"W" CW Shortwave 'pirate' Beacon - 4078 kHz

A CW (Morse Code) Beacon with the single letter "W" (possibly a Pirate Beacon) is received on a frequency in or around 4078.2 kHz on shortwave. This was received on Icom IC-756ProII receiver using an 80 Meter dipole antenna in late 2008. Monitoring of this beacon indicates it is only receivable in the evening until about 7 or 8 AM in the morning.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• shortwave pirate beacon
• beacons
• signals
• CW
• Morse Code

[hemii13]

What is a pirate beacon

[uploadJ]

It is a 'beacon' that is, um, well, it seems, unlicensed, as in "it is not sanctioned to operate where it is operating".

That is to say, in quick terms, there might not be an application made to the FCC for a permit (but really, to tell you the truth this is only speculation on my part).

They do serve a purpose though, they work as propagation tools, as tools to study radio wave propagation on certain specfic frequencies, as the propagation changes from night to day and back again.

.

[stg7]

I like your videos :) What time/CQ zone are you in, so I can "hunt" the signals you have been posting these days?

[uploadJ]

Tnx for the comment. In the Central US Time zone (GMT-6) and in North Central Tx to be exact.

[escueladeleyi]

I once read an article about this that stated once one of these beacons was actually tracked to this remote location, and turned out to be a battery powered radio transmitting the same letter over and over in morse code strung up between 2 trees. Go figure!

[s52ab]

Thanks for presentation ! 73

[k2wi]

These are often Russian Navy marker beacons.  There was a series on 7Mc for a while.

[hemochromatosis]

nice gear!

[SexyAlphaMale]

i think its how pirates let other pirates know where the treasure is

[VictoreCelia]

cool...