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Difference between revisions of "HF Maritime Communications"

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==How to Find Activity?==
 
==How to Find Activity?==
The spectrum for HF maritime communications is very wide.  Unlike VHF/UHF scanning, it's challenging to
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The spectrum for HF maritime communications is very wide.  Unlike VHF/UHF scanning, it's challenging toautomatically scan a segment of the band because HF noise will always be present. While some maritime stations are on a fixed schedule, others (such as fishing fleets) are much more difficult to detect due to their transient nature; thus, listening for maritime comms can be a game of patience. The more time passes, the harder it is to hear again. Mailing lists are one of the best ways to keep ahead of what is being heard, as traffic can be passed relatively quickly. The [https://groups.io/g/UDXF Utility DXers Forum] is very active and is widely recognized.
automatically scan a segment of the band because HF noise will always be present.
 
While some maritime stations are on a fixed schedule, others (such as fishing fleets) are much more
 
difficult to detect due to their transient nature; thus, listening for maritime comms can be  
 
a game of patience. The more time passes, the harder it is to hear again. Mailing lists are one of
 
the best ways to keep ahead of what is being heard, as traffic can be passed relatively quickly.  
 
The [https://groups.io/g/UDXF Utility DXers Forum] is very active and is only one of many such lists; more are available on the [[Utility Monitoring]] page.
 
  
  
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[http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/index.aspx The Spectrum Monitor] Electronic Magazine is the only remaining hobby level magazine that publishes logs from its subscribers. Most others have gone by the wayside, having been supplanted by many web-based sites - which may or may not have up to date information.
 
[http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/index.aspx The Spectrum Monitor] Electronic Magazine is the only remaining hobby level magazine that publishes logs from its subscribers. Most others have gone by the wayside, having been supplanted by many web-based sites - which may or may not have up to date information.
  
 
== Digital and other modes==
 
While many ships are now using encrypted digital signals for email and other traffic (often using modified versions of PACTOR-II or III), there is still a great deal
 
of traffic in the clear. This includes SITOR-B weather broadcasts, FAX (Fascimile weather charts), GMDSS alerts
 
and more. Fortunately there are numerous software packages - some ham related, others not - that can decode some
 
or all of these modes. See the [[DXing Digital Utilities]] article for a list of these packages.
 
 
 
See the [[Testing Your New Setup]] article for links to scheduled SITOR-B (NAVTEX) and FAX schedules
 
  
 
[[Category:HF in Marine or Maritime]]
 
[[Category:HF in Marine or Maritime]]
 
[[Category:HF Frequencies in Marine or Maritime]]
 
[[Category:HF Frequencies in Marine or Maritime]]

Revision as of 17:32, 8 November 2020

HF Maritime Communications

HF maritime communications can be found below 30 MHz. Here's a sample of what you can hear:

Hurricane Related


What Equipment Will I Need to Hear these Stations?


How to Find Activity?

The spectrum for HF maritime communications is very wide. Unlike VHF/UHF scanning, it's challenging toautomatically scan a segment of the band because HF noise will always be present. While some maritime stations are on a fixed schedule, others (such as fishing fleets) are much more difficult to detect due to their transient nature; thus, listening for maritime comms can be a game of patience. The more time passes, the harder it is to hear again. Mailing lists are one of the best ways to keep ahead of what is being heard, as traffic can be passed relatively quickly. The Utility DXers Forum is very active and is widely recognized.


Magazine Logs

The Spectrum Monitor Electronic Magazine is the only remaining hobby level magazine that publishes logs from its subscribers. Most others have gone by the wayside, having been supplanted by many web-based sites - which may or may not have up to date information.