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Difference between revisions of "Utility Monitoring"

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The purpose of this section is to gather and group HF Utility Monitoring information in a single location.  For information on antennas, please see the [[Antennas]] Wiki. Our [[HF Propagation]] article has links regarding how HF (and higher) signals travel great differences. It's an important topic to understand if you wish to be successful in this game.<br>
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What are utility stations on HF?
<br>
 
The RR forum for this topic can be found [http://www.radioreference.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=79 here]
 
  
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This is a valid question, and one that can be answered using a bit of negative logic. If it isn't
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* Amateur Radio
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* CB
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* SW broadcast
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Then it's considered a utility station.
  
For decoding HF digital signals, please see the [[HF Digital Decoding]] article.
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This type of station has many different types; military, aeronautical, maritime even non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross all fall into this category.
  
== Aircraft ==
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This page represents a tiny fraction of the available services and topics. The single best reflector that covers this topic is the [https://groups.io/g/UDXF Utility DXers Forum] reflector on the groups.io server. The [http://www.udxf.nl/ Utility DXer's Forum] webpage has an exhaustive set of links and pages covering a wide range of utility related topics.
  
Aircraft utilize HF communications when VHF (Line of Sight) communications is not sufficient. The primary usage of HF is for Trans-oceanic flights. Trans-oceanic flights communicate with ground stations via HF for position reports and other purposes.
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This topic is covered in the {{Forum|utility-listening.134|Utility Listening}}
Another utilization of HF communications is for HFDL or High Frequency DataLink.
 
Finally Military Aircraft (MILCRAFT) utilize HF for operational and training.
 
  
* [[ICAO HF Aeronautical Stations|MWARA frequencies]] - Aircraft use these stations to communicate over water when out of VHF radio range.
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== General Topics ==
* [http://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/MWARA MWARA Frequency map on HFunderground]
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*For Aeronautical topics, see our [[HF Aeronautical Communications]] article
* [[VOLMET]] Aeronautical stations broadcasting weather worldwide
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*For Maritime topics, see our [[HF Maritime Communications]] article
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*See our [[HF Military Communications]] page for more information about monitoring the military on HF.
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* [[ICE]] - Monitoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HF Operations
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**You can also find some Mid-East / African Police departments as well as non-classified diplomatic communications here
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===What Equipment Will I Need to Hear these Stations?===
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* See our [[The HF Utility Receiver and Accessories]] article for a discussion of this topic.
  
== Hurricane Related Frequency Lists ==
 
* [http://www.ominous-valve.com/hurricne.txt Hugh Stegman's Hurricane Frequency List]
 
* [http://www.hurricanefrequencies.com/ Bill Snyder's Hurricane Frequencies]
 
* [http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html ShipCom LLC synthesized weather broadcasts]
 
  
== Military ==
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=== Digital Decoding ===
See our [[HF Military Communications]] page for more information about monitoring the military on HF.
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* For additional information on HF digital utilities, see the [[DXing Digital Utilities]] section
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* Several digital decoding apps have mailing lists (reflectors) and/or Facebook for support. Links for them can be found [[Utility Monitoring Central Links|here]]
  
== MW (AM Band) Rejection Filters ==
 
* [http://www.iceradioproducts.com/filtersrf.html#bcb ICE BCB Filters]
 
* [http://www.kiwa.com/bcb.html Kiwa Broadcast Band Rejection Filter]
 
* [http://www.kiwa.com/bcblw.html Kiwa Broadcast Band Filter for Longwires]
 
* [http://www.parelectronics.com/swl_filters.htm PAR BCST-HPF Filter]
 
** [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mt2001reviews.html#PAR%20AM%20Broadcast%20Filter PAR AM Broadcast Filter review from MT]
 
* [http://www.scannermaster.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=39 Scanner Master Filters page]
 
* [http://www.stridsberg.com/prod02.htm Stridsberg Engineering Filters]
 
  
 
==Other Websites ==
 
==Other Websites ==
* [http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/ShortWave.aspx Armed Forces Network]
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* [[RadioReference UDXF Portal]]
** What was once known as the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network (AFRTS)
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* [http://www.utilityradio.com/ Virtual Museum of Radio Communications]
* [http://people.zeelandnet.nl/cor19vs CL's shortwave listener's service]
 
* [http://www.docksideradio.com/ Dockside Radio]
 
* Interested in hearing marine stations/ships on HF? Check out the [[HF Maritime Communications]] article
 
* [http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/ MT Milcom Blog by Larry Van Horn]
 
* [http://mt-utility.blogspot.com/ MT Utility World Blog by Hugh Stegman]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/Monitoring%20NASA%20and%20Space%20Communications.pdf Monitoring NASA and Space Communications (PDF)]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mttopHF.html MT Top 1000 Frequencies]
 
* [[NATO Common Channels]]
 
* [http://www3.sympatico.ca/hehilgen/vax498.htm Southbound 2 Net page by Herb Hilgenberg VE3LML]
 
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/pub/forecasts/recon/MIAREPRPD Tropical Cyclone Plan of the Day]
 
* [http://home.planet.nl/~boend177/ Utility DXers Forum Home Page]
 
* [http://www.ominous-valve.com/uteworld.html Utility World]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/eam.html What is an EAM? by Jeff Haverlah (MT Website)]
 
* [http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ William Hepburn's DX Information Centre]
 
* [[WUN Links Archive]]
 
  
== Manufacturers==  
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== Utility Related Clubs, Mailing lists and Publications ==
* [http://www.aorusa.com/main.html AOR USA]
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; Mailing Lists / Social
* [http://www.etoncorp.com/GeneralMenu Eton]
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* [https://www.facebook.com/ARDXC.Inc/ Australian DX Club (Facebook)]
* [http://www.icomamerica.com/ Icom America]
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* [http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom Milcom]
* [http://kiwa.com/ Kiwa Electronics]
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* [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=FirstToken FirstToken YouTube channel (numbers stations)]
* [http://www.sangean.com/ Sangean]
 
* [http://www.tentec.com/ TenTec]
 
  
== Software ==
 
* [[Radio Control Software#Other_HF_Related_Control_Packages|Receiver Software Control]]
 
  
==Receiver Modifications==
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; Publications
* [http://www.qth.com/inrad/ INRAD Filters and Enhancements]
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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.kiwa.com Kiwa Electronics]
 
* [http://www.mods.dk Mods.DK]
 
* [http://www.sherweng.com/ Sherwood Engineering]
 
  
== Receiver Reviews and User Opinions ==
 
* [http://www.uhf-satcom.com/sdr-iq/ A brief review of the RF Space SDR-IQ Software Defined Radio]
 
* [http://ac6v.com/swl.htm#RX AC6V Receiver Reviews and Surveys]
 
* [http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/index.php/AOR_Radios AOR Receivers]
 
* [http://www.dxing.info/equipment/ DXing.Info Equipment Page]
 
* [http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8 EHam Receiver user reviews]
 
* [http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/index.php/Icom_Radios Icom Receivers]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/phil/phils_06_buyguide.pdf Phil's Buyers Guide 2006 (PDF)]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/reviews.htm RadioIntel Receivers page 1]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/radioinfo.htm RadioIntel Receivers and Accesories page]
 
* [http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver.htm R Netherlands Receiver Shopping List (archive by MWCircle)]
 
* [[Realistic DX394 Receiver]]
 
* [http://www.sherweng.com/table.html Receiver Test Data from Sherwood Engineering]
 
* [http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/index.php/Yaesu_Radios#Receivers Yaesu Receivers]
 
  
== US Federal Goverment ==
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; Websites
* [[ICE]] - Monitoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HF Operations
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* [http://www.bdxc.nl/ Benelux DX Club]
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* [http://www.cidx.ca/ Canadian International DX Club]
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* [http://www.dx-antwerp.com/ DX Antwerp]
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* [https://www.lwca.net/ Longwave Club of America]
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* [http://www.utdx.de UTDX]
  
== Utility Related Clubs and mailing lists ==
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cothen/ COTHEN]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HFmonitors/ HFmonitors]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iscanmarine/ iscanmarine]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/low-level/ Low Level]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MilAirCommsChat/ MilAirCommsChat]
 
* [http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom Milcom] 
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MilGovMonitoring/ MilGov Monitoring]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/radio_clubs.html MT Radio Clubs and Nets page]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/odxa/ Ontario DX Association (ODXA)] 
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RadioMonitors/ Radio Monitors]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScannerTalk/ ScannerTalk]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/ Utility DXers Forum (UDXF)]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/utility_listening/  Utility Listening]
 
  
 
Return to [[Connecting Radios to Soundcards]]
 
Return to [[Connecting Radios to Soundcards]]
  
 
[[Category:HF Topics]]
 
[[Category:HF Topics]]

Latest revision as of 07:29, 26 September 2021

What are utility stations on HF?

This is a valid question, and one that can be answered using a bit of negative logic. If it isn't

  • Amateur Radio
  • CB
  • SW broadcast

Then it's considered a utility station.

This type of station has many different types; military, aeronautical, maritime even non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross all fall into this category.

This page represents a tiny fraction of the available services and topics. The single best reflector that covers this topic is the Utility DXers Forum reflector on the groups.io server. The Utility DXer's Forum webpage has an exhaustive set of links and pages covering a wide range of utility related topics.

This topic is covered in the Utility Listening Forum

General Topics


What Equipment Will I Need to Hear these Stations?


Digital Decoding

  • For additional information on HF digital utilities, see the DXing Digital Utilities section
  • Several digital decoding apps have mailing lists (reflectors) and/or Facebook for support. Links for them can be found here


Other Websites

Utility Related Clubs, Mailing lists and Publications

Mailing Lists / Social


Publications
  • 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.


Websites


Return to Connecting Radios to Soundcards