[Spooks] V2a and SK01 at 18MHz

[KC2TTK]

Brandon Longo <palmtt3 at aol.com> wrote:

	>Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe
	>from this list
	>
	>I'm not sure what they're doing but I just caught SK01 (6/30/12
	>21:13z) on 
	>HamDRM. It was at the unusual frequency of 17478 kHz. This time I
	>recorded 
	>it until the end using a large metal structure as an antenna.
	>Unfortunately, 
	>as I had to hold the antenna to it with one hand and operate the audio
	>
	>recorder with the other hand, there are gaps and pops scattered
	>throughout 
	>the lesser-important parts of the transmission. I will try to decode
	>these. 
	>For now, I'll post the recording on SoundCloud and Youtube after these
	>end. 
	>I'll also toss back together my broken Grundig G3 and see if the
	>synchronous 
	>detector will improve my signal-to-noise ratio.
	>
	>On another important note, they seem to be moving to half-hour
	>transmissions 
	>instead of hour transmissions. This one ended at 21:28z.
	>
	>I heard a report of SK01 in HamDRM on 12120, so I'll keep another eye
	>around 
	>there. Seems as if they're going through major changes, and Pedro is 
	>slacking off.
	>
	>KC2TTK: I'll make longer recordings. That day I wasn't expecting to
	>find 
	>these stations.
	>
	>-----Original Message----- 
	>From: ✇ KC2TTK
	>Sent: Friday, June 29, 2012 22:57
	>To: Shortwave Spy Numbers Stations
	>Subject: Re: [Spooks] V2a and SK01 at 18MHz
	>
	>Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe
	>from 
	>this list
	>
	>The audio from the SK01 doesn't sound "right".  It sounds as if
	>multiple
	>back-to-back RDFT transmissions were attempted with only the first one
	>succeeding.  Also, SK01 tends to transmit RDFT for 40 to 42.5 seconds
	>and
	>here it lasted for 30 or so seconds.  Perhaps the cat likes playing
	>and
	>sleeping on Pedro's keyboard.  Someone who has better luck with DIGTRX
	>than
	>I have might be able to figure out if there is a message there.
	>
	>The last few transmissions I heard were very faint and at times I
	>thought
	>that the transmissions has been cut off as if someone (or something)
	>was
	>toggling a microphone on and off.  But since I could not hear the
	>transmissions clearly for all the interference, I concluded that it
	>was no
	>more than the usual fading-in and -out that M08a, V02a, and SK01
	>exhibit.
	>
	>I am curious though if you have a longer recording of V02a - were the
	>messages sent at all, and was "final final final" transmitted?
	>
	>I will keep an ear open in the 18MHz range.
	>
	>✇ KC2TTK
	>______________________________________________________________
	>Spooks mailing list
	>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks
	>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
	>Post: mailto:Spooks at mailman.qth.net
	>
	>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
	>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
	>
	>______________________________________________________________
	>Spooks mailing list
	>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks
	>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
	>Post: mailto:Spooks at mailman.qth.net
	>
	>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
	>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Owing to the uncooperative weather in NYC I was up at 0400-0800 UTC and able to tune in for the overnight M08a/V02a/SK01 in the 5.8KHz range.  There was no carrier at all.  I'm hesitant to say  that DGI has overhauled their schedules and frequencies until there's enough evidence, but it seems that congratulations may be in order: not only a new Cuban frequency, but perhaps also a new format!

Many thanks, Brandon.

	- KC2TTK/M