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Utility World Blog Stirs Back To Life

I just noticed that i've only made something like 3 posts to this blog in the past month.

Apologies are in order. I was out of town and away from any radios, but I had a laptop so there's no excuse.

I'll do better.

A few things are happening in the utility scene right now that are worth watching.

The most newsworthy one is that November/December of 2009 is the Moment of Truth for solar Cycle 24. There are indications that this late cycle is beginning to rise, pretty much in line with the scaled-back newer predictions. Some daily fluxes around 81 have occurred, which are promising. Expect some definite changes in conditions if it gets over 90 for any length of time.

If the cycle does not rise at all, and we fall back into spotless days, weeks, and maybe months, all bets are off. Meanwhile, a lively and information-packed web site for all this is SolarCycle24.com.

NMC FAX Satellite Image Nov. 2

Copied on 8682 kHz at 2113 UTC. Note the multipath and cyclical selective fading, both of which are typical of this path and time of day.



Also note the pronounced "Pineapple Express" moisture feed from the tropics near Hawaii to the northwestern continental United States.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

TEAL Aircraft Now Flying Rick - TCPOD for Mon.

000
NOUS42 KNHC 181430
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1030 AM EDT SUN 18 OCTOBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 19/1100Z TO 20/1100Z 0CTOBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-143

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK......NEGATIVE.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. HURRICANE RICK
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 70
A. 19/1800Z
B. AFXXX 0120E RICK
C. 19/1200Z
D. 18.1N 111.4W
E. 19/1700Z TO 19/2200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY:
ANOTHER FIX ON HURRICANE RICK ON 20/1800Z NEAR
20.7N 111.2W
DMG

Rick Is Cat. 5 (Public Advisory #13)

000
WTPZ35 KNHC 181441
TCPEP5
BULLETIN
HURRICANE RICK ADVISORY NUMBER 13
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP202009
800 AM PDT SUN OCT 18 2009

...RICK STILL A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE...

INTERESTS IN SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA AND THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RICK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 108.3 WEST OR ABOUT 500 MILES ...805 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CABO SAN LUCAS MEXICO.

RICK IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED ON MONDAY FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH EARLY TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 175 MPH...280 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RICK IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME SLOW WEAKENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...HOWEVER...RICK IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 914 MB...26.99 INCHES.

LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY RICK WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS... CAUSING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS.

...SUMMARY OF 800 AM PDT INFORMATION...
LOCATION...15.8N 108.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-NORTHWEST OR 295 DEGREES AT 14 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...914 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 PM PDT.

$$
FORECASTER ROBERTS/BRENNAN

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Possible Air Recon Tasking for Pacific Hurricane Rick

000
NOUS42 KNHC 171430
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1030 AM EDT SAT 17 OCTOBER 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 18/1100Z TO 19/1100Z 0CTOBER 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-142

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK......NEGATIVE.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY: PSBL FIX MISSION
ON HURRICANE RICK 19/1800Z NEAR 17.6N AND 111.6W.
WVW

Hurricane Rick Public Advisory #9

000
WTPZ35 KNHC 171436
TCPEP5
BULLETIN
HURRICANE RICK ADVISORY NUMBER 9
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP202009
800 AM PDT SAT OCT 17 2009

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE RICK CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN...

AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RICK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 103.0 WEST OR ABOUT 280 MILES ...450 KM...SOUTHWEST OF ACAPULCO MEXICO AND ABOUT 345 MILES... 550 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF MANZANILLO MEXICO.

RICK IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR... AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CORE OF RICK IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFFSHORE OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO OVER THE WEEKEND AS THE HURRICANE MOVES GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE COAST.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 145 MPH...230 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES RICK AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND RICK COULD BECOME A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 40 MILES...65 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 938 MB...27.70 INCHES.

LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY RICK MAY AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...CAUSING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS.

OUTER RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH RICK WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MEXICO THROUGH TONIGHT.

...SUMMARY OF 800 AM PDT INFORMATION...
LOCATION...14.2N 103.0W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...145 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-NORTHWEST OR 290 DEGREES AT 12 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...938 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
200 PM PDT.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

Friday, October 02, 2009

Honolulu FAX Test Chart


Received in Southern California on 3 Oct 09 (UTC)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Turku Radio, Finland To Close

At zero zulu on 1 Jan 2010, we will lose yet another coastal station. It's Turku Radio, the only MF/HF station in Finland, callsign OFK.

We've seen this one coming. After all, the operating Finnish Maritime Administration (FMA) has been soliciting suggestions from shippers all year. Also, it recently shifted telemedical services to satellite phones.

Right now, the plans are to sell all equipment at Turku and its remote locations for scrap.

More details are in this posting to the QRZ Newsroom Forum.

Suspected Mexican Military ALE Frequencies

Not all are confirmed, but most are. There are a lot of them. Some are more active than others. There may be other frequencies, higher or lower, that no one's heard.

6200 and 8050 are used in the US by FEMA and the National Guard respectively. It is not known if their presence on the list is due to listener confusion.

9025 is also a busy US Air Force ALE frequency. Dialing instructions for phone patches are passed in the AMD field. Strange though it seems, Mexican activity has also been repeatedly confirmed here.

All kHz, USB unless noted.

4110.0
4550.0
4650.0
5252.0
5260.0
5263.0
5400.0
4650.0
5555.0
5590.0
5620.0
5705.0
6200.0?
6800.0
6955.0
6989.0 LSB
7617.0
7666.0
7670.0
7777.0
7900.0
8000.0
8020.0
8030.0
8045.0
8047.0
8050.0?
8065.0
8084.0
8100.0
8125.0 LSB
8281.0
9020.0 LSB
9025.0
9045.0
9050.0
9060.0
9080.0
9105.0
10135.0
10444.0
10463.0
12840.0
14400.0
14715.0

Thursday, September 17, 2009

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #12 (7000-7500)

What's interesting in this segment is the broadcast use of 41 meters, which changed this spring when a WARC re-allocation went into effect. It appears that some broadcasters are slow moving out of the old segments. Nearly all of the many broadcast intercepts are omitted here, which is why the list is not as long as others.

7000.00 D Beacon A1A
7018.00 Mil? F1B 50 Bd Reversals
7030.00 Radio Belarus A3E Non-Conformity RR.5
7038.70 "D" A1A
7039.00 "C" A1A
7039.10 "A" A1A
7039.40 "M" A1A
7039.77 "P" A1A
7095.00 Unknown(China?) A3E
7122.00 Unid F1B 50 Bd/ Baltic Sea
7148.00 8PNX A1A
7158.00 8PNX A1A
7162.00 8PNX A1A
7298.00 Unid F1B Baudot,500hz,50bd
7299.30 Unid feeder R7B WTK200/FVB 96.70/98.9
7299.30 Unid feeder R7B FAISC 98.90/96.7
7301.30 Unid feeder R7B FAISC 100.9/98.7
7313.00 ? F1B 75 Bd
7319.00 Unid F1B Shift=950Hz, 100Bd
7325.00 Voice Of Russia D7W [DRM]
7333.00 Unid F1B 250hz,100bd
7336.54 Unid A1B CW
7337.00 Unid F7B Intermittent
7361.04 Unid A1B CW
7373.00 Unid F1B 200HZ, 100BD
7376.00 Unid A1B CW
7379.50 JP J3E Bootleg
7392.00 Unid A1A
7394.00 RTZ F2B
7396.91 Unid F3C [Bangkok Meteo?]
7404.60 Unid A1A
7405.00 UZT206 F1B [Msg to ships]
7414.00 Unid J7B 40 Bd FSK-33
7416.00 Mil? F1B 50 and 75 BD
7420.00 BBC D7W [DRM]
7425.00 Unid F1B 500Hz, 100 Bd
7425.00 RFP6 F1B 50 Bd
7430.00 Unid F1B 500Hz, 96BD
7430.00 Mil J1D 2400 BD MS110A1
7430.00 RHT42 F1B 192 Bd
7430.00 Unid F1B 500HZ,96BD (CIS-14)
7433.00 RUK8 F1B 75 Bd
7433.45 HLL2 F3C Weather fax
7435.87 Unid F1B 500HZ, 41BD
7436.00 Unid F1B 200HZ, 50BD
7443.00 Unid F1B Shift=250Hz, 75Bd
7449.75 Unid F1B 100 Baud
7455.00 Unid F1B 850 HZ, 50 BD
7460.00 Radio Romania D7W [DRM]
7469.00 Unid F1B 850HZ,50BD
7480.00 F1B 50 Bd
7480.10 RLC2 F1B 100 Bd
7484.00 RQU2 F1B

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #11 (6500-7000)

6507.00 VMC Charleville J3E Continuous weather
6507.00 Ismail R. J3E In russian
6507.00 Orienburg J3E In russian
6508.99 UWM2 A1A
6514.50 Various J2B Unlicensed net
6520.00 Spanish Fishing J3E SPEECH
6522.00 Unid J3E In russian
6523.40 VCS (Halifax) F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6523.40 CPK (Santa Cruz) F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6529.00 17 Canarias J7D HFDL
6532.00 07 Shannon J7D HFDL
6535.00 Dakar Radio J3E
6535.00 Unid J3E Fisher Boats
6535.00 Canarias J3E
6535.00 06 Hat Yai J7D HFDL
6535.00 Dakar J3E
6537.00 French Fishing J3E SPEECH
6537.00 Spanish Fishing J3E SPEECH
6538.00 8SRV A1A
6539.00 Jean-Michel J3E Fisher boats
6539.06 UWM2 A1A
6543.00 Toulouse Technique J3E
6545.00 Unid J3E Fisher
6550.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6550.00 Unid J3E intruders LSB
6550.00 Unid J3E 2 QSO fishers
6552.00 Unid J3E Fishers
6560.00 Fishing J3E French Language
6570.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6570.50 Unid J3E fishers
6571.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6573.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6575.00 ? J3E Italian Language
6580.00 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6585.00 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6585.10 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6585.25 Many italian statio J3E Intruders LSB
6586.00 KEA5 New York J3E
6588.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6590.00 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6595.00 Unid J3E wobulator
6598.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6600.00 Voice of the people A3E Clandestine?
6600.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6600.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6604.00 VFG Gander Volmet J3E
6604.00 WSY70 New York Volm J3E
6610.00 Unid J3E Fisher Boats
6614.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6617.00 RLAP Rostov Volmet J3E
6617.00 UHD St Petersburg V J3E
6620.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6622.00 Shanwick Radio H3E
6622.00 VFG Gander Radio J3E
6622.00 Fishing J3E
6625.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6628.00 CSY Santa Maria J3E
6628.00 KEA5 New York J3E
6630.00 Paolo J3E intruder LSB
6630.00 Unid J3E Fishers
6631.50 Fernandez J3E Fisher Boats
6635.00 Unid J3E A dutch in France
6635.00 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6635.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6635.00 Spanish Fisherman J3E
6640.00 KEA5 New York Radio J3E
6640.00 many french station J3E intruders LSB
6649.00 Atlantico (Recife) J3E
6650.00 Unid J3E Many Intruders LSB
6655.00 Marcel (Dep 22) J3E
6660.00 Unid J3E Many intruders LSB
6661.00 004 (Riverhead) J1D 1800 BD ARINC HFDL
6662.01 PSA F1A
6666.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6666.60 Spanish Fishing J3E
6667.00 Unid J3E Scrambled Intrud.LSB
6671.50 Unid J3E J? Fisher Boats?
6672.00 French Fishing J3E
6673.00 Dakar J3E
6675.00 Italian Pirate J3E Amateur style
6675.00 Unid J3E Intruders LSB
6676.00 AXQ429 Sydney Volme J3E
6676.00 HSD Bangkok Volmet J3E
6676.00 9VA40 Singapore Vol J3E
6676.00 AWC Kolkata Volmet J3E
6679.00 ZKAK Auckland Volme J3E
6679.00 VRK22 Hongkong Volm J3E
6679.00 JIA Tokyo Volmet J3E
6679.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6680.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6682.50 Unid J3E Fisher Boats
6683.00 Unid J3E fisher
6693.00 RVPE Tyumen Volmet J3E
6693.00 RQCI Samara Volmet J3E
6693.00 Novosibirsk Volmet J3E
6693.00 Syktyvkar Volmet J3E
6696.50 Unid J3E "Open Mike" LSB
6697.00 MKL AMCC Northwood J3E
6697.00 T9R J3E
6697.00 Kinloss rescue J3E
6699.00 Fishing J3E TWO MALES IN QSO
6700.00 German Air force J3E MIL
6700.00 Veilleur J3E
6712.00 AFA Andrews USAF J3E
6712.00 03 Reykjavik J7D HFDL
6712.00 Circus Vert J3E [FAF]
6712.00 RAF Croughton J3E
6712.00 Circus Vert J3E
6712.00 H03 Reykjavik ACARS J7D
6715.00 CROSPR Croughton AB J2B
6715.00 PLASPR Lajes AB J2B
6724.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6730.00 Danish Air Force J3E MIL
6730.00 VOLMET J3E
6730.00 Bernard, André,? J3E Intruders LSB
6733.00 TASCOMM J3E UK Mil
6735.00 Fishermen J3E
6735.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
6739.00 Clg Andrews AFB J3E AIR FORCE GHFS
6740.00 Unid J3E Fishers
6754.00 CHR Trenton Military J3E
6754.00 Gander Radio J3E Meteo
6759.00 MKL F1B
6759.00 Inskip F1B
6765.10 Bangkok meteo. R. J3E wx asia
6767.75 Unid J3E Fisher boats
6768.00 Mil A1A DE CF8Y
6768.00 ZSSK DE CVOG A1A Mil
6768.00 BHZ2 A1A 5 LTR GPS
6775.50 MAE J2B
6775.50 TNS J2B
6780.65 HMA A1A
6784.50 HMA A1A
6785.00 Unid F1B ITA2, 500Hz, 50Bd
6786.00 Unid J7D STANAG
6787.80 Unid J7B MER DU NORD
6795.00 Unid F1B 500HZ, 50BD
6800.00 Unid F7B 10 tones
6801.50 Unid F1B 250HZ,47BD
6805.00 Unid F1B 500Hz, 50Bd
6807.00 4XR86 J7B
6810.00 CNC206 J3E USB
6810.00 UZC A1A
6813.80 Unid F1B ARQ, 170Hz, 46,2Bd
6822.00 French Fishing J3E
6825.00 FAV 22 A1B CW
6828.00 French Fishing J3E
6830.00 Unid F1B 500HZ,100BD
6834.00 GYA F3C UK Weather Fax
6834.00 GZU F3C Northwood
6840.00 EZI2 H3E [E10]
6868.00 Fishing J3E Spanish Language
6870.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6870.00 Unid F1B BAUDOT,500HZ,50BD
6873.00 RMP A1A
6875.00 XDA J7D 125 BD ALE
6878.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6880.00 V A1A Beacon
6895.00 PBC96 J7D
6897.80 F1B PACTOR 2 HAM/1
6904.00 KWT91 J7D 125 BD ALE
6905.00 GYU F1C
6907.00 RGZ57 A1A
6909.70 CU3Z F1B
6912.00 JSR H3E [E10]
6912.45 D7D
6919.50 Unid F1B ALE DE"2DV1"
6921.00 2014 J7D 125 BD ALE
6923.00 RAT25 J7B
6928.00 Unid A1A "V"
6929.55 Beacon Spain A1A
6931.23 A1A FM Q Beacon SP
6935.00 RDH64 F1B 96 BAUDS
6941.00 RAN74 A1A
6955.00 TZSG2 J7D 125 BD ALE
6960.00 Fishing J3E French
6973.00 Galei Tzahal A3E Forces Radio
6978.00 REA4 F1B
6986.00 ART2 H3E [E10]
6988.00 RAT23 J7B
6998.00 DFGP A1A
6998.02 SH7 A1A

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #10 (6000-6500)

6085.00 Ismaning D7W [DRM]
6085.00 Bayerischer Rundfunk D7W [DRM]
6095.00 RTL Radio D7W [DRM]
6095.50 Unid F1B 81-81
6105.00 Voice Of Russia D7W [DRM]
6130.00 BBC & DW D7W [DRM]
6135.00 UFL F1B
6145.00 Voice Of Russia D7W [DRM]
6150.00 Unid A3E [Firedrake?]
6195.00 BBC D7W [DRM]
6206.00 Russian Fishing J3E
6210.00 Radio Border Hunter A3E Pirate
6220.00 Mystery Radio A3E Pirate
6222.40 Ship Stations To VCT F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6224.00 Fishing J3E
6231.00 French Fishing J3E
6240.00 Underground Radio A3E Pirate
6242.00 RGT77 A1A Morse
6244.50 477633500 Ship Garg F1B
6250.50 ? F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6251.00 Fishing J3E
6256.50 WNU (Slidell) F1B Globe
6262.00 RHN85 DE RMP A1A
6270.00 ULX2 H3E [E10]
6310.00 Fishing J3E
6312.00 237 1000 Olympia R. F1D DSC
6312.00 503 0001 Charleville F1D
6312.00 271 1000 Istanbul F1D
6312.00 Fishing J3E In english
6312.01 219 1000 Lyngby R. F1D
6313.57 Eric, Jojo, Bernard J3E French fishers
6314.00 NMF F1B 100 BD SITOR MODE B
6315.00 UFL F1B
6315.99 XSQ F1B
6317.00 WLO (Mobile Radio) F1B Sitor-A
6317.50 NOJ F1B
6318.00 IDR (ROMA) G7D 2400 BD STANAG 4285
6318.00 KLB F1B
6321.50 PVO (AIR FORCE) A1A MORSE
6322.49 UDK2 Murmansk F1B TOR 170Hz 100Bd
6323.50 NMC F1B
6326.00 XSG F1B Shanghai Radio
6327.00 No C/S given (WNU) F1D Globe Wireless
6327.50 KPH F1B Globe
6328.00 No C/S (RDL) F1B 200Hz 50Bd
6330.50 VCT Tors Cove F1B Globe
6330.50 Unid (OSY ?) G1D Sailmail
6333.50 IDR2 G7D 2400 BD STANAG 4285
6334.98 VO Iraqi Kurdistan A3E Clandestine
6340.00 No C/S given F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
6340.50 NMF Boston F3C IOC:576 120rpm
6342.13 RDL Smolensk F1B 50/250
6348.00 FUE Brest F1B
6349.80 FUE (Brest) G7D 2400 BD STANAG 4285
6352.00 SAB Goetborg Radio F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
6355.50 HEC (Berne) F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6358.50 DAO (Kiel Radio) F1B
6358.50 PBC (GOEREE Island) F1B 75 BD ITA2
6358.50 PBB Den Helder F1B QRM by DAO
6362.00 MGJ Faslane F1B Baudot 850Hz 75Bd
6363.00 RGT77 A1A SENDS SHORT MESSAGE
6365.50 FUG (La Regine) F1B 50 BD SECURE
6368.50 HEB Berne R. F1B GLN 200Hz 100Bd
6368.50 No C/S given (KFS) F1B Globewireless
6370.00 ART H3E [E10]
6370.00 JHF H3E [E10]
6377.70 No C/S (COMSUBMAR) F1B 850Hz 75Bd
6379.00 4XZ (Haifa) A1A
6379.50 8PO (Bridgetown) F1B Globe
6382.00 XSQ A1A
6389.00 CTP Lisboa Radio F1B
6390.00 AQP2/4 (Karachi) A1A Morse
6396.00 No C/S given F1D GlobeWireless
6396.00 9HD (MALTA) F1B Globe
6399.00 ZSC (CAPE TOWN) F1B Globe
6410.50 IAR (ROMA) G7D 2400 BD STANAG 4285
6418.00 VTP5 Vishakhapatnam A1A
6420.68 Laser Hot Hits A3E Pirate, Ontario mail drop
6424.50 RDL A1A Slow morse
6425.00 URV9 A1A
6425.50 X991756??/????? A1A [PVO?]
6427.00 VCS (Halifax) F1B Globe
6430.00 A9M (Hamala) F1B Globe
6430.50 VVV VVV VVV VVV A1A
6435.50 DAO Kiel Mail F1B GLN 200Hz 100Bd
6440.00 Spanish Fishing J3E
6454.00 XSG A1A
6456.00 ZLA Awanui Radio F1B GW
6464.00 ZLA (Awanui) F1B GW
6464.00 VIE F1B GW
6467.00 HEC / LFI / 9MG F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
6467.00 VTG (Mumbai) A1A
6470.00 UWS3 Kiev A1A
6470.00 Unid J3E Spx in spanish
6471.00 ED3D J3E Spx in russian
6471.00 WX tchfourka J3E Spx in russian
6471.00 GTQ J3E Spx in russian
6476.00 No C/S given (SAB) F1B GW
6478.00 No C/S given (SAB) F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
6483.00 PBH F1B Baudot 850Hz 75Bd
6483.00 9MR F1B
6483.00 PBB (Den Helder) F1B 75 BD ITA2 1.5 STOP
6485.00 Lincolnshire Poacher J3E [Off air late '09?]
6489.00 Unid F1B 850Hz 75Bd
6492.00 MDVB A1A XXX MDVB 66857 gem..
6493.50 9HD (Malta) F1B 100/200 BD FSK/PSK
6493.50 HEC / LFI / 9MG F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
6496.40 Halifax F1C
6496.50 VXS F1B 850Hz 75Bd
6496.50 Unid J2B
6496.55 CFH (HALIFAX) F1B 75 BD ITA2
6498.00 PCD2 H3E [E10]

Monday, September 14, 2009

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #9 (5500-6000)

It's worth repeating that this data is pretty raw. The monitors have been known to make some pretty wild guesses.

Note the high prevalence of bootleggers on fishing boats in the aero band. This is common, because they don't hear anything and think they've found a dead spot.


5505.00 Shannon VOLMET J3E
5517.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5522.00 Unid J3E fishers
5530.00 Spanish Fishermen J3E
5532.00 OKL Praha Radio J3E
5541.00 SKE25 Stockholm Rad J3E
5544.00 015 (AL MUHARRAQ) J1D 1800 Bd ARINC HFDL
5550.00 OPERACYJNY J7D 125 Bd ALE
5550.00 BXPJANKOVIC J7D 125 Bd ALE
5552.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5553.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5555.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5557.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5559.90 Fishermen J3E
5563.00 Fishermen J3E
5575.00 BOSTAN 6 J2D 100 Bd
5580.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5585.50 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5589.00 017 (TELDE) J1D 1800 Bd ARINC HFDL
5591.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5598.00 Shanwick Radio J3E
5598.00 CSV Santa Maria J3E
5598.00 VFG Gander Radio J3E weak
5598.00 KEA5 New York J3E
5599.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5602.50 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5612.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5616.00 Shanwick Radio J3E
5616.00 VFG Gander Radio J3E
5616.00 KEA5 New York J3E
5616.00 VFG Gander J3E
5618.00 Fishermen J3E Spanish Language
5620.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5622.00 014 Krasnoyarsk HFDL J7D Weak
5625.00 Unid J3E Fishers
5626.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5626.00 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5630.00 Unid J3E Fishers
5630.00 Fishermen J3E
5633.50 Unid J3E Fisher boats
5634.00 Unid J3E Fishers
5639.00 Fishermen J3E
5649.00 Shanwick Radio J3E
5649.00 Iceland Oceanic J3E
5649.00 VFG Gander Radio J3E
5655.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5656.00 Unid J3E fish boats
5665.00 Unid J3E Fishers
5673.00 Unid J3E fisher boats
5675.00 gave position J3E Fisher
5678.00 French Fishermen J3E Non-Conformity RR.5
5679.10 Fishermen J3E
5680.00 Kinloss Rescue J3E
5680.00 Navy 177 J3E
5687.00 DHM91 GAF Münster J3E
5687.00 DHO23 GAF Landsberg J3E
5690.00 Irish aeronaval J3E Aero MIL
5691.00 Kirensk Volmet J3E
5696.00 Seahawk J3E
5703.00 GUA Guam US Air Force J2B
5708.00 JNR Salinas ALE J1B
5708.00 ADW Andrews AFB ALE J2B
5708.00 170028 USAF Tail Num J2B
5708.00 R23574 Helicopter J2B
5708.00 ICZ Sigonella Naval J2B
5708.00 CRO RAF Croughton AL J2B ALE
5708.00 PLA Keflavik NAS ALE J2B
5710.00 French Fishermen J3E
5720.00 003 Reykjavik ACARS J7D
5760.40 FUO (TOULON) G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
5768.00 No C/S given (LFI) F1B GlobeW. 200Hz 100Bd
5804.00 LEZSEE J7D 125 Bd
5820.00 YHF2 H3E [E10]
5831.00 French Fishermen J3E
5857.50 HLL F3C Seoul Meteo
5862.00 P Beacon A1A [MX]
5898.00 ? A3E CLANDESTINE
5916.00 RCV A1A

Friday, September 11, 2009

STS-128 Will Land At EDW Today

NASA has decided upon a landing at Edwards AFB. Deorbit is 2347 UTC, with landing at 0053 UTC. The ground track crosses the California coast near Santa Barbara. There may be sonic booms in the area.

STS-128 First Landing Opp Waved Off

The weather forecast is "no go" today for Friday’s first landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If the weather cooperates for the second Kennedy landing opportunity, the deorbit burn would occur at 6:17 p.m. EDT (2217 UTC), with landing at 7:23 p.m. (2323 UTC). Weather does not look good, however.

Since weather for Edwards AFB is OK today but predicted to deteriorate tomorrow, odds are good for an Edwards landing today.

CNN Blabs Misunderstood Scanner Traffic, Causes A Small Flap In DC

People... you CAN'T put scanner intercepts on the air.

(1) It's illegal.

(2) You don't have the big picture.

(3) If it happens often enough, agencies will all encrypt their communications. This will solve the problem, but also make information gathering a lot harder for people who know the law and the responsibility not to go yakking everything they hear.

Apparently, what happened was that US Coast Guard had a radio drill today. Now, perhaps 9/11 was not the best day to do this. I'm sure this will cause some meetings somewhere.

Someone at CNN heard a couple of transmissions out of context on a scanner, and went right onto the air with the story that 10 rounds had been fired at a boat on the Potomac. Reuters picked it up and called it a "high security incident."

Soon enough, they found out that the "shots" had consisted of a radio operator saying bang, bang, bang. Really. Like kids playing war.

CNN did not apologize, but Fox totally ripped them for it. And CNN deserves it. Wouldn't it have been simpler to listen a little longer and hear what other agencies were saying, if anything?

USCG might want to start and end such exercise transmissions with "Drill" from now on. Some fire departments do that.

Now, back to HF.

Remember 9/11

Remember 9/11.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

STS-128 Won't Land Today

NASA waved off the second landing attempt 8 minutes before the deorbit burn would have begun. Weather. There are more opportunities tomorrow at KSC and Edwards AFB. KSC opportunities come on orbits 217 and 218. It is not yet known if the NASA facility at Edwards will be activated.

STS-128 Waved Off 1st Landing

Second opportunity an orbit later, which would lead to a landing at 8:40 PM Eastern. The weather does not look any better for this time either.

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #8 (4800-5500)

4807.00 RCE53 F7B 100 Bd
4812.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4826.00 A5FW A1A Tactical C/S
4826.00 J9HV A1A Tactical C/S
4826.00 DCLA A1A Tactical C/S
4828.00 P Kaliningrad SLHFB A1A [MX]
4829.00 C6LN DE 6MEI A1A Tac c/s
4847.00 Warszawa1 J2B
4847.80 IEA F1B
4852.00 ? J7D 120 Bd 13 VFT
4855.00 Numbers A1A Number Groups
4865.00 NATO B7D Link-11
4874.00 TXX DE TYME2 J7D 125 Bd ALE
4880.00 ULX2 H3E USB [E10]
4885.00 Fishermen J3E
4885.00 RCY A1A
4899.00 -P- A1A [MX?]
4905.00 Fishermen J3E
4940.47 USJ39 A1A
4952.00 ? B7D Link-11
5000.00 BPM A9W Time Standard w/data
5000.00 BSF A9W Time Standard w/data
5000.00 HLA A9W Time Standard w/data
4996.00 RWM A1B Time signal
5000.00 WWV A9W Time Standard w/data
5000.00 WWVH A9W Time Standard w/data
5007.00 KSHK DE 47R3 J3E Tac c/s
5022.00 RWW74 F1B 50 Baud
5050.00 PBA J7B
5051.00 Fishermen J3E
5055.00 RDS64 F1B 96 Bd
5056.00 Mil J7D Link-11
5071.00 Mil J7D Link-11
5072.00 EUH56 F1B 81 Bd
5077.50 No C/S given (WNU) F1B GlobeW. 200Hz 100Bd
5077.50 VCS (HALIFAX) F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
5078.00 WECF A1A Tac c/s
5078.00 GMLO A1A Tac c/s
5078.00 No C/S given A1A Calling HJKN, HJKR,
5080.00 RDZ4 F1B 100 Bd
5086.00 RMP A1A
5097.00 CFH (Halifax) F1B 75 Bd ITA2 1.5 STOP
5099.00 Bergen J7D Link-11
5100.00 UVB211 F1B
5111.00 P A1A
5115.00 IRC41 R7B FAISC. 15.7/18.3
5117.00 RRQ7 F1B 75 Bd
5121.50 No C/S given (WNU) F1B GlobeW. 200Hz 100Bd
5150.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
5153.70 "D" A1B CW [MX cluster]
5153.80 Beacon Kaliningrad A1B "P" CW [MX cluster]
5153.90 S Beacon A1A Morse [MX cluster]
5154.00 FPF5 A1A
5154.00 C Beacon A1A Morse [MX cluster]
5154.10 Q Beacon A1A Morse ???????
5154.10 "A" A1B [MX cluster]
5162.00 PBC5 J7B
5162.00 PBC5 J3E
5170.00 VLB2 H3E [E10]
5170.00 PCD H3E [E10]
5171.00 Mil J7D Link-11
5188.50 2SCH A1A Tac c/s
5190.00 RLE5 F1B
5195.00 MUY F1B 45 Bd
5195.00 DRA5 (DARC Bcn, Kiel) A1A Morse
5200.00 FDI22 (Narbonne) A1A Morse
5217.50 FUG G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
5230.00 YLX2 H3E [E10]H
5233.00 Fishermen J3E
5234.50 Fishermen J3E
5246.00 UVB224 F1B 81 Bd
5248.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
5252.00 ? A1A 5 Figure Groups
5254.00 Fishermen J3E
5255.00 Fishermen J3E
5272.00 RSV70 F1B 200 Bd
5281.00 CIMEL1 J2D 100 Bd
5286.50 JQDF A1A SIMPLEX TACTICAL NET
5289.40 SHIP STATIONS F1B 100 Bd GW-FSK
5295.00 SHIP STATIONS F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
5295.00 SHIP STATIONS F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
5296.50 F1B
5305.50 RCM42 F1B 50 Bd - Intermitt
5307.00 Fishermen J3E
5315.00 SAB Goteborg Radio F1B GW-FSK 100Bd
5319.00 UVO78 F1B Battement
5324.00 FDI R3E USB Pour Reglage
5325.00 RND79 F1B 100 Bd
5325.00 RCW75 F1C
5337.50 RND78 R7B
5339.00 ABC R3E USB [E10 test?]
5342.00 V Beacon A1A
5345.00 Fishermen J3E
5350.00 RRR37 F1B 47 Bd
5355.00 Fishermen J3E
5363.60 OVK J7B
5370.20 RWV73 F1B 100 Bd
5380.00 Spanish Fishermen J3E
5388.00 SAB (Goteborg) F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
5398.50 G3PLX J3E
5402.49 Unid A1A PVO Russian Air Defense Traffic
5406.00 French Fishermen J3E
5412.50 US Navy F1B 50 Bd
5421.00 Ship Stations F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
5421.00 ? J3E Speech
5430.00 ? J7D Link-11
5433.00 No C/S given (SAB) F1D Globewireless
5433.00 SDV4 F1B 100 Bd
5433.00 RLT7 F1B 75 Bd
5435.00 ART H3E [E10]
5435.00 ART2 H3E [E10]
5435.00 PCD2 H3E [E10]
5448.00 Unid A7D "PIP"
5448.00 EZB40 A3E Tonalite/Chiffres
5450.00 GZE J3E
5450.00 RAF VOLMET J3E
5454.00 Spanish Fishermen J3E
5466.00 R Beacon A1A MORSE
5473.00 RIT (Severomorsk) A1A Duplex Wkg RCQ47
5480.00 Unid J3E

STS-128 Closes Doors

While weather does not look good for a landing at KSC today, Discovery was still given a go to close the payload bay doors. This enables an early landing if the weather somehow improves.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

IMPORTANT -- Correction to September Column

ZCZC
PRIORITY
TO ALL STATIONS =

The September, 2009 Utility World contains one huge mistake in the biography of Walter Kendall Myers, the 72 year old retired State Department expert accused of spying for Cuba.

Please ignore the part where it says that Myers was a foreign policy expert at the beginning of World War II. As those who did the arithmetic already know, that means he would have been two years old.

Myers did write A Rationale for Appeasement, but it was his doctoral dissertation in 1972. Sorry about that. Pretty embarrassing. =
AR
NNNN

Friday, August 28, 2009

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #7 (4500-4800)

4504.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4505.00 Fishermen J3E
4505.50 DHJ67 G.A.F. German J3E MIL
4511.50 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4511.50 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4518.50 LZW (VARNA R) A1A
4520.00 Sea Surv. Radar P0N
4520.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4521.00 RGO73 F1B 81 Bd
4525.00 ? F1B 100 Bd Reversals
4528.00 Mil J7D Link-11
4530.00 ? F1B Reversals
4530.00 Mil J7D Link-11
4530.00 ? F1B Reversals
4531.00 Mil J7D Link-11
4534.00 FDG2 J3E USB
4534.50 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4540.50 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4544.00 Mil J7D Link-11
4545.00 Fishermen J3E
4550.00 ? F1B 50 Bd
4553.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4555.20 GCG Cuxhaven F1B 100 Bd SITOR MODE A
4557.70 D Beacon A1A [MX cluster]
4557.80 P Beacon A1A [MX cluster]
4557.90 S Beacon A1A [MX cluster]
4558.00 "C" A1B [MX cluster]
4558.00 GTMN A1A Tac c/s
4558.10 A Beacon A1A [MX cluster]
4558.30 RLB27 R7B WTK 200
4559.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4559.98 YHF2 R3E USB [E10]
4560.00 TAH F1B
4560.00 YHF2 R3E USB [E10]
4560.00 RKR74 F1B
4560.00 YMA35 F1C
4560.00 TAH F1B 170Hz, 100Bd
4565.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4565.00 GXQ J7B
4566.40 CPK (Santa Cruz) F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
4566.40 VCT (GW, Tors Cove) F1B 100/200 Bd FSK/PSK
4567.00 Fishermen J3E
4578.00 IDN G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4578.10 IHJ21 J7B
4583.00 DDK2 (Hamburg) F1B 50/75 Bd ITA2 Meteo
4587.00 F1B
4591.80 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4601.40 GYA F1C WEATHER FAX
4601.50 22 F1B IRL-ARMY
4610.00 GYA22 F3C Northwood FAX
4616.00 BMF F3C Taipei Meteo FAX
4620.00 MKL AMCC Northwood J3E
4625.00 UZB76 B7D Data Modem
4633.50 D5PP A1A Tac c/s
4638.80 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4640.00 Fishermen J3E
4644.80 FUO G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4645.00 Tallinn Volmet J3E QRM by J2D
4645.00 FDE26 J7B STANAG
4648.00 SYN2 H3E [E10]
4650.00 Fishing J3E
4652.00 ? J7D Link-11
4658.70 Mil G7D 2400 STANAG 4285
4660.50 Fishing J3E Fisher Boats
4661.00 Fishing J3E Fisher boats
4663.00 Khabarovsk Meteo J3E
4664.00 Fishing J3E Fisher boats
4666.00 Fishermen J3E
4670.00 Fishing J3E
4670.00 Fishing? J9W Scrambled
4670.00 Fishing J3E Singing in Spanish
4670.00 Fishermen J3E Italian Language
4672.00 St Petersburg J3E
4675.00 TFW Iceland Radio SE H2B Selcal +1Hz
4675.00 Shanwick Radio J3E
4675.00 VFG Gander Radio J3E
4675.00 Bodo J3E
4680.00 ARINC J1D 1800 Bd ARINC HFDL
4680.00 Fishermen J3E
4700.00 I-1-F J3E
4703.00 Danish Air Force J3E
4703.00 German Air Force J3E MIL
4712.50 Mil F7B 100 Bd
4720.00 Fishing J3E Fish Boats
4721.00 Fishing J9W Scrambled
4724.00 AFA USAF Andrews J3E
4732.00 MKL F1B
4737.25 Fishing J3E
4742.00 Architect J3E UK Mil?
4742.00 1-M-V J3E MIL
4742.00 TaskCom J3E
4744.50 J??T - J3E MIL
4760.00 9-Y-I J3E MIL
4766.50 Fishing J3E
4767.00 Fishing J3E
4769.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4770.00 UDB F1B
4772.00 ? J7D Link-11
4774.00 Fishermen J3E
4775.03 FDY A1A
4780.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4784.00 TWL J7D MIL-188-141A ALE
4791.80 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4799.00 OZB3 A1A Tactical c/s Rus Mil

STS-128 Is On Orbit

3rd time is the charm. The BRV's should be heading in with the spent solid boosters any time now.

STS-128 WX Still Go

20 minutes left in the built in T-9 hold, still on schedule for a launch at 0359 UTC.

STS-128 On Schedule

The crew has entered the vehicle. Launch time remains 11:59 PM EDT (0359 UTC). Weather is, to quote NASA, "Trending in the wrong direction." Lots of popup thunderstorms, though so far none close enough to cause launch constraints.

Air Recon Taskings for 8/29

000
NOUS42 KNHC 281415
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NTIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1015 AM EDT FRI 28 AUGUST 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 29/1100Z TO 30/1100Z AUGUST 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-092

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM DANNY
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 70
A. 29/1800Z, 30/0000Z
B. AFXXX 1005A DANNY
C. 29/1430Z
D. 38.5N 72.5W
E. 29/1700Z TO 29/2330Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

3. REMARKS: G-IV FLIGHT FOR 29/0000Z CANCELED
BY NHC AT 28/1130Z.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE.
JWP

STS-128 On Schedule

Tanking is going smoothly for tonight's launch of Discovery. Despite a rather threatening sky, the prediction is that weather will allow a 60% chance of launching. If so, the time is 11:59 PM EDT (0359 UTC).

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Air Recon Taskings for 8/27-28

000
NOUS42 KNHC 261745
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NTIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
0145 PM EDT WED 26 AUGUST 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 27/1100Z TO 28/1100Z AUGUST 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-090

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM DANNY
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 70
A. 27/1800Z
B. AFXXX 0505A DANNY
C. 27/1430Z
D. 27.4N 74.1W
E. 27/1700Z TO 27/2130Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO - NOAA 49
A. 28/0000Z
B. NOAA9 0605A DANNY
C. 27/1730Z
D. NA
E. NA
F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT

FLIGHT THREE - TEAL 71
A. 28/0600Z
B. AFXXX 0704A CYCLONE
C. 28/0230Z
D. 29.1N 74.8W
E. 28/0500Z TO 28/0930Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY: 6-HRLY FIXES
BEGINNING AT 28/1800Z.

3. REMARKS: NOAA WILL CONTINUE FLYING RESEARCH MISSIONS
EVER 12 HRS ON DANNY THROUGH 28/0800Z.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE.
JWP


==========

000
NOUS42 KNHC 271415
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NTIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1015 AM EDT THU 27 AUGUST 2009
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 28/1100Z TO 29/1100Z AUGUST 2009
TCPOD NUMBER.....09-091

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL STORM DANNY
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 70
A. 28/1800Z, 29/0000Z
B. AFXXX 0805A DANNY
C. 28/1515Z
D. 31.8N 74.4W
E. 28/1700Z TO 29/0001Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO - NOAA 49
A. 29/0000Z
B. NOAA9 0905A DANNY
C. 28/1730Z
D. NA
E. NA
F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT

FLIGHT THREE - TEAL 71
A. 29/0600Z, 1200Z
B. AFXXX 1005A CYCLONE
C. 29/0245Z
D. 35.1N 73.3W
E. 29/0500Z TO 29/1200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY: CONTINUE 6-HRLY FIXES.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE.
JWP

STS-128 Launch Set for 8/28, 0359 UTC

NASA is still trying to figure out what happened with the valve during tanking. The new launch target is just before midnight Friday.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

STS-128 Scrubs Again

NASA has scrubbed today's STS-128 launch for a bad valve found during tanking. No new launch target has been set, pending review of the situation.

Presumably a 24-hour turnaround would put it around 12:50 AM EDT on Thursday, but that's all speculation on my part. Nothing has been announced.

STS-128 Is Go for Tanking

Mission Management Team has decided to try, try again. Today's weather has a 70% chance of allowing launch at 1:10 AM EDT on Wednesday (0510 UTC). 10780 and 6751 kHz USB will be worth checking as we get closer.

ITU Monitoring Database Extract #6 (4300-4500)

4304.20 Mil G7D STANAG 4285 in bursts
4306.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4307.80 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4312.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4312.00 (OSN54) G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4316.80 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4317.90 DHS US COAST GUARD F1C Meteo Fax 120 RPM
4319.12 P F1A shift 250 Hz
4322.00 MGJ Faslane F1B
4322.00 MGJ J7B
4322.01 GYA F1B
4325.00 FUE (Brest) F1B 50 Bd
4325.78 R A1A Bcn?
4330.00 4XZ (Haifa) A1A
4331.00 4XZ (Haifa) A1A Morse
4338.00 FUE (Brest) F1B 50 Bd
4338.00 LFI Rogaland F1B
4347.00 No C/S given (SAB) F1B GW 200Hz 100Bd
4347.00 Spanish Fishermen J3E
4347.50 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4352.40 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4353.00 ? J7D 120 Bd MS5
4355.70 Unid J3E
4363.00 Fishermen J3E
4363.00 3AC Monaco Radio J3E
4369.00 WLO Mobile J3E Patch?
4370.00 Unidentified J1B piccolo
4372.00 ZAV Vlorë Radio J3E
4373.00 Unidentified J3E LSB in russian
4376.00 DKNS A1A Tac c/s
4376.40 No C/S given (8PO) F1B GlobeW. 200Hz 100Bd
4380.00 Izmail R. J3E Btwn 2 chan.
4380.00 Fishermen J3E
4380.00 No C/S J3E in russian
4384.00 Unidentified J3E Simplex in french
4387.00 RMP Kaliningrad A1A Cw
4388.00 "Paul" J3E Spx (local lang.)
4388.00 Unidentified J3E In english
4390.00 J3E in russian
4392.00 Spanish Fishermen J3E
4403.40 ? G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4411.00 Murmansk R. J3E in Russian
4411.00 Russia J7D IDLING MS5
4419.00 Unidentified J3E Simplex in Dutch
4421.00 MVH5 A1A Tac c/s
4424.40 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4426.00 Canadian CG J3E St Johns Coast Guard
4430.00 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4438.00 J7D MS5
4438.81 ? F1B ARQ
4447.00 SNN299 F1B 75 Baud
4450.00 RTV2 F1B 75 Baud
4455.80 FUB F1B 220 Baud
4455.80 ? F1B ARQ-E Betas
4456.00 Unid A1A Number Groups
4458.00 F1B 40.5 Bd
4460.00 Fishermen J3E
4461.00 FTJ2 H3E [E10]
4465.00 RLA55 F7B 50 Baud
4466.00 F1B 50 Bd
4466.70 Mil G7D 2400 Baud Data Modem
4469.00 Mil J7D Link-11
4475.00 ? F1B 50 Bd Reversals
4476.00 P A1A [MX]
4479.98 Mil G7D 2400 Bd STANAG 4285
4480.00 Fishermen J3E
4480.00 ? J7D MS5
4483.20 SVJ4 F1C Meteo Fax
4487.40 ? G1D Simplex Network
4490.00 ? F1B 100 Bd Reversals