[MilCom] MIL: 8992.0/11175.0 USB - COURTLAND; DUNLAP; CONVERGE; TIGER 32; PINION 91; COBRA 36; and MUSHMELON

[Jeff Haverlah]

0617z 21 Mar 25

20 Mar 25:

     8992.0 was active at 0125z with COURTLAND calling "MAINSAIL; MAINSAIL;
This is COURTLAND with RADIO CHECK; how copy?"; instant self-check; and
into their normal "MAINSAIL; MAINSAIL; This is COURTLAND with a
communications test count;....3 count...; COURTLAND out." I haven't heard
that opening before from them during this daily event, ever.

     8992.0 was active at 0126z with COURTLAND repeating the communications
test count (without the glitch).

     8992.0 was active at 0133z with CONVERGE (NCS HFGCS) calling DUNLAP
with no known response. 6-character callword. Federal/mil monitors
recognize it?

     8992.0 was active at 0351z with ABRASIVE calling CONVERGE with no
known response. ABRASIVE was suspected to be BONGO 14 (old day BILLY BOB)
on approach to TRAVIS at the time.

     8992.0 was active at 0410z with TIGER 32 calling ANY PLAYER; raising
MAINSAIL; but no further comms heard.

     8992.0 was active at 2027z, 2028z and 2042z with PINION 91 calling ANY
STATION with no known response.

     8992.0 was active at 2143z with CONVERGE calling DUNLAP; "How copy,
over?"  Again at 2145z.  At 2145z MAINSAIL called DUNLAP and raised. DUNLAP
was extremely weak in the noise floor; a subtle ghost in the waterfall; but
readable with attention via headphones. Quick hi n' bye exchange of signal
checks and gone.

     8992.0 was active at 2201z with CONVERGE broadcasting the 30 character
EAM 7AMXRD "FOR METHOD (sounds like) 16"; "FOR BERET (he pronounced it
"barret") 16."

2201z BERET 16 (E6B; AE0413) launched from TRAVIS and flew to the Pacific.

     8992.0 was active at 2211z with MUSHMELON (BERET 16) saying "Request
to enter the net." He may have been simulcasting on 11175,.0 as nothing
around that statement was heard.

     8992.0 was active at 2228z with CONVERGE broadcasting the 30 character
EAM HJ3R7Q.

     8992.0 was active at 2250z and 2320z with MUSHMELON (strong power
supply artifacts on his audio) broadcasting HJ3R7Q at the TACAMO PAC
H+20/H+50 restoral rebroadcast window.  MUSHMELON was at good levels on
8992.0 but unheard on California SDR on 11175.0.  He remained active into
the new UTC day. As of 0610z 21 Mar 25 BERET 16 is still airborne on a
grand tour over the western coastal states.

21 Mar 25 UTC

     11175.0 was active at 0142z with COBRA 36 (WC135R; launched from
OFFUTT) called any radio with no known response. He flew to CANNON AFB.  At
0427z COBRA 36 (on 11175.0 after departing CANNON) called ANY STATION;
raised MAINSAIL; but did not respond. He returned to OFFUTT.

Jeff
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Jeff Haverlah               Coastal Texas
     Airspy HF+ Discovery   W6LVP loop  Various web SDRs
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