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Hawaii to Michigan this morning on Medium Wave!

K

kilokat7

Well, sort of...

I've been messing around on 518 KHz, the Navtex frequency, using the free YaND decoding software. It's really a lazy way to DX - just tune your SSB capable receiver to the correct frequency and let the software decode the navtex data all night. Wake up in the morning and review your DX logs that the program gathers. This morning I was surprised to find the following messages from station NMO - the US Coastguard station in Honolulu, HI. Considering the distance of 4,321 miles, I'm even surprised how well these messages were decoded (they aren't perfect of course):

2012-12-24 10:29:22> ZCZC OA64
2012-12-24 10:29:28> SECTOR HONOLULU BNM 291-12
2012-12-24 10:29:36> HI ISLANDS - ISLAND OF OAHU FIREWORKS DISPLAY
2012-12-24 10:29:51> 1. THERE WILL BE A FIREWORKS DISPLAY FROM 2330W 31 DEC 12 - 0030W
2012-12-24 10:29:52>
2012-12-24 10:30:04> 01 JAN 13 IN POSN 21-16.40N 157-50.14W, APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET
2012-12-24 10:30:05>
2012-12-24 10:30:17> SOUTH OF WAIKIKI BEACH. ALL VESSELS ~AA~ ~ACCAK~CL~ ~~FTIKS~MC~~~~CF
2012-12-24 10:30:41> ~~{}
2012-12-24 10:30:47> THROUGHOUT UNTIL CANCELLED. Y
2012-12-24 10:30:54> E~TD~JDWHX~V~~C~~Z~{}XX
2012-12-24 10:30:56>
2012-12-24 10:30:58> NNNN


2012-12-24 10:31:16> ZCZC OE12
2012-12-24 10:31:28> 1. THE FOLLOWING SECTOR HONOLULU SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS
2012-12-24 10:31:29>
2012-12-24 10:32:05> ARE STILL IN EFFECT AS OF 14~~~~~~{}~~~~~~~{}
2012-12-24 10:32:05>


2012-12-24 10:32:45> ZCZC OA38
2012-12-24 10:32:55> SECTOR SFN~~~ACUT~MMPUZQKCAGM~II~~~~ONDFMF{} ISLAND OF MAUI
2012-12-24 10:33:04> 1. HAWAII EXPLOSIVES AND PYROTECHNICS WILL BE
2012-12-24 10:33:10> CONDUCTING A NEW YEARS
2012-12-24 10:33:20> EVE FIREWORKS DISPLAY 800 FT OFF SHORE FROM WAILEA,
2012-12-24 10:33:23> MAUI COMMENCING
2012-12-24 10:33:33> AT MIDNIGHT 31 DEC 12. A 420 FT FALLOUT ZONE CENTERED
2012-12-24 10:33:36> ON POSN
2012-12-24 10:33:46> 20-40.983N 156-269733W WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL THE ALL
2012-12-24 10:33:50> CLEAR SIGNAL
2012-12-24 10:34:00> HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE DISPLAY OPERATOR. VESSELS ARE ADVISED
2012-12-24 10:34:03> TO REMAIN
2012-12-24 10:34:12> CLEAR OF THE FALL OUT ZONE DURING THE SHOW.
2012-12-24 10:34:20> 2. CANCEL AT TIME//011030Z JAN 13//
2012-12-24 10:34:21>
2012-12-24 10:34:24> NNNN


2012-12-24 10:34:43> ZCZC OE79
2012-12-24 10:34:55> 1. THE FOLLOWING SECTOR HONOLULU SAFETY{}
2012-12-24 10:34:56>
2012-12-24 10:35:05> WRE STILL IN EFFECT AS OF 21150Z DEC 12:
2012-12-24 10:35:14> 284-12 HAZNAV DTG 040440Z DEC 12
2012-12-24 10:35:16> TQWOQA~
2012-12-24 10:35:16>
2012-12-24 10:35:25> MMMMGFYPAZYVJMM{} 1{}
2012-12-24 10:35:26> 29~72~~
2012-12-24 10:35:29> ~8~~~~.~?~~..9#
2012-12-24 10:35:35> .9.#+~~~~~~{}
2012-12-24 10:35:38> 293-12 FI~EWBRVS
2012-12-24 10:35:39> N
2012-12-24 10:35:39>
2012-12-24 10:35:53> TNVNMWHHMMCI~~~~JKZN~PGAMWPXM AGM~I{}ORAQW FIREWORKS DTG -00001Z DE
2012-12-24 10:35:55> C 12
2012-12-24 10:36:00> 295-12 HAZOPS ~~ ~ ~LG~
2012-12-24 10:36:13> 2~~(613-.20/~,~&.~88~~~~?,7+3:)8&.....$-+$ ............2##..-8~~8~(( PFGAH~C~M~
2012-12-24 10:36:13>
2012-12-24 10:36:26> ~O~~~KN~{}R SECTOR HONOLULU BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS HAVE
2012-12-24 10:36:28> BEEN
2012-12-24 10:36:31> CANCELLED.//
2012-12-24 10:36:32>
2012-12-24 10:36:35> NNNN


Here are some good links on Navtex for anyone else interested:

World Navtex Database

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navtex

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/navtex.htm

YaND Navtex decoding software: http://www.yand.wavetalk.org/
 
You had me going for a moment :), I can't recall anyone logging Hawaii within the BCB from anywhere east of California in the last 30 years!

It's still a pretty good catch on NAVTEX. I've logged some interesting things down there, but nothing west of California. Good logging!
 
Honolulu to Michigan is one hell of a long haul even on Navtex, so that's one hell of a catch. I've only been able to receive O here once, sporadically, and it was after C, H, W and X (if I remember correctly) finally decided to shut up for a few minutes. (Are those time stamps GMT or your local time?)

Another good programme to know and use is the Frisnit NAVTEX decoder; http://frisnit.com/navtex/?id=decoder , which has some things that YAND doesn't, like a raw-data output display, a more straightforward user environment and considerably lower CPU/memory footprint.
 
Darth_vader said:
Another good programme to know and use is the Frisnit NAVTEX decoder; http://frisnit.com/navtex/?id=decoder , which has some things that YAND doesn't, like a raw-data output display, a more straightforward user environment and considerably lower CPU/memory footprint.
Click to expand...

All times UTC. I've used Frisnit in the past but never achieved good results, for whatever reason. YaND seems to decode the weaker stuff better, at least for me.
 
Great work, kilokat.

I am at the age where technology is flying over my head in overdrive....I wish I could use some of these PC programs to my advantage in the hobby.

cd
 
cd, I'm the same way. So I have a Sony ICF-SW7600GR w/SSB capability. How would I go about connecting the radio to the PC to try this YaND software?
 
wildthangjim said:
cd, I'm the same way. So I have a Sony ICF-SW7600GR w/SSB capability. How would I go about connecting the radio to the PC to try this YaND software?
Click to expand...

I'd start by running a simple patch cable from the line output jack on your sony to the mic input on your computer's sound card. Set YaND's audio input to Microsoft Sound Mapper or Stereo Mix, whichever works better for you. Tune your Sony to 517 KHz and set the mode to upper sideband and practice decoding strong signals. These stations don't broadcast continuously, but rather at scheduled times or whenever they need to push out a marine notice or warning. Before even downloading the software, I would spend an evening or two just listening to 517 in USB mode to make sure you'll have some strong signals to work with while you get comfortable with the YaND program (or whichever one you choose).
 
Thanks kilokat. Being in Perth, I looked at an international navtex directory and see that Australia/NZ don't use it, so down here it might be an interesting thing to try.
 
@kilocat7--

What sort of machine were you trying to run the Frisnit programme on?

I think it's (finger-quotes) "supposed to" run on at least an ancient first-generation Pentium, but I haven't had any luck with it on anything less than a 700 MHz Pentium III. It could also be the sound card you're using; how fast it is and how well its line-in is filtered, so forget about using anything with an ESS or Yamaha chipset! It runs and decodes flawlessly for me on my Pentium IV machine with a Sound Blaster Live and my Phenom X3 machine with an Audigy 4 Pro, both in 98, 2K and Wine 1.0.2. It worked okay, but not without problems, on my crappy two Ensoniq (Creative make) AudioPCI 128s.*

For what it's worth, disabling "strict FEC decoding" seems to fix the sound-card related glitches, but since that throws it into what is essentially "garbage-in-garbage-out" mode, it'll also try to decode any other RF noise it "hears" without question. So: CPU =>650 MHz; fast and well-filtered sound card. Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

[size=8pt]___________________________________________
* Individual results may vary; no personal computer configuration is typical. You should not expect to obtain these results.
 
Darth_vader: I have Frisnit installed on an older netbook with an Atom processor & Realtek audio chipset. With the SDR running alongside Frisnit, the CPU usage hits about 75%. It won't handle YaND as it pegs the processor. So yes, if you have an older machine, Frisnit is probably the better navtex decoder. No problems though with YaND on my Core i7 980 machine :)
 
You didn't say you were running an SDR in your previous post! My apologies.

I had assumed you were using the SSB demodulator in the radio itself (like I do with the Grundig) then feeding *that* into the computer. Actually, Frisnit'll also decode data pulled in on a regular AM (not SSB) set if the radio is off-tuned by a couple kilohertz (e.g. 520) and "invert" is activated in the programme. Doesn't work perfectly, obviously, but it's better than nothing.
 
Is it possible to get those 518 kHz Navtex signals using a DSB-AM-only radio that only goes down to 520 kHz, provided it has a wide enough bandwidth to include 518 kHz? I do have a local station on 540 that seems like it could be a bit wider than +/- 10 kHz - might that make it difficult? Also I suspect my Sony SRF-59 may be able to tune a little below 520. Or might I be able to tune one of my Tecsuns to 513 kHz (the highest it will go in the LW setting - lowest in MW is 20 kHz) and use the +/- 6 khz bandwidth?
If I could record the audio from those signals, is there some possible way to decode it? So far I've heard nothing on those frequencies. Also doesn't help that most of my radios are quite deaf down there... except for maybe my GE SR3 which seems to tune down to about 516 or 517 or so.
Also is it possible to decode 302 kHz DGPS signals from the audio as heard on a double-sideband amplitude-modulation radio?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UQHb3qWsLI
 
Great catch kilokat! Can you try 353 khz for the huge NDB LLD in Lanai? I get it after 12am on the Ridgecrest, CA Global Tuners node, sometimes at fair levels. I would also suggesting trying 518 again for the NAVTEX over in Astoria, OR.

-crainbebo
 
crainbebo said:
Great catch kilokat! Can you try 353 khz for the huge NDB LLD in Lanai? I get it after 12am on the Ridgecrest, CA Global Tuners node, sometimes at fair levels. I would also suggesting trying 518 again for the NAVTEX over in Astoria, OR.

-crainbebo
Click to expand...

Thanks crainbebo. I haven't done any serious NBD DXing yet but LLD sounds like a good target to shoot for. Astoria is decoded here often with a decent signal, as are the two California stations. Here's a list of Navtex stations that I've positively ID'ed on 518. These are sorted from nearest to most distant from my location:

Prescott, Ontario
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Chesapeake, VA.
Charleston, SC.
Boston, MA.
New Orleans, LA.
Fundy, New Brunswick
Riviere-au-Renard, Quebec
Miami, FL.
Bermuda Radio
Labrador, Newfoundland
Astoria, OR. @ 1,847 miles
Tofino, British Columbia @ 1,904 miles
Cambria, CA. @ 1,920 miles
Point Reyes, CA. @ 1,934 miles
Simiutaq, Greenland @ 2,026 miles
San Juan, Puerto Rico @ 2,038 miles
Honolulu, HI. @ 4,321 miles
 
Prescott, Ontario. I've been there. It's across from Ogdensburg, NY. They built a bridge there around 1961. There's a movie where a WWII POW escapes and in recaptured in Ogdensburg, and has to be sent back due to some agreement after swimming across the freezing St. Lawrence River in the winter. It was based on a true story. A one time resident of the area thought I was dreaming when I told her about the movie.
 
The only thing at 518 khz in Ontario is actually from Pembroke, about 2 and a half to 3 hours away from Prescott. I get it here in Ottawa from time to time but the one time I was near Pembroke it was blasting in clear enough that it sounded "tuned in" when listening on 520.
 
I'm starting to really get into NDB DXing. The other night I had FCH-344 Fresno, CA from here in WA, barefoot (750 miles). I've logged many NDBs on Global Tuners at the Ridgecrest, CA node. I usually get BC beacons every night (NY-350, YAZ/YQZ-359, XX-344, QQ-400 common).

-crainbebo
 
@kilocat7--

Yup, Astoria (NMW) would be a good one for you to try for over there. Even where I am, about 120 or so air miles southeast of the transmitter site (which is actually at Fort Stevens, just north of neighbouring Warrenton--see: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=46.2050694&lon=-123.9556244&z=16&l=0&m=b) it hits me like a ton of bricks during most of the day.

Even when listening at mid-day, if I'm using the Selectatenna I can sometimes get it to overload my radio such that it's almost undecodable!

@crainbebo--

Interesting. Around here I don't really hear many beacons on LW, even at night, as much as I hear DGPS. There are a bunch of DGPS signals around 220-320 or so that I can easily grab barefoot. I know those are quite powerful transmitters and I should be hearing quite a few beacons here, so I'll bet the Grundig's front-end is probably dying.

Although I will go on record saying that LBH completely owns 334!
 
You would need a good LW antenna for the NDB stuff. I can pull up YCD 251 Nanaimo, BC in the daytime. That's 125 miles NW.

-crainbebo
 
I manage to get dx on longwave on the g8, believe it or not. I pull in a beacon from Pottsdam New York 24 hours a day every day. There's a 1000 watt AM at 1470 from the same town I can only hear 8 or 9 months of the year. I've pulled in a beacon on Longwave that was over 1000 miles away, plus I have very faintly heard traces of european stations...all of this barefo0t.
 
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