Voice on 14.049

[KK4FKM]

Hey folks, while scanning on my MFJ-9020 this weekend, I heard what sounded like SSB around 14.049 (estimation on dial). I was using a zm-2 tuner and a random wire up a tree. the wire is insulated speaker wire about 24 feet long with an identical counterpoise. just wondering why I was able to pick up the signal. I am almost positive it was a ham signal but i couldn't make out the ops call. my first guess was that may antenna is a multiple of 40 or 80 meters. any ideas? I did make contact with that setup two weeks ago and had a nice qso but didn't this weekend...Thanks for any responses or direction in advance.

73
kk4fkm
mike

[K0RGR]

14.049 would be an odd place to find SSB, but most countries do not have designated bands for CW or other modes. My feeling would be that what you heard was either a ham, or a non-ham intruder. A ham operating SSB there would violate most of the agreed on 'band plans', but in most countries that's not against the law. In the U.S., it would be illegal, however. I wonder if it's someone on SSB trying to jam the W1AW transmissions on 14.0475.

[KK4FKM]

I had the the volume up all the way and was able to hear a few words here and there but with fading. i listened for a few minutes trying to hear his call. it was strange how it happened... I was camping in a local state park and was trying to build a fire. I had left my radio on and kept hearing an odd signal and thought a couple of times it was voice but shrugged it off. when i sat down again, i tweaked the signal with the RIT and could quite clearly make out words and one half of a conversation but again with fading...i may have imagined it but i thought i heard a garbled call. thats why i listened instead of passing it off as a freebander or whatever. the voice was "american" talking about mics and audio etc...

[WA9SVD]

I had the the volume up all the way and was able to hear a few words here and there but with fading. i listened for a few minutes trying to hear his call. it was strange how it happened... I was camping in a local state park and was trying to build a fire. I had left my radio on and kept hearing an odd signal and thought a couple of times it was voice but shrugged it off. when i sat down again, i tweaked the signal with the RIT and could quite clearly make out words and one half of a conversation but again with fading...i may have imagined it but i thought i heard a garbled call. thats why i listened instead of passing it off as a freebander or whatever. the voice was "american" talking about mics and audio etc...

"American?" I'm not sure what that means. We in the U.S. speak a version of English, but so do expatriated (or visiting) U.S. citizens who can be located anywhere, even here on the Left Coast. Many Canadians also speak "American" English; I don't believe it's illegal for THEM to operate SSB in parts of the Amateur bands where U.S. Amateurs are not allowed to use telephonic modes of operation. With good propagation, often foreign (even European) stations can have stronger signals than local or stateside stations.

[K0RGR]

Well, if I left the VOX on with the mike plugged into my rig, it could have been me muttering to myself, too.

[KB4QAA]

Could have been a CB'er with a stronger than legal signal.

But then, you were using speaker cable for an antenna. Maybe it was Jim Morrison of the Doors.....

[NO2A]

Dedicated qrp rigs often receive broadcast birdies throughout the band they`re on. Of course it could have been ssb,just sayin...

[WA9SVD]

Well, if I left the VOX on with the mike plugged into my rig, it could have been me muttering to myself, too.

Be prepared for an OO report or a "pink slip" from the FCC....

[K8JD]

You were using what would be a quarterwave antenna on 30M,
I can sell you my MFJ9030 and it would work great with that ant !
I used to hear the 49 meter broadcast from Radio Havana Cuba, at night, Very well on it's IF freq of 6 MHz !