Odd (Spy?) Transmissions on 3.700 LSB tonite

[w1gfh]

A ham in the Midwest posted the following in the glowbugs reflector.

----
Every 40 seconds on 3700 kc LSB we are hearing "Herman, I'm a gonna blow

you to smithereens" The voice is almost unmistakably that of Yosemite

Sam. But I do not remember a Herman in any of those cartoons.



He may be saying smithereensskies.



Just thought I would put it up here in case anyone else is up tonite.

It's 11 pm central right now.



Every 40 seconds, and preceded by a burst of some sort of digital signal.
----


Sure enough, I listed here in So. Cal, and it is there now (0600 UTC).

Wav file is attached.

Joe, W1GFH/6

[w4pjh]

It's VARMINT not HERMAN. Sam referred to Bugs as Varmint and Rabbit.
(he pronounced it, "VARMUNT" and "RABBUT")....remember?

[w1gfh]

It's on tonight again (if it ever stopped). Selcall tone followed by Yosemite Sam saying "Varmint...I'm a' gonna Blooooow you ta smithereens!"

Some have suggested this is a ham fooling around. IMO it is not.

[nz3m]

After that it says "nip it in the bud". This could be serious. I can hear it here in PA, 10 over 9. There is also CW behind it saying "P" over and over.

Dave

[nz3m]

The "nip it in the bud" part is gone now.

Dave

[w1gfh]

Historically, there is precedent for military use of ham freqs. During the Afghanistan operation, a strong RTTY signal appeared in the middle of the 75 meter ham phone band at 3.885 mhz, and stayed there, 24/7, for a week. Hundreds of complaints to the ARRL and the FCC ensued. One can imagine the military's reaction at being informed that "hams" are complaining about their operations. But about a week later, the sig ceased.

A few years ago, I myself heard a full blown training exercise (I know it was training because after it was over, the net control [or officer] thanked everyone for good performance in the exercise) on the phone portion of the 17 meter (18 mhz) ham band. It was comms sent "in the clear" and involved lots of stations in a net, apparent maneuvering of some kind of armored vehicles, all tactical ID's etc. Hams avoided the frequency, but could be heard a few kcs to either side discussing it, profundly puzzled.

UPDATE 0230Z: Many are hearing another "Sam beacon" down in the background using a different phrase: "That dog - I say - that dog is about as sharp as a bowlin' ball....". Also, weakly propagated, we hear a *third* "beacon" transmission: apparently Barney Fife saying "Nip it in the bud".

Do military commo guys (or officers) have a sense of humor? Do ya think we're invading somewhere tonite? Or practicing for it?

[W9AFB]

Quote[/b] (w1gfh @ Dec. 19 2004,22:01)]Do military commo guys (or officers) have a sense of humor?
Yes, they do http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #Bored soldiers with radios can show up on some pretty interesting frequencies. #Just about all heavy aircraft/helicopters have full HF capabilty, not to mention electronic countermeasures equipment. #Combine that with a long flight and you'll hear some pretty interesting/funny stuff if you know where to look. # (I know of one Army Blackhawk chopper crew who got bored on night on a long flight and showed up on 27.185 MHz)

[n8iy]

Hi all,

Its about 05:50 zulu dec 20th in Morgantown, WV and the "p beacon" is about and s-7. "sam" is about 10 to 15 over.

I agree, I think he is saying "vermint".

Whoever it is, they don't have very much to do to time the txes that close http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

73 de N8IY SAM

[k0pvw]

2:40 UTC 21DEC04 Still on the air! Just above the noise level though here in kansas!

[N1XHF]

It 3:20 UTC and I am getting the "P beacon" about s-5 here in maine and I also here the "gonna blow you to smithereens" which I can guess to be s-2 between the CW beacon.

[kb7aqd]

"Varmint, I'm gonna blow you to smithereens!" Yosemite Sam must be operating from a country that allows LSB voice on 3700kHz LSB. He's clear here in Phoenix, AZ using my IC703 and a small four foot MALDOL whip with the 40M loading coil.

Cannot hear P beacon, but each "Varmint" transmission begins with a data burst. It's loud at 0445 Z Monday night.

Wonder what would happen if you have 80M CW capabilities, and give Sam a call? Careful-- he might blow you to smithereens...

73
KB7AQD

[w1gfh]

NOTE: Sam is transmitted in DSB. You can hear it on both LSB and USB.

If anyone hears the "P" beacon, try and see if it is centered on 3699.5

There's a Russian Navy CW beacon listed for that frequency that sends "P".

[kb7aqd]

Bob, N7TWJ, who lives just up the street from me, has an NVIS antenna, halfwave at 80M, four feet above the ground. He hears the Yosemite Sam transmission solid S9+ with his FT840 rig. We are in Phoenix, AZ. The transmission faded or stopped at 0700Z, or faded out -- then resumed about 45 minutes later. It has a faint echo, suggesting multipath. In the USA, this is a Novice-Tech CW subband -- so it's unfortunate to hear only a clandestine transmission, and no hams on the air -- until the station faded out at local midnight -- and various hams from W7/W6 began calling CQ nearby and commenting on air about our friend.

I do not have a decent antenna design for indoor operations on 80M -- but this indicates we hams who enjoy Morse code should consider keeping the 3675-3725 kHz CW 200W subband hopping with activity so that intruders do not think they have some new frequencies to play with. Unlike the 40M Novice-Tech band, no international broadcasters use this, so it's wide open for hundreds of miles around the USA at night -- and should be open for local comms during the day, although I have not worked anyone in the 80M Novice-Tech subband during the day since I was licensed in 1987.

As for Sam, I am sure that Daffy and Bugs want to place a call to the FCC reporting these on-air threats to rabbit and duck safety.

We non-toons could, too. Give a call to 1-888-CALL-FCC when you can, and see if we can find out where this intruder broadcasts from.

73
KB7AQD
Robert

Phoenix, AZ

[ad5qb]

Still hearing Sam in San Antonio at 1142 UTC 12/21. Not hearing the P beacon though.

[kb7aqd]

Hear only Yosemite Sam going strong at 1430Z, in Phoenix. In comparison, WWVH and WWV weak on 2500 kHz, strong on 5000 kHz -- but both time stations fluttery and echoing.

73
KB7AQD Robert

[kb7aqd]

Called 1-888-CALLFCC this morning, and the helpful staff member told me to report this transmission to the following e-mail address:

fccham@fcc.gov

Might be interesting to see what they discover. Keep this in mind for future intruder watch reports.

73
KB7AQD Robert

[W0LC]

Quote[/b] (kb7aqd @ Dec. 21 2004,08:32)]Called 1-888-CALLFCC this morning, and the helpful staff member told me to report this transmission to the following e-mail address:

fccham@fcc.gov

Might be interesting to see what they discover. Keep this in mind for future intruder watch reports.

73
KB7AQD Robert
I sure wouldn't hold my breath though. If there are about as interested in this as K1MAN et al, it will be years before we see something posted from them. Hi.

[W0LC]

Try running some CW next to them and see what happens. probably nothing.

[KC0KBH]

Two words- Pirate Radio

[w1gfh]

Hearing it again today, appeared as soon as the band opened. 2400Z on west coast.

[W5HTW]

Was just about pegging the meter on the Drake R4B tonight. Quite a bit of distortion on the audio, but otherwise a strong signal. Someone has a voice keyer and is using it. No-one live there. Operating CW near him will mean nothing at all, as he isn't listening. I did hear a QSO under him, about 559RST, earlier. Yosemite was 60 over on the Icom 706! Antenna a dipole facing E-W.

It'll disappear after the holidays. I would think someone left home, took a trip, and the voice keyer is keying the rig. When he gets back maybe he'll shut it off.

Ed

[kb7aqd]

Had to go to work this morning, so monitored "Yosemite Sam" until about 1500Z. Will see how long this signal hangs in here. Anyone hearing him during the day?

I'm more curious where this station is -- rather than trying to get the operator in trouble. The data burst intrigues me, though. Anyone listening have a HOKA or other multimode decoder to see what the SELCAL is sending -- or is it just a buzz?

Listen soon for "Same as always, Pinky...tomorrow we take over the WORLD!", "Are you pondering what I am pondering?", "Eh, what's up, Doc?"

Around the world, is this portion used for anything other than amateur radio? Around 3900-4000 kHz are international broadcast stations -- and I have logged the BBC from England, and NSB, Japan in AM mode in this range. I've also read reports of ship-shore comms.

What would this station be? Utility? Clandestine? Pirate?

73
KB7AQD
Robert

[w4pjh]

Quote[/b] (kb7aqd @ Dec. 21 2004,08:32)]Called 1-888-CALLFCC this morning, and the helpful staff member told me to report this transmission to the following e-mail address:

fccham@fcc.gov

Might be interesting to see what they discover. Keep this in mind for future intruder watch reports.

73
KB7AQD Robert
I actually got a reply! Here it is.
Quote[/b] ]tnx

Wonder if it was Riley? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

*EDIT*
OK this is getting SPOOKY! Now there is the sound of a bomb falling and exploding. You know, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWBOOM!

[W0LC]

Heard it last nite, although kinda in the noise, it was audible. Sounds like a test signal to determing coverage/signal copy. It appeared to change in S-meter (which could be the band), which indicates possibility of a signal that is being "directional".

S-9 with lots of QRN in DFW area (Texas).

[KC0KBH]

Heard it last night. I also heard the P beacon. I now have about 1/2 hour on tape.

[K9STH]

To "add fuel to the fire", Yosemite Sam is also on 10.500 MHz, DSB, with the same 40 second routine. However, he is not exactly in "time" with the signal of 3700 KHz.

People are now wondering on how many frequencies that he is occupying.

Glen, K9STH

[w1gfh]

Yosemite Sam is now available on 3.700, 6.500, and 10.500 mhz.

[KC0KBH]

I was just going to say that. In the FRN grapevine, some people said that it is too high pitched for Yosemite Sam.

So, I know who it is!!! It is Yukon Cornelius from that "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" Christmas Special. I thought that it was a little wierd of a phrase for X-mas.

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (w1gfh @ Dec. 22 2004,18:13)]Yosemite Sam is now available on 3.700, 6.500, and 10.500 mhz.
Also 4.300

Have searched from 2.200 through 10.500 (that is, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 etc) looking for him, using WWV as the timing signal. Here in central NM, he is WAY over S9 on 3700. Even with the 20 db attenuator on he is 10 over S9. (Also tried lower frequencies of 1.700, 1.800 and 1.900, with no luck. So far have not found him below 3.7.

On 4.300 he is (at 0200Z 23 Dec) only S8 at best. On 6.500 he is about S3 and on 10.500 I would give him an S-1/2! However, on 10500 after a bit I no longer heard him at all, but instead a (very weak) single word at the prescribed time. Could not tell what the word was and now it has gone. Sounded like someone yelling just one word but was so far down in the grass it wasn't visible on the scope at all. It was, though, at exactly :28 after the hour, and every 40 seconds thereafter. (:08, :48, :28, etc. Same as the Yosemite Sam. )

Well, kinda fun. I doubt my earlier guess that it was some individual with a voice keyer, now that I have spent some time listening to it. Hey, maybe it's Santa??

Good night! Happy hunting.

Ed




Will have to try daytime propagation on Thursday.

Nightime prop suggests he is somewhere in the Southwest. Will know more after some day time prop listening! (maybe!)

Note: the final word "smithereens" has something cut off it at the end. Or perhaps something added? Can't understand it but sounds more like "smithereen-nees?" An extra syllable? Or a botched syllable?

Ed

[W5HTW]

Ah, 0330, he is getting quite weak on 3700. Attenuator will knock him down to almost unheard, and he is only about S8 with preamp on. On 4300 with preamp ON he is barely S2 fading out below the noise level. Unheard on other frequencies.

Probably in Texas!

I'm gonna go watch the tube. Heck with this guy until tomorrow

[w1gfh]

This "Sam" thing is changing by the moment. New freq's all the time. Try The Worldwide Utility News gang's message archives to keep up. Refresh, then scroll to bottom. Lots of "Sam" info.

http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/wun/2004-December/date.html

[ka5s]

Quote[/b] (w1gfh @ Dec. 19 2004,20:01)]Do military commo guys (or officers) have a sense of humor? Do ya think we're invading somewhere tonite? Or practicing for it?
Back in the 80's my unit's long distance multichannel HF used tape of a voice shouting to tune and allow other stations to tune in.

Cortland
KA5S

[ka5s]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Dec. 22 2004,20:16)]Here in central NM, he is WAY over S9 on 3700. #Even with the 20 db attenuator on he is 10 over S9. #(Also tried lower frequencies of 1.700, 1.800 and 1.900, with no luck. So far have not found him below 3.7.
IMO, Ft Huachuca. AZ.

Cortland
KA5S

[WF7I]

Quote[/b] (ka5s @ Dec. 23 2004,14:51)]IMO, Ft Huachuca. AZ.

Cortland
KA5S
If it is, there ought to be some hams down in Sierra Vista that are getting their S-meters pegged pretty hard. I wonder if any are reading this thread?

I'll see if I can fire up my rig when I'm down in Tucson tomorrow and listen for it, if it's still on.

[w1jeq]

Does anyone here it tonight 0213 24 Dec 04? All I can hear is CW QSO's

[W5HTW]

Nope. He disappeared mid morning today. No further transmissions on any of his 'known' frequencies.

Ed

[kb7aqd]

Per Bob, N7TWJ, who has a low NVIS antenna for 80/40M, and an FT840 rig -- "Sam" was transmitting until about 1800Z, then went away. Bob could hear "Sam" on 3700kHz DSB until 1800z...so whoever he was must have been around here.

This is a reminder to hams -- use 80M for daytime contacts over limited range when you need better range than 2M repeaters or simplex -- but do not want to hear stations from around the world on the higher bands.

Now that "Sam" may be gone -- want to try some daytime 80M experiments?

73
KB7AQD
Robert

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (w1gfh @ Dec. 19 2004,20:01)]UPDATE 0230Z: Many are hearing another "Sam beacon" down in the background using a different phrase:


"That dog - I say - that dog is about as sharp as a bowlin' ball....".
foghorn leghorn said that, not yosemite sam! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC0KBH]

I can't hear him at all! I listened a lot yesterday, and only heard him in the morning. Now all I have is my tape to remember him by...:(