2023 VHF Low Band Logs

[Dispatrick]

Right - and the freebanders, for the most part, stay below 28 MHz. For the most part anyway. I’ve actually only heard a handful of freebander activity in the “sliver” between 29.700 and 30.000 MHz, and that was French language chatter (very well could have been French Canadian) on 29.825 MHz AM, 29.875 MHz AM, 29.885 MHz AM, 29.905 MHz AM and 29.915 MHz AM.

From a practical standpoint, it makes sense that most freeband chatter is in the 26-28 MHz range. You’d have to re-tune your antenna (in the case of most CB/11m antennas anyway) to operate above 29.7, and you’d then be forced to stay up there, vs. being able to go back down to the regular CB band.



Awesome catch. The traffic signal control data signals can’t be running too much power, as has been mentioned.

For my part, the band was alive today with a lot of CHP signals coming in on 39 MHz. At points it almost seemed like every 20 kHz there was traffic. I captured most of the 39 MHz activity on video, I haven’t gotten around to writing all the freqs and tones down yet. Some activity on 42 MHz as well.

40.670 MHz and 40.530 MHz both very busy with basically non-stop data bursts. Some very strong ISM signals on 40.66-40.70 MHz mixing in. 11m and CB were, of course, super wide open. Lots of AM and FM activity on 10m too.

Lots of CHP activity here into NJ all day as well!

 

[KF4ZTO]

You'll also find some survivalists, mostly NBFM, but some packet, in the 25.100 to 26.500 spectrum.

Transmissions are short, direct, and then they are gone. They also appear to use packet as means to transmit lists and messages.

The image is from a printout of a transmission received at 10:22A Eastern time, Friday, April 10, 2020, on the frequency of 26.312500 MHz, narrow band FM.

They seem to stay off direct frequencies like 26.21, 26.31, 26.41, and opt for something a tad off the mark. I assume that they know there are still a few broadcast facilities which use the 26 MHz channels for RPU.

Another thing I've found is that if they are on 26.312500 today, there's a good chance they won't be on it anytime soon. But I've not figured out their algorithm for selecting frequencies by the day. They have to have a plan of some sort, unless they are scanning 50 or so channels.

View attachment 134392

seems like they’re using either 25 kHz/12.5 kHz channel steps (so for example 26.3125 MHz, 26.3375 MHz, 26.3625 MHz, 25.7375 MHz, 26.9625 MHz, 26.1125 MHz, 26.4875 MHz, 26.2125 MHz, and so on…they’re using 10 kHz channels steps with offsets (so instead of 26.31 MHz, they’re using 26.3125 MHz…instead of 25.45 MHz, they use 25.4525 MHz, and so on. If that’s the case, many of the frequencies would “match” and 12.5 kHz band plan. It also gives them a nice offset to reduce any potential QRM from freebanders (who are almost always using frequencies ending in 5 - 25.615 MHz, 26.375 MHz, 25.845 MHz, and so on). I can tell you that 25.910 MHz FM, 25.950 MHz FM and 25.990 MHz are still used, 25.95 MHz FM for WBAP is the one I hear the most out of any of them though.

I’m sure they have an off-the-air frequency-of-the-day codebook or another type of one time pad. 25.1 to 26.1 MHz at 25 kHz steps is 40 channels. Break it into 12.5 kHz steps and you’re looking at 80. (It’s 40 channels per MHz at 25 kHz steps).

I bet there’s a lot more of this than folks realize. I’m sure they’re using other parts of HF as well as 11m.

 

[reconrider8]

ill have to throw the lowband whip on my car tomm and see what i can get here in eastern nc

 

[Kitn1mcc]

Right now just mobiles. I'm waiting for the F.C.C. to clear the base license, which the coordinator says could take up to 3 months!

I hope it a shorter time since good weather means making money time. Right now, it's 33-degrees outside and a little tough to work. If I'm too cold, I ain't asking someone else to work, so winter is our prep and indoor building time. I have (5) mobiles right now, (3) frequencies 29.7300, 29.7500, and 29.7700 w/ctcss. Typically on 29.7500, but use .7300 or .7700 if the marauding hordes of freebanders are present. Transmissions are mostly staging, or equipment coordination. New license as of last year. Previously used itinerant frequencies, but had issues with what I believe was Canadian maritime operations.

Its weird it is taking them longer to clear the base. When i set up some VHF channels the base and mobiles al got the ok at the same time

 

[Kitn1mcc]

may want to put 42.96 in the listen may hear a couple of us one drive time home from ct

 

[W8HDU]

Its weird it is taking them longer to clear the base. When i set up some VHF channels the base and mobiles al got the ok at the same time

The mobile license was granted in a week. This has been since mid December 2022. The Coordinator told me it could take anywhere from a week to several months. Doesn't please me, but I work with the F.C.C. on the broadcast side and sometimes the wheels in Washington seem to slow for no apparent reason. I just hope it comes though soon as I have some jobs on the books.

The Itinerant license sailed thru fine. Oh well.

 

[W8UU]

The mobile license was granted in a week. This has been since mid December 2022. The Coordinator told me it could take anywhere from a week to several months.

If you're above Line A (which a lot of northern Ohio is) you'll have to deal with Canada on frequency coordination and licensing. That's the single biggest headache for base stations within 100 air miles or so of the border.

Out of curiosity, how do those 29 MHz channels work out for you? the FCC database says they're almost empty now from coast to coast but that doesn't mean you don't have people operating on expired licenses or illegal freeband use issues.

 

[W8HDU]

If you're above Line A (which a lot of northern Ohio is) you'll have to deal with Canada on frequency coordination and licensing. That's the single biggest headache for base stations within 100 air miles or so of the border.

Yeah, I went through that on the original app, and it was cleared for both mobile and base. The only problem I would have had would have been operation in SE Michigan, but I do very little there and the terrain issues are not a factor. When I'm up there I use the itinerant license, VHF for road ops, and UHF in the field.

Out of curiosity, how do those 29 MHz channels work out for you?

They work out generally well, in two applications. The first is while on the road in hilly regions where contact is needed for a dozen miles or so. The other is in dense growth woods, especially Pine and Spruce. Some of the areas where I've worked which are dense, the UHF radios get about 1/4 mile at best, and are not dependable. The LB radios punch out better so if I'm in the woods and a truck is coming in, they can call ahead and we can get staged. The VHF HB radios are good for caravans and general purpose as well. They are probably the best performer over water path. The antenna for the LB radios are generally steel whips, while on the pickup truck it's a Larsen roof mount.

 

[KF4ZTO]

The band is still wide open today 16 January 2023.

36.600 MHz FM Morse ID - YSD “YSD” - according to previous posts in this thread, CYSD Suffield Heliport, Alberta Canada AB Canada CYSD 36.600 beacon radionavigation beacon. This is a new one for me.

unfortunately one of my neighbors seems to have something that is now spewing wideband RF noise centered at roughly 31.2 or 31.3 MHz…it’s full scale and makes listening to ~28 to ~34 MHz basically impossible. Moving two blocks away fixes that issue but is a bit of a disappointment.

anyway, I managed to catch a video of this one as well, 36.600 FM “YSD” in Morse code followed by a tone burst. 36.600 MHz FM Morse ID - YSD “YSD” - according to previous posts in this thread, CYSD Suffield Heliport, Alberta Canada AB Canada CYSD 36.600 beacon radionavigation beacon. This is a new one for me.

 

[W8HDU]

Lowband can be a ball when it's open. The band must be open today, as I had a call from an SWL in Ontario. I was taking a truck in for service and used the radio to see if they guy picking me up from the dealership was on their way over. We talked for about 3 minutes.

When I got back to the office there was a message from the SWL. I assume he got the phone info from the license, or the internet. Anyway, pleasant fellow, just happened to hear both myself and Jimmy. Second time this has happened since I got the mobiles. I'll send him a QSL card tomorrow. I had some made up just for this occasion. Never hurts to thank someone when they make the effort to let you know.

Wish I wasn't working. I bet 6 meters was open to the NW and up into NY, CT, VT etc. I'd love to be home on the beam working DX.

 

[W8HDU]

Correction on the above, last line. Strike NW and make that NE. Looks like stuff from Cleveland OH, Buffalo NY, and even Albany NY will be in the works for this evening. The picture below is what TV DX was like at noon today. All UHF TV stations received here in Allen County OH. Pretty wide swath of reception too off a UHF corner reflector at 70' pointed north.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

The mobile license was granted in a week. This has been since mid December 2022. The Coordinator told me it could take anywhere from a week to several months. Doesn't please me, but I work with the F.C.C. on the broadcast side and sometimes the wheels in Washington seem to slow for no apparent reason. I just hope it comes though soon as I have some jobs on the books.

The Itinerant license sailed thru fine. Oh well.

Ohh did take a look at your Licenses on the ULS it seems like they did the base as a attachment.

What are you guys running for actual radios

 

[W8HDU]

Ohh did take a look at your Licenses on the ULS it seems like they did the base as a attachment.
What are you guys running for actual radios

I'm not seeing the base on the license. ULS has only the application, still parked as "Pending". Hopefully it comes up soon. That attachment you mention may be the modification as the mobiles came first then the base was added in December. Getting this base application completed was a Charlie-Foxtrot to start, and now we're still Pending.

Running Motorola MaxTrac. Antennas are either steel whips or Larsen LSN-NMO27B. I have some Motorola Syntors in the shop, which are on the old frequency, but I'm not sure if I'll go looking for more MaxTracs or convert the old radios.

EDIT: Just checked the ULS and the last authorization was 08/23/2022. That was the grant for the mobiles. No joy in baseville.

 

[W8UU]

If you can find them, Motorola CDM 750s are newer than the MaxTracs and are really robust. The 4 channel version ought to cover you, but if not, the CDM 1250 will do the trick. I also highly recommend the Kenwood TK-690 series. Biggest issue is that bandsplit that covers 29.7 MHz. Probably the rarest one out there from any manufacturer. There were some GE MLS radios in the 29.7 to 42 MHz bandsplit on eBay recently but it can be hard to find someone who can program those units. Good radios, though. I own several of them.

 

[radionx]

AM modulation in 2022? I wonder what kit they are running.

I saw freeband CB Kits in Puerto Madryn in use (Taxis), Argentinia. A Superstar CB.

 

[marvinsuggs]

Right now just mobiles. I'm waiting for the F.C.C. to clear the base license, which the coordinator says could take up to 3 months!

I hope it a shorter time since good weather means making money time. Right now, it's 33-degrees outside and a little tough to work. If I'm too cold, I ain't asking someone else to work, so winter is our prep and indoor building time. I have (5) mobiles right now, (3) frequencies 29.7300, 29.7500, and 29.7700 w/ctcss. Typically on 29.7500, but use .7300 or .7700 if the marauding hordes of freebanders are present. Transmissions are mostly staging, or equipment coordination. New license as of last year. Previously used itinerant frequencies, but had issues with what I believe was Canadian maritime operations.

Wow that's really cool! I have a friend in Tennessee that's setting up a low band repeater for his HVAC company.

 

[RadioComm]

CHP heard here in Orange County, NY on 39.220, 39.400, 39.880 and 42.120 all day yesterday. Uniden BCT 15 and a Diamond Discone at 20ft.

 

[misterpaul71]

Guys, anyone know what military range in the US is on 32.650 - a few bits and pieces on that freq today as well as this grid ref: "AB 0004 Grid 2485 - 8045" I got suggestions on twitter that there are ranges in NM, NV, KS on there. I don't think I'd be hearing western states at the moment. Maybe KS or some other that wasnt suggested - any ideas anyone?

 

[cx4storm]

31.000 MHz FM - China/Hong Kong Chinese 27.5-39.5 MHz HF and VHF-low Fishery Marine Band FM Fishing Radio

CB - HFUnderground

www.hfunderground.com

 

[freqs]

CHP heard here in Orange County, NY on 39.220, 39.400, 39.880 and 42.120 all day yesterday. Uniden BCT 15 and a Diamond Discone at 20ft.

yes as well here in Michigan on Sunday CHP was comming in strong