The HF "Wild West": 6900 - 7000khz

[kc2asb]

More experienced listeners are almost certainly aware of this segment, but worth repeating anyway for newcomers. If you are looking for something different on the HF bands, tune across this segment in the evening, especially Friday/Saturday/Sunday. There are numerous pirates broadcasting stations that pop up for an hour or two broadcast, sometimes less. Generally, they broadcast in USB mode, but often AM mode as well. Lots of wild, original content and a great variety of music Often-used frequencies are 6925, 6935, 6950, 6960 and 6975. Also check 6850 too.

If you tune across this segment in LSB, you might hear outbanders and fishermen communicating with each other.

Just an FYI

 

[jwt873]

Yep... If I'm home in the evening on the weekend, I usually take a spin around those frequencies. Some of the pirates also send slow scan TV images during their broadcasts. I usually have the MMSTV SSTV decoder running on my computer while I listen.

 

[kc2asb]

Nice! I forgot about the SSTV images. Pirates are a lot of fun to chase. A number of these pirates put a lot of thought into their broadcasts, even choosing a music line-up that fits a certain theme and asking listeners to identify it. Most will also provide an email address and send an E-QSL card in response to accurate reception reports.

It's also worth mentioning that holidays like Halloween, Xmas and New Year's tend to be a hotbed of pirate activity

 

[Boombox]

Also, if you have good propagation to Asia in the mornings, Indonesian pirate hams hang out in that section of the 40 Meter band, or thereabouts. 6950-7040 or so is the swath where they can be heard here on the West Coast in the morning hours, talking and/or having their 'my radio gets out more than yours' contests (where, on cue, they all chant their names or handles all at once, while another guy records it, and then plays it back).

 

[ka3jjz]

Look at the HF Underground forms for notices about activity. And while the range the OP mentioned is frequently used, there are others as well

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Here's the link to the forums - in the words of an old friend who passed some time ago - if one were to know such things.....

HFU HF Underground - Index

HFU HF Underground - Index

www.hfunderground.com

Mike

 

[kc2asb]

Also, if you have good propagation to Asia in the mornings, Indonesian pirate hams hang out in that section of the 40 Meter band, or thereabouts. 6950-7040 or so is the swath where they can be heard here on the West Coast in the morning hours, talking and/or having their 'my radio gets out more than yours' contests (where, on cue, they all chant their names or handles all at once, while another guy records it, and then plays it back).

Interesting! Sounds like a better organized version of the Ch 6 "Superbowl"

 

[kc2asb]

Look at the HF Underground forms for notices about activity. And while the range the OP mentioned is frequently used, there are others as well

Mike

I frequently check HFU as that group seems to be on top of every station that signs on, with some users providing very detailed, up to the minute logs