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Head Over to My Broadcast Radio Station - Monitoring HF Maritime and Other HF Utility Comms

Tuesday 30 December 2014

HF Comms Streaming for S2H, M2D and M2H 2014 - Done For another Year

Guys,

This year we had an additional new stream provided by "VK7VKT" (Hobart, TAS). While his signals were not strong at the start of the race, his reception of fleet got stronger as they reached near midway through until Hobart and it was finally great to hear it from the Hobart end of town.

As usually I was not able to offer much in support streaming audio for Sydney To Hobart during the day as the frequencies selected and times for the skeds meant I just was not able to copy them from Queensland. However I was able to stream 4483khz during the night and catch the 0005 #S2H Sked.

"VK3VIM" (Melbourne, VIC) Stream was once again brilliant even though he only streamed 6516khz. We were able to hear most if not all of the 0735, 1205 and 1705 AEDT #S2H skeds via this stream.

This year for Melbourne to Devonport / Hobart, the skeds were run again by "Charleville Radio" (Kordia) on more appropriate frequencies for daytime which I would at most times hear Kordia S9+ and the yachts albeit faint. At night they operated skeds on 6218khz and I was able to copy most of their skeds fine.

I've tried to compile as many of the Skeds audio recordings from each stream as I could and have linked them into my earlier post Australia Ocean Racing S2H, M2D and M2H 2014 - HF Comm Monitoring which contains the list of scheduled Skeds.

There was one very sad incident which the streams capture audio of (Melbourne: listen Hobart: listen ) and that was the Mayday call reporting the Photography Plane crash. See Sail-World news articles for further info:


Most of the fleet has arrived or nearly all arrived except for Southern Myth whose is near rounding Tasman Island, and Landfall well she's still a fair distance to go.


So even though I've closed the QLD Streams down, I'll monitor the race frequencies and skeds for these 2 vessels until they arrive.

Once again big thanks to Tony "VK7VKT" and Grant "VK3VIM" for providing hardware (Radios, antenna, computer etc), resources (Broadband bandwidth, their time and effort to manage their streams) and I hope to see you both next year.

That's all Folks!!! Have a Happy New Year

Mark (AussieDrifter)

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Australia Ocean Racing S2H, M2D and M2H 2014 - HF Comm Monitoring

G'day All,

This year we have 4 audio streams monitoring and streaming HF Communication audio from 4 Yacht Races held between Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart. The main communications which occur during the races are the scheduled Yacht Position Reports (Skeds).

The Audio Streams will only be available during the Racing events, so the first to kick us off will be Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race starting (26-Dec-2014 1300 AEDT) followed by the Other 3 races starting (27-Dec-2014 1230 AEDT).

The streams are as follows:

Who Location Audio Links Frequencies Covered
(kHz)
VK7VKT Hobart, TAS S2H 4483, 6516
VK3VIM Melbourne, VIC S2H 6516 kHz only
(Voice MUTE enabled)
AussieDrifter (Me) Brisbane, QLD - Stream 3 - S2H 4483 and 6516
- Stream 4 - M2H/M2D 12305, 6218, 8210, 4483



Race Sailing Instructions



Race Frequencies

Event Time
(AEDT)
Primary
(kHz)
Secondary
(kHz)
S2H Day
(0700-1900)
6516 4483
S2H Night
(1900-0700)
4483 6516
M2D & M2H Day
(0700-1800)
12305 8210
M2D & M2H Night
(1800-0700)
6218 4483



Note:
1. M2L and M2H yachts needing to make contact with Kordia (Charleville Radio) between schedules should do so on the standard calling channels listed below. These frequencies are also distress frequencies. For longer communications, a switch to one of the race frequencies may be required once communications have been established.

Frequency Period

4125 Night
6215 Day or Night
8291 Day
12290 Day

Race Schedules

Schedules (AEDT)
Event Day Night
S2H 0735, 12051, 1705 0005
M2D 1135, 1635 0535, 2235
M2HWC - Westcoaster 1205, 1705 0605, 2305
M2HEC - Eastcoaster 1235, 1735 0635, 2335

Note
1 - Listening schedules will be conducted on 6516 kHz at 1205 hrs each day from 27th December until 2nd January 2014 on 6516 kHz.

Recorded Race Skeds Comms



Date Time
(AEDT)
Event Frequency
(khz)
Audio Recording
Link
Description
26-Dec-2014 1130-1230 S2H 6516 Brisbane: Fair copy for first 20 min then faded.
Here a samples of some checkins
Prerace Sign on
26-Dec-2014 1905 S2H 4483
  • Brisbane/Hobart: On 4483 khz mostly no reception, towards the end of the sked a few yachts were just becoming audible.
  • Brisbane/Hobart: On 6516 khz good reception while JBW called for yachts missed on 4483 khz.
  • Melbourne: On 6516 khz good reception while JBW called for yachts missed on 4483 khz.
  • Rolex Main Feed: good copy
Sked
27-Dec-2014 0005 S2H 4483
  • Brisbane: On 4483 khz fair reception at start, then faded towards the end of the sked
  • Brisbane: On 6516 khz good reception while JBW called for yachts missed on 4483 khz.
  • Melbourne: On 6516 khz good reception while JBW called for yachts missed on 4483 khz.
  • Hobart: audio was overdriven, but JBW and fleet could be heard.
  • Rolex Main Feed: good copy
Sked
27-Dec-2014 0735 S2H 6516
  • Brisbane: On 6516 khz poor reception, could hear JBW and fleet was low
  • Melbourne: Great reception of sked on 6516 kHz - Listen Here.
  • Hobart: On 6516 khz fair reception mostly heard JBW, yachts low, stream had a bit of noise. Listen Here.
  • Rolex Main Feed: was not availabile
Sked
27-Dec-2014 1205 S2H 6516
  • Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here.
  • Hobart: Poor copy, high noise level.
Listening Sked
27-Dec-2014 1105-1215 M2D
M2HWC
M2HEC
12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Prerace Sign on
27-Dec-2014 1635 M2D 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
27-Dec-2014 1705 S2H 6516
  • Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here.
  • Hobart: Good copy - Listen here. After sked you can hear more yachts declaring that they are in vicinity of Green Cape.
Sked
27-Dec-2014 1705 M2HWC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
27-Dec-2014 1735 M2HEC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
27-Dec-2014 2235 M2D 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
27-Dec-2014 2305 M2HWC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
27-Dec-2014 2335 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 0005 S2H 4483 Sked
28-Dec-2014 0535 M2D 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here. Due to incorrect wakeup alarm and Windows OS forced reboot, I missed Bandit and 1st part of Caledonia position. Sked
28-Dec-2014 0605 M2HWC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 0635 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 0735 S2H 6516 Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1135 M2D 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1205 M2HWC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1205 S2H 6516 Listening Sked
28-Dec-2014 1235 M2HEC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1635 M2D 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy (Charleville Radio was loud as usual however yachts were faint) - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1705 S2H 6516 Sked
28-Dec-2014 1705 M2HWC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy (Charleville Radio was loud as usual however yachts were faint) - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 1735 M2HEC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy (Charleville Radio was loud as usual however yachts were faint) - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 2235 M2D 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here - (Charleville Radio could not reach many yachts. Note - Most yachts had or were very close to having arrive at Devonport only a couple remained out and so no morning sked will most likely be needed). Sked
28-Dec-2014 2305 M2HWC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
28-Dec-2014 2335 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 0005 S2H 4483 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 0605 M2HWC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 0635 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 0735 S2H 6516
  • Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here
  • Hobart: No copy - Only Hobart Race Control and 1 or 2 yachts heard.
  • Brisbane: No copy - absolutely nothing heard.
Sked
29-Dec-2014 1205 M2HWC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 1205 S2H 6516
  • Melbourne: No Sked heard
  • Hobart: Heard JBW providing yachts results but signal low in the noise.
Listening Sked
29-Dec-2014 1235 M2HEC 12305 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 1705 S2H 6516
  • Melbourne: Good Copy - Sked run by Hobart Race Control (HRC) Listen Here
  • Hobart: Good Copy - Sked run by Hobart Race Control (HRC) Listen Here
Sked
29-Dec-2014 1705 M2HWC 12305 Brisbane: Receiver incorrect Frequency - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 1735 M2HEC 12305 Brisbane: Receiver incorrect Frequency - no recording Sked
29-Dec-2014 2305 M2HWC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
29-Dec-2014 2335 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Good Copy - Listen Here Sked
30-Dec-2014 0005 S2H 4483
  • Brisbane: Good Copy - Sked run by Hobart Race Control (HRC) Listen Here
  • Hobart: Good Copy - Sked run by Hobart Race Control (HRC) Listen Here
Sked
30-Dec-2014 0605 M2HEC 6218 Brisbane: Weak Copy - Listen Here. Frequency noisy had to utilise audio filter to clean up signal. Sked
30-Dec-2014 0635 M2HEC 6218 No Sked Heard - assume yachts have arrived. Sked
30-Dec-2014 0735 S2H 6516 Sked
30-Dec-2014 1705 S2H 6516 Sked



Recorded Race - NON Sked Comms



Date Time
(AEDT)
Stream Frequency
(khz)
Audio Recording
Link
Description
26-Dec-2014 1116 Hobart 6516 Download Hobart Race Control at Pre Race Check in
26-Dec-2014 1405 Hobart 6516 Download Hobart Race Control working JBW (not heard)
26-Dec-2014 1842 Brisbane
Melbourne
6516 Brisbane Download
Melbourne Download
Yacht Triton Retires.
27-Dec-2014 0839 Melbourne 6516 Download Ragamuffin Green Cape Declaration
29-Dec-2014 1817 Melbourne
Hobart
6516 Melbourne Download
Hobart Download
Mistraal calls Mayday - Plane Crashed into Sea. For More details see Sail-World Reports:



Twitter Feeds

You can monitor the following twitter for latest news regarding the events.

Saturday 20 December 2014

Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race 2014 - Prerace HF Testing (Charleville.....)

G'day All,

As most of you know before each S2H race yachts must perform prerace HF radio checks outlined via Race Notice to Competitors 3. This was performed during Dec 14th - 20th 2014. The Radio checks were performed on 6516khz were the Yachts attempt to successfully reach Newcastle Marine. This occurs during daytime 8:00 til 19:00 AEDT which means I barely can hear the traffic here in Brisbane Queensland. I did record all traffic on 6516khz on Dec 14th to see if I could get anything, and I was able to hear some traffic but very faint towards end of the day.

However interestingly this year while monitoring the S2H Web Site race documentation I saw Notice to Competitors 4 requesting all yachts to perform radio checks with Charleville Radio via 6215 khz 24hr and from there they will be directed to then test 4483 and 6516 khz. This is to occur 24hrs between 19 Dec 2014 until 22 Dec 2014. I started monitoring the HF Comms since 1430 AEDT Dec 20th 2014 and around 1800 AEDT started getting some good signals.

While monitoring it was interesting to hear the frustration on Charleville's end with them encountering "severe interference" on 6516khz which has plagued me since I started covering / broadcasting the S2H Yacht Race HF Comms over the last 8 years. There is a Asian Shortwave station that broadcasts on 6518khz which is only 2khz up from the primary S2H Yacht Race Frequency and from about 1700 AEDT until 0630 AEDT the channel has significant interference which even the best notch filter etc can not remove. Yachts were not able to complete testing of the 6516 frequency with Charleville radio.

I've extracted a fair few Yacht PreRace HF Comms tests with Charleville Radio but only for 6215 khz which is good enough to let you hear them. Over the next few days I'll monitoring and extract any worth while sample and add them to the folder below:

MP3 Sample of HF Comms between Yachts Charleville Radio.

Let me know what you think via twitter @OziDrifter :)

Brisbane QTH 2007

Brisbane QTH 2007
Heres my little Listening Post at Brisbane

Charlotte Pass August 2007

Charlotte Pass August 2007
The DEGEN 1103 in action on the ski slopes

Listening Post Thredbo

Listening Post Thredbo
Degen DE1103 and Long Wire - Thredbo Camp Site June 2007

Condamine Gorge - XMAS / NEW YEARS 2006

Condamine Gorge - XMAS / NEW YEARS 2006
Brother Robbie and I listening to the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race scheduled radio morning Check in. Those swags are very confortable.

Cold Night - Mum, Dad and Robbie at Lake St Clair on our Tassie Trip 2007

Cold Night - Mum, Dad and Robbie at Lake St Clair on our Tassie Trip 2007
It was a very cold night, but man that fire was bueatiful. Using the Sangean ATS-505 coupled with external 100ft wire for MW DXing.

New Years Eve 2005 - My Wife Tanya and I

New Years Eve 2005 - My Wife Tanya and I
You can see the FRG-7 we brought in my New Years as a Family. Starting with New Zealand / Melborne / Brisbane then lost count after that :) And it finished for me with BBC broadcast of chimes of Big Ben Clock from London.