11 meters 26 OCT 2021

[ChrisSmolinski]

1015 UTC: Locals on ch 12 AM, maybe some weak DX on Ch 6.
1352 Now starting to get some DX, seems to be from Latin America.

[R4002]

First tuned in at 1330 UTC - this is on the W3HFU KiwiSDR - the one with the 11 meter dipole antenna.

Some SSB activity on CB channel 36 LSB 27.365 MHz LSB, some AM voice on channel 40.

Somebody doing radio checks on CB channel 31 AM 27.315 MHz AM at 1330 UTC.

Truckers or other business type comms now on CB channel 1 26.965 MHz AM - 1332 UTC

"I'll take the 2A..." "doesn't have to be this route" "yeah, yeah, just bring that ticket down and we'll switch it out when you get back or when you get back down this way...another line is coming back up this way"

"they waited for all the rain and now they want off?"

CB channel 1 seems to be a local business user channel, at least at the moment. 

At 1334 UTC, switched up to CB channel 19 AM 27.185 MHz AM...sounds like local trucker and highway traffic (as to be expected on 27.185 MHz).  Noted signals coming in on 27.025 and 27.085 as well as 27.065, possibly indicating a band opening may be in the works for today. 

1336 UTC - series of FSK bursts started up on CH 23 - 27.255 MHz - continued for about 90-120 seconds, ended with four bursts in very rapid sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dehxg4qXHH8 

27.255 MHz FSK AFSK Data Bursts Datalink Part 95 Subpart C RCRS CB Channel 23 Telemetry Telecommand

1353 UTC - the same FSK bursts that were noted about 20 minutes ago on frequency 27255 - appears to be the same system (same waveform on the waterfall display, same FSK characteristics - I guess its AFSK or audio frequency shift keying).  I was able to get a quick video of the previous FSK data link signal data bursts on 27.255 MHz and that's on YouTube. There is no audio unfortunately.  See video link above

[R4002]

Starting at 1415 UTC:

25625 AM 25.625 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch - Spanish language, YL dispatcher reading numbers
25695 AM 25.695 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch - Spanish language, OM dispatcher or radio taxi on channel at 1416 UTC

27665 USB 27.665 MHz USB - Busy frequency, Spanish speaking 11 meters activity
27755 AM 27.755 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch, SIO 555 !!! - YL dispatcher with multiple tone beep at end of transmission
27765 LSB 27.765 MHz LSB - Spanish language, freebanders having a QSO
27765 AM 27.765 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch - Spanish language YL dispatcher with end of transmission burst
27785 AM 27.785 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch - Spanish language YL dispatcher with single tone Roger Beep
27815 AM 27.815 MHz AM - Taxi dispatch - Spanish language, likely Mexico City D.F. Mexico radio taxi 27 MHz
27875 LSB 27.875 MHz LSB - Spanish language, freebanders CB DXers

Nice signals on 26.445 MHz and 26.765 MHz - both AM mode - YL dispatchers SIO 333 to SIO 444 nice signals....able to hear the taxi drivers replying on the radio to their controller dispatcher on both 26MHz frequencies 26445 AM and 26765 AM. 

Heard "Matamoros" a few times on 26.765 MHz.  Possibly a location ID.  Matamoros Mexico

[R4002]

Walking around on my lunch break with my Uniden PRO401HH bare bones 40 channel AM only handheld CB walkie talkie - and telescopic CB antenna - Cobra HA-TA aka HT-1 antenna...able to hear what sounds like truck stop advertisements on channel 19 27.185 MHz AM...along with a real mess on channel 5 27.015 MHz AM and a taxi dispatcher lady coming in nearly SIO 555 with very little QRM on CB channel 18 - 27.175 MHz AM.  Pretty impressive considering the receiver I'm using and the high levels of ambient RF noise and interference...

[Elf36]

That made me think of the Magnum 1012 Handheld- AM/FM USB/LSB 10/11M transceivers. I want to say Copper electronics sold them at one point. They are quite pricey if you can find one now, as far as I know. I once saw a guy with one and it had a custom 1/4 wave BNC antenna. Roughly 102'' long and coated in a black plastic/rubber coating, just like a standard HT antenna. Could not have been good on the BNC connector mounted in a thin layer of plastic. Pretty neat concept though.

[ThaDood]

A actually have the Cherokee AH-100 SSB HT of that same Magnum portable. More of a concept portable really, since various features are limited in performance, but still a neat radio. Just, don't try and drive and operate with one. (Hi-hi...)

[R4002]

A actually have the Cherokee AH-100 SSB HT of that same Magnum portable. More of a concept portable really, since various features are limited in performance, but still a neat radio. Just, don't try and drive and operate with one. (Hi-hi...)

I know an op who has/had one of the Magnum 1012 handhelds and he had nothing but good things to say about it.  My experience with Magnum radios is, on the other hand, meh (but it involved one of their mobile rigs, not handheld).  I would love to have a HT with AM/FM/SSB vs. just AM.  Also access to the whole 11 meter/10 meter band - ideally the "full" 25.615 MHz to 30.105 MHz coverage...I believe the 1012 actually covered 24-30 MHz?  Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, I'm too lazy to look up the specs.

I did several range testing sessions with another station who was using a Magnum 1012 HT, both with telescopic CB/11m whip antennas and with the HT connected to mobile CB antennas (namely a Wilson 5000).  The Magnum 1012 worked really well on AM, FM and SSB (we tested all modes except CW while mobile...)

The Uniden PRO401HH is a real utilitarian 40 channel handheld.  With the Cobra HA-TA telescopic antenna it actually is a serviceable handheld CB, albeit very bare bones.  It does what it is designed to do.  I've talked to several local operators and nearby truckers on channel 19 on it on the low power setting (roughly 1 watt AM carrier according to my rather conservative reading wattmeter). 

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a pair or even 3-4 of the Midland 75-822 handhelds, they can apparently be modified rather easily to cover the low/high bands in addition to the legal 40 CB channels - expanding coverage from 40 channels to 120 channels (26.515 MHz - 26.955 MHz low band / 26.965 MHz - 27.405 MHz mid band / 27.415 MHz - 27.855 MHz high band).  I know of at least one CB shop that sold the Midland 75-822 handhelds with companion mobile rigs (Superstar 121 radios to be exact - since the Superstar 121 is a bare-bones AM/FM export radio that also covers the same low/mid/high 26.515 MHz - 27.855 MHz band).  Pretty cool idea.

Of course, having FM and SSB would be much nicer.  It's still a cool concept though.

[Elf36]

Not sure of the specs on freq. Quite an amazing radio though. Never heard of anything else like it. I had forgotten about the Cherokee. I knew there was another one. Back when things were really hot on 10/11, as I remember 96- 2001? you could have totally worked DX with it, if you had a decent antenna. And by decent, I don't mean a Yagi or anything. A 1/4 or 1/2 wave would have done the job. Depending on the particular day.

[R4002]

Not sure of the specs on freq. Quite an amazing radio though. Never heard of anything else like it. I had forgotten about the Cherokee. I knew there was another one. Back when things were really hot on 10/11, as I remember 96- 2001? you could have totally worked DX with it, if you had a decent antenna. And by decent, I don't mean a Yagi or anything. A 1/4 or 1/2 wave would have done the job. Depending on the particular day.

Those were the days.

I remember in 2000 or 2001 hearing California Highway Patrol on 42 MHz and hearing UK military traffic in the 30-32 MHz region (as well as US military traffic in the same region) along with various car services and taxi dispatchers in the same 29.7-50 MHz low band region - but especially the 30.580 MHz to 31.980 MHz and 35.020 MHz to 35.980 MHz business/industrial land mobile bands (for the car service dispatchers out of New York City and other business users nationwide). 

On really good days I could hear the low band military, police on 39 MHz/42 MHz and business users along with various 10 meter FM repeaters using a handheld RadioShack Pro-79 scanner with the stock rubber duck antenna.  That particular scanner's coverage stopped at 29.000 MHz and from 29-54 MHz it was FM mode only.  Still, nuts to hear all the things I did with the cheapo factory rubber duck antenna.

[Elf36]

For sure. That's why I always get so excited when 10/11 meters opens up. I can work more DX on other bands, but I love the nostalgia of it. Great memories.