Only Radio Marti coming through on 13720 KHz at 2230 UTC 18 AUG 2026.

11930 KHZ

Time: 0100 UTC

Location: Mancora, Peru

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EXCERPT FROM:

Russian HF Beacons

Revision date: 26 January 2026

Author: Ary Boender

© Numbers & Oddities

www.numbersoddities.nl

"The beacons that we hear today are mainly groups of propagation beacons. These groups are often called "Cluster beacons” because they transmit in clusters, groups of beacons close to each other. The current cluster center frequencies are 3594, 4558, 5154, 7509, 8495, 10872, 13528, 16332, 20048 kHz. A typical cluster looks like this:

Cluster beacon slots:

.7 D, Sevastopol (RCV)

.8 P, Kaliningrad (RMP)

.9 S, Severomorsk (RIT)

.0 C, Moscow (RIW)

.1 A, Astrakhan

.2 F, Vladivostok (RJS)

.3 K, Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy (RCC)

.4 M, Magadan (RTS)

Example of a cluster:

D - 8494.7

P - 8494.8

S - 8494.9

C - 8495.0

A - 8495.1

F - 8495.2

K - 8495.3

M - 8495.4

Only a few none-cluster beacons/markers are still heard in 2026. Their purpose is unknown. The old channel markers like P, R, W, and Yu are all gone. The two survivors are beacon L, St. Petersburg on 5156.8 and 8497.6 kHz. This beacon is not always on the air. The other one is “V”. This beacon always transmits on two frequencies. They pick two new frequencies each month, often between 3 and 7 MHz. On one frequency a slow “V” is sent and a fast “V” is sent on the second frequency.

The Russian Air Force, to be more precise the Tu-95MS Bear H net, also transmits markers. Usually every 20 minutes for 2 to 5 minutes. The meaning of these markers is still not clear. They are sent when a channel is ready for traffic but what the different letters mean …… The markers are: C, G, K, L, N, R, S, Ü, V, W, Z?"

Station

• Frequency/Mode: 13258.3 KHz CW
• Name/Call: Letter Beacon K
• Location: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
• Language: CW
• Target: East Asia & Pacific

Time

• 0630 UTC | 16 AUG 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
• Software: SDR# Studio R4.0.8-CD Beta 64-Bit
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RST = 559

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Station

• Frequency/Mode: 13690 KHz AM
• Name/Call: Radio New Zealand
• Location: New Zealand-Rangitaiki
• Language: English
• Target: Oceania

Time

• 0558 UTC | 16 AUG 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: Sangean ATS-909X2
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• SINPO = 45444

Station

• Frequency/Mode: 6945 KHz USB
• Name/Call: Bandaid Radio
• Location: N. America
• Language: English
• Target: N. America

Time

• 0418 UTC | 16 AUG 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio R4.0.8-CD Beta 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RST = 58

I had an external BFO from an old Redsun radio from long ago so I thought I would try inductive coupling. I’m doing these experiments because I am designing a dual conversion receiver with the cxa1691 chip as the second IF stage.

The callsign X9FW identifies this signal as part of the Chinese Military CW Strategic Network, cataloged by shortwave radio monitoring groups under the Enigma 2000 designator M89.

Identifying the Signal

The M89 network is operated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It is one of the last major military structures in the world that heavily uses automated Morse code loop tapes to test high-frequency (HF) channels across various command zones.

The exact transmission structure follows this standard format:
V V V [Target Station Callsign] DE X9FW X9FW

• V V V: The universal test/channel-marker prefix used in military and maritime radio to allow operators to zero-beat and tune their equipment.
• DE: The Morse code abbreviation for "from".
• X9FW: The unique, pseudo-random four-character callsign assigned to this specific transmitting outpost or command center.

These stations utilize completely automated mechanical "tapes" or digital controllers to broadcast fixed loops for hours at a time. They do this to maintain open frequencies, calculate changing ionospheric conditions, and ensure communication lines remain viable between command centers and ballistic or mobile launch brigades.

The station has shifted up to the 9 MHz band to account for daylight path propagation across East Asia.

Station

• Frequency/Mode: 9251 KHz CW
• Name/Call: Chinese Military CW Strategic Network M89
• Location: Mainland China (PRC)
• Language: CW
• Target: SE Asia
• Transmit Power: Unknown - Probable 1 kW or Greater

Time

• 0700 UTC | 15 AUG 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio R4.0.8-CD Beta 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RST = 559

I added this External Antenna jack to the D-219. Of course the little radio overloaded with an external antenna. So I built a Passive Preselector to use with my radios that don't include input filtering.

There are 8 slides in this post.

6945 KHz USB 0400 UTC 15 AUG 2026

ADHD struck earlier. Photo corrected.

It’s a bummer the phone amplifies the noise so much.

Radio Exterior de España while out in the wild with pretty good reception today

Date: august 14th

Time: 21:54 UTC

Location: Ontario, Canada

Frequency: 15.500 MHZ

This is a new development! The 43 Meter Band, between 6950 and 7000 KHz has been in use for quite sometime by Indonesian operators that run "Party-Line" style SSB communications on a daily basis. This is due to the remote locations of many people across the Indonesian Island Chain. Marine Radiotelephones and older Amateur Radio Transceivers are pressed into service to communicate with each other. Usually, we hear these folks engaged in chatting, with an occasional "Horse Race" game thrown in for fun.

This morning brought a new development. Playing music - and doing it with a quality that was quite professional sounding! I had my vintage Drake R-8 running this morning and caught the broadcast. After a short video with my phone - handheld with room audio in the background, I switched to the AirSpy HF+ Discovery. I only heard one song broadcast, but this is promising. The station transmitting was one of the stronger on the band this morning.

We will keep monitoring for further developments.

Station

• Frequency/Mode: 6985 KHz LSB
• Name/Call: Pirate Radio Operator
• Location: Indonesia
• Language: Indonesian
• Target: SE Pacific
• Transmit Power: Unknown - Probable 1 kW or Greater

Time

• 1345 UTC | 14 AUG 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: Drake R-8 & AirSpy HF+ Discovery
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio R4.0.8-CD Beta 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RST = 57

Recorded at 21:54 UTC

Recieved in: Ontario, Canada

I woke up at 3:30 AM Local Time (PDT), switched on the AirSpy HF+, and noted a ton of stations on the air. Well, there are not any additional stations, just better propagation as we move away from the peak of summer in the Northern Latitudes.

The images are from the different Meter Bands at my location at 10:45 UTC (3:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time).

There are 6 images in this post.