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:

• Mistraal Mayday report of the downed aircraft
• Sydney Hobart - Report of light plane crash while photographing fleet

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)

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	Stream 1 - Web Player Stream 1 - Web Player Alternative Stream 1 - SHOUTcast Stream	S2H 4483, 6516
VK3VIM	Melbourne, VIC	Stream 2 - Web Player	S2H 6516 kHz only (Voice MUTE enabled)
AussieDrifter (Me)	Brisbane, QLD	Stream 3 - Web Player Stream 3 - Web Player Alternative Stream 3 - Streaming Stream 4 - Web Player Stream 4 - Web Player Alternative Stream 4 - SHOUTcast Stream Main Blog Site	- Stream 3 - S2H 4483 and 6516 - Stream 4 - M2H/M2D 12305, 6218, 8210, 4483

Race Sailing Instructions

• Sydney To Hobart (S2H)
• Melbourne to Devonport(M2D)
• Melbourne to Hobart
  • Eastcoaster (M2HEC)
  • Westcoaster (M2HWC)

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	Brisbane: Fair Copy - Listen Here Hobart: Fair Copy - Listen Here	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	Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here Hobart: Fair Copy - Listen Here	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	Melbourne: Good Copy - Listen Here Hobart: Good Copy - Listen Here	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: Mistraal Mayday report of the downed aircraft Sydney Hobart - Report of light plane crash while photographing fleet

Twitter Feeds

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

• @OceanRacingClub
• @rshyr
• #oceanracing
• #orcv
• #s2h
• #sydhob
• #rshyr

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 :)