{"id":18490,"date":"2016-04-23T08:51:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T12:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=18490"},"modified":"2016-04-23T08:51:48","modified_gmt":"2016-04-23T12:51:48","slug":"guest-post-tracking-high-seas-pirates-on-shortwave-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/guest-post-tracking-high-seas-pirates-on-shortwave-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Suspected<\/a>

Suspected pirates surrender to crew members of the CGC Boutwell. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN)<\/a> for the following guest post:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio<\/h1>\n

by\u00a0Mario Filippi (N2HUN)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(All photos taken by author–click to enlarge)<\/p>\n

Ahoy!<\/em> After spinning a radio dial for over a half-century, shortwave listening still provides a source of adventure and interesting intercepts. While major broadcasters continue to move to the Internet and dwindle in number, there nonetheless remains plenty of utility intrigue to be had; you just need to know where to look, and be comfortable with other modes of communication such as RTTY (Radioteletype).<\/p>\n

RTTY remains on HF (3 \u2013 30 MHz), albeit mostly encrypted, but there are some stalwarts of this mode that transmit important and interesting information for ships at sea. The information can take the form of weather broadcasts, hazards to navigation, information on ships lost at sea, and pirate activity. Yes, pirate activity but not radio pirates; real honest-to-goodness modern day pirates looking to loot, plunder and prey upon commercial ships making an honest living or other leisure watercraft just out having fun.<\/p>\n

\"SignaLink-AOR\"<\/a>

Who knows what dangers lurk behind that dial? Trusty AOR AR-3000 receiver and SignaLink\u2122.<\/p><\/div>\n

Has your interest been piqued? When avast mateys as I spin ya\u2019 a yarn on how to find out where these sea-faring scoundrels lurk from the Caribbean all the way to the South China sea!<\/p>\n

Pirate activity is not something of the past; it exists today and is a threat conducted by ragtag armed ragamuffin groups. To keep abreast of the action you\u2019ll need the following gear: a shortwave radio with single sideband (SSB), a decent antenna, a means of decoding RTTY, and WLO, a station from Mobile, AL that transmits information to ships at sea.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll do well to add WLO\u2019s frequency to your receiver\u2019s memory list as it\u2019s a pretty active station that faithfully serves the sea-faring community and is one of the gems on HF.<\/p>\n

First, tune your receiver using USB (Upper Side Band) to around 8.472 MHz and listen for that warbling sound. You will also need a way to pipe the audio from your shortwave receiver to a computer (I use a SignaLink\u2122 USB<\/a>) and a decoding program for RTTY, such as MMTTY.<\/a><\/p>\n

To decode you\u2019ll need to set the baud rate (45.45) and shift (170 Hz) on MTTY (or software program of choice) and tune your radio slightly up and down frequency until the software starts decoding.<\/p>\n

You may have to press the \u201cReverse\u201d or \u201cRev\u201d selector at times. MMTTY is my favorite for RTTY decoding, and a picture of it is below.<\/p>\n

\"WLO,<\/a>

WLO, Mobile AL, with RYRY idling loop, MMTTY decoder, 45.45 bauds, 170Hz shift, \u201cRev.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

MMTTY is available as a free download from Makato Mori, JE3HHT<\/a>. I\u2019ve used his program for over a decade and it performs well.<\/p>\n

You can also use MultiPSK<\/a> or FLdigi <\/a>to decode RTTY so it\u2019s the user\u2019s choice as to which is a better fit.<\/p>\n

Anyway, what are these pirates up to? Well the next few screenshots (click to enlarge) show some interesting activity as per WLO\u2019s RTTY transmissions:<\/p>\n

\"Pirates<\/a>

Pirates use element of surprise with guns and knives as armaments.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Somali<\/a>

Somali pirates reportedly armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Yikes!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"pic5\"<\/a>

Give \u2018em hell boys! An alert bulk carrier crew aborted hijacking with teamwork and water cannon.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Ships<\/a>

Ships are encouraged to report pirate activity via FAX or phone.<\/p><\/div>\n

Well mateys that\u2019s enough high seas adventure for now, so first shove off to the galley for some grub (or grog) and then head to the radio room, turn on that rig and get ready for action on HF, you\u2019ll find plenty to choose from, it\u2019s out there for you.<\/p>\n

I would like to thank the operators of WLO<\/a> for providing such a valuable service to mariners and for providing us radio aficionados with interesting reception! And thanks readers!<\/p>\n

P.S. Note that WLO alternates from RTTY to Sitor B so just make sure you are listening to the RTTY broadcast. If the transmission is in Sitor B then you can use a NAVTEX (e.g. YAND) decoder instead.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Thank you so much, Mario, for sharing yet another fascinating aspect of our radio world! FYI: I’m planning on purchasing a SignaLink USB at the Dayton Hamvention this year.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Readers, you can read all of Mario’s posts by clicking or bookmarking this link<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio by\u00a0Mario Filippi (N2HUN) (All photos taken by author–click to enlarge) Ahoy! After spinning a radio dial for over a half-century, shortwave listening still provides a source of adventure and interesting intercepts. While major broadcasters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1114,3194,545,627,3,26,43,1113,1167],"tags":[4599,1116,4311,5008,3557,4478,5009,1075,4680,3964],"class_list":["post-18490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-modes","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-how-to","category-news","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","category-tutorials","category-whats-on-shortwave","tag-aor-ar-3000a","tag-fldigi","tag-mario-filippi-n2hun","tag-mmtty","tag-multipsk","tag-radiotelegraphy","tag-radioteletype","tag-rtty","tag-signalink-usb","tag-wlo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-4Oe","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51464,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/schulman-auctions-posts-new-lots-of-radio-gear-for-january-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":0},"title":"Schulman Auctions posts new lots of radio gear for January 2022","author":"Thomas","date":"January 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Mario Filippi, who writes: There is a lot of gear for auction from Schulman Auctions. There are several shortwave radios and other vintage gear, even crystal radios. Eye candy for radio buffs. 73's, Mario, N2HUN Thank you for the tip, Mario! Click here to check out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Schulman-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15755,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/guest-post-trip-down-shortwave-memory-lane-via-vintage-radioshack-catalogs\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":1},"title":"Guest post: Trip Down Shortwave Memory Lane via Vintage RadioShack Catalogs","author":"Thomas","date":"November 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario\u00a0Filippi (N2HUN), for the\u00a0following guest post: Trip Down Shortwave Memory Lane via Vintage RS Catalogs -Mario Filippi (N2HUN) Attached is a wonderful website containing archived Radio Shack catalogs and sales flyers going back to 1939, surely of interest to SWLs, hams, and other electronics\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RadioShack-Catalog","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/RadioShack-Catalog.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/RadioShack-Catalog.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/RadioShack-Catalog.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51037,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/mario-finds-a-monophonic-earphone-with-6-foot-cord\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":2},"title":"Mario finds a monophonic earphone with 6 foot cord","author":"Thomas","date":"December 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: Attached is a picture of a recent purchase of mine from eBay, a six foot long monophonic earphone for use with my Panasonic RF-2200. Single mono earphones of that length are not easy to find. Most are too short\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/white-earphone-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16890,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/how-to-decode-maritime-broadcasts-in-rtty-sitor-b-and-navtex\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":3},"title":"How to decode maritime broadcasts in RTTY, Sitor B, and NAVTEX","author":"Thomas","date":"January 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario\u00a0Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Maritime Broadcasts in RTTY, Sitor B, and NAVTEX. By Mario Filippi, N2HUN (All photos below are courtesy of the author. Click each image to enlarge.) Non-voice high seas weather broadcasts and safety messages to mariners can be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"(Photo Credit: NOAA)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/noaa-ship-maritime-fairweather1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/noaa-ship-maritime-fairweather1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/noaa-ship-maritime-fairweather1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/noaa-ship-maritime-fairweather1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17965,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/guest-post-using-the-hackrf-one-for-dgps-beacon-reception\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":4},"title":"Guest Post: Using the HackRF One for DGPS Beacon Reception","author":"Thomas","date":"April 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Receiving \u00a0with a HackRF One, SDR#, and MultiPSK by\u00a0Mario Filippi (N2HUN) The HackRF One is a Software Defined Radio manufactured by Great Scott Gadgets (www.greatscottgadgets.com) and has been on the market for a few years. Having\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"h1-preliminary1-445","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/h1-preliminary1-445.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23176,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/radio-wall-clocks-marios-ebay-find\/","url_meta":{"origin":18490,"position":5},"title":"Radio Wall Clocks: Mario’s eBay find","author":"Thomas","date":"January 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: Hi Thomas, These have been popping up on eBay, reasonable price, with face markings just like an old shortwave radio dial. Click here to view Zenith wall clock. Pretty nice gift for the SWL who has everything! Click here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Zenith-Wall-Clock-e1483702173856-998x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Zenith-Wall-Clock-e1483702173856-998x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Zenith-Wall-Clock-e1483702173856-998x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18490\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}