Author Topic: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?  (Read 1499 times)

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Offline cdevTopic starter

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I have VHF/UHF (SDR) receivers and my computer, and would like to get a feel for the local packet traffic activity and see if it exists and is something I'd be interested in, but frankly, I don't know where to begin.

My OS is Linux, do any packet programs work in a receive only mode so I can monitor activity without a call sign? I live in the NE US if that matters.

What frequencies should I listen on?  Its been something like two decades since I last saw a packet station in operation and that was in an area where I suspect there was likely more packet activity than here (the SF Bay Area)
« Last Edit: November 18, 2017, 06:19:47 pm by cdev »
"What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away."
 

Offline Nusa

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Re: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2017, 06:36:42 pm »
Probably not too much going on in Antarctica.
 
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Offline cdevTopic starter

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Re: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2017, 08:23:41 pm »
Its my understanding that there are always hams operating from /in Antarctica.

Probably not too much going on in Antarctica.
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Offline loxodes

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Re: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2017, 10:21:12 pm »
I can only speak about McMurdo and Pole, but I don't recall any packet activity over VHF/UHF amateur frequencies. All the radios that I recall in the ham shacks were HF.
You could listen to (probably unencrypted) pager traffic at McMurdo, but pole is kept pretty quiet to avoid interference with sensitive experiments (the neutrino observatory, microwave telescope..).

The comms shop would have the most up to date information.

(Here are some local stations: https://aprs.fi/#!addr=New%20England)
 

Offline cdevTopic starter

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Re: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2017, 01:27:35 am »
Yes indeed.. very very cool.  There are some packet people in my current location.
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Offline denverpilot

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Re: Possible to see if packet radio activity exists local to me easily?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2017, 07:49:22 am »
For APRS listen on 144.39.

Generally old school packet stuff would be up at 145.01.

All depends on local bandplan of course.
 


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