Why UTE's are Alright with ME

Many radio amateurs got their start as shortwave listen listeners, not just shortwave broadcasting,
but also listening to what are known colloquially known as UTE's - Utility stations.  UTE's encompass many different radio services, from military and weather-related (on one extreme) to Numbers stations and clandestines (at the other extreme).  The well-known frequency std. stations (such as WWV & WWVH and CHU) also provide time-of-day information.  As I have written in the past, there are also propagation beacons littered throughout the HF spectrum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popular Electronics and Popular Communications developed a registered monitor program. 
I even received a uniquely assigned monitor ID from Popular Communications: WPC6RF.

It might surprise you to know that there are many amateur advantages to engaging in shortwave listening.  Some of these advantages include:

• It improves overall listening skills.
• Learning to spot in-band "intruders".
• Receive parallel indications of propagation.
• Learning improved use of IF/DSP/AF filter combinations.
• Time std. stations are a form of UTE whether by std. receiver or SDR.
• Offers another perspective relating to the overall global situation, as still
  reflected in the HF SW spectrum.
• Encourages listening to SDR receivers around the world for better reception of an initially heard UTE.  My FAV SDR's include TWENTE, HALF-Moon Bay and Northern Utah.

Number stations and CW UTE's are quietly littered throughout the SW spectrum.  Spinning the
dial on your shortwave receiver or tuning around on one of the many SDR receivers on the internet
will bring you all kinds of different UTE's.  Many may sound confusing to you.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case in point for me was the DW Cw beacon I stumbled onto via the Hal Moon Bay SDR. 
I noticed that the ID happened every minute and approximately every 5 minutes a set of
numbers were sent, I have yet to decipher, even tho I wrote some of the numbers down. 
BTW, notice how CLOSE the DW beacon is to CHU - the Canadian time standard station. 

Using the DW beacon, listen frequently, making detailed notes about what you hear:

 - Noting the time of day, can give clues to as
   to the specifics of what the station is about. 

- Notice here that 3 types of data is sent:
  BAT, OTMP & ITMP.

- There may be a correlation between the data
   sent and the time of day.  Daily monitoring
   for awhile will give us additional information.

- When there is uncertainty about a given
   station, sometimes listening on another
   receiver or SDR can give us some clues
   as to what the stations is all about.

- In specialty magazines (such as Spectrum
Monitor) other readers made have reported
  the same station and provide you with
  more/detailed information.

 

Events around the world change, virtually every day.  Sometimes political happening around the world can have an effect on different UTE stations.  While a given/band or frequency may be quiet today, tomorrow, there could easily be a flood of station activity.  For that reason, I have been keeping an eye on the European Russian beacons.  Look for a followup on those beacons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, Pirate stations make their own schedules separate from the geopolitical situations
going on around the globe.  Knowing when/where to listen for them can reward you with all
manner of interesting listening.

While numerous shortwave broadcast stations have ceased shortwave broadcasting,
the HF shortwave spectrum remains LOADED with interesting things to listen to. 
Some listeners want only pre-programmed programming on the radio. 
Speaking for the rest of us: "UTE's are alright with me!"

Do YOU listen for UTE's on shortwave?

What unique stations have YOU heard?