Big Changes In Amateur Service Rules On Page 65
D08635
APRIL 2000
4IP
A Loo How WBT Folght Soviet Propaganda Alite's Archives: Bro_dadcagting From ok The Outlaw Empirek,
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8 i7adioiSosconf - An American Version At The Height Of The Cold War, WBT Fought Backby Carl Tyrie 16 Broadcasting From The Outlarf Empire: The "Nation" Lasted Only 13 Years, But Uade Itself Heard! by Alice Brannigan 70 A Netri Frontier- Copying Link Establishment (ALE) Signals is Easy by "RD" Baker and Mike Fink Product Spotlight
60 AOR's AR 5000 Plus 3 by Ken Reiss
22 Ready For Worldwide Action? Gordo Tests All -Band HF Vertical Antennas Radio Resources
26 Building A Selective Crystal Set The Radio Connection
31 Radio Free Chechnya's Current Schedule, And The Latest Anti -Castro Lineup On WRMI Clandestine Communiqué
32 Idiocy At At The FCC, And Cobra's New Night Watch 29 WX ST CB Scene
36 Radios And Road Trips The Ham Column
40 Navigating International SW BC Bands The Easy Way World Band Tuning Tips
44 Scanner Features, Part II Scan Tech
48 Callsign Actions Are Back! Broadcast DXing
52 It's On The Internet, So It's Gospel, Right? Radio & The Internet
55 Super Six: English Skeds From A Half -Dozen Broadcasters The Listening Post
65 Big Changes In Amateur Service Rules Washington Beat
68 Captain Ron's Idea Of A Great Top -Ten List The Pirate's Den
80 CB And The Army The Loose Connection is: chit Right how,
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.1 4 Tuning In - An Editorial OK7e eavez Sun is 6 Pop'Comm P.O.- Letters shining Aircraft Commander Captain Kevin E. Schller pre -flights his 35 How I Got Started KC -135 tanker aircraft at MacDill AFB. You can hear the U.S. Air Force ALE network and much more by cecoding Automatic 42Product Parade Link Establishment (ALE) transmissions. This month's "Communications Confidential" column by "RD" Baker and 79 Readers' Market Mike Fink explains how on page 70. (Photo by Larry Mulvehill)
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POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS EDITORIAL STAFF Harold Ort, N2RLL, SSB-596,Editor An Editorial (Internet e-mail: PopularCom©aol.com) Tom Kneitel, K2AES/SSB-13, Senior Editor (Internet e-mail: K2AESAjunacom) Three License Classes And One Morse Alycia Nicholsen, Assistant Editor Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Online Coordinator Code Exam (Internet e-mail: W2VU:kamsat.org) Some will see it as they saw the no -tion to the usual Technician -level mater- code Technician licensing program ial - General Class items including HF CONTRIBUTING EDITORS - a dumbing down of amateuroperation. Gordon's "Radio Resources" Richard "RD" Baker, Utility Communications Ed Bamat, TCA-44, CB SSB radio - while thinking, reasonable hamscolumn this month is about HF verticals. Peter J. Bertini, K1ZJH, Restoration/Electronics will see the light. The FCC's recentThere's more coming down the pike to Joe Carr, K4IPV, Antennas restructuring of the amateur radio ser-help new HF operators gain a better Bruce Conti, AM/FM Broadcasts vice, effective April 15 will contain threeunderstanding of everything from prop- Joseph Cooper, Projects and Broadcast Band license classes: Technician, General, andagation to RF safety, so stay tuned and Gerry L. Dexter, Shortwave Broadcast Alan Dixon, LegislativeAffairs Extra with a single written exam for each make Pop'Comm your first choice! Jock Elliott, SSB-734, Citizens Band grade of license. And there will be one There's no question that the code bar Eric Force, Radio and the Internet code exam at 5 wpm. Period. The restruc- needed to be lowered. Given the fact that Kirk Kleinschmidt, NTOZ, Amateur Radio turing decision will also grandfather cur-the amateur hobby isn't exactly experi- Ian Poole, SW Broadcasting rent Novices and Advance Class opera- encing phenomenal growth and that any- Bill Price, N3AVY, Humor/Communications tors, who may renew or modify their Ken Reiss, Technical/Scanning one can hop on the Internet - with or Edward Teach, Pirate and Alternative Radio current license; there's no change in priv- without knowing how to type or even put J.T. Ward, Scanning ileges. Tech -Plus hams will be renewed words together to form a sentence - with- Gordon West, WB6NOA, Radio Resources as Technicians, but will retain their HF out being concerned about antennas, operating privileges. Other pertinent neighbors,licenses,tests,expensive BUSINESS STAFF changes include: equipment, or restrictions. That's still not Richard A. Ross, K2MGA,Publisher to say we shouldn't be encouraging peo- Donald R. Allen, W9CW, Advertising Mgr. There are no changes in callsignple to join our ranks. But, more impor- Emily Leary, Sales Assistant groups. tantly, we shouldn't be discouraging peo- Sal Del Grosso, Accounting Manager Ann Marie DeMeo, Accounting Department VECs' Question Pool Committee ple from joining amateur radio's ranks - Judith Erickson, Office Manager will decide which parts of the current either by outdated code tests or our own Catherine Ross, Circulation Manager exam elements 2, 3A, and 4A will com- blind stupidity, selfishness, and cranky Melissa Gilligan, Operations Manager bine into which new elements. attitudes. Potential hams with two-thirds Denise Kells, Data Processing Recognizing the reality that the VECs of a brain will go elsewhere for fun. Jennifer Cormagi, Customer Service actually prepare the exams rather than I'll admit that I've been procrastinat- PRODUCTION STAFF individual VE teams. ing. I wrote the book on "later," espe- Elizabeth Ryan, Art Director There will be no automatic upgradescially when it comes to taking any kind Barbara McGowan, Associate Art Director - all must be requested at a VE session.of test. Like most people who study, in Edmond Pesonen, Electronic Comp. Mgr. The much -abused disability waiver the end I almost always amaze myself. Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Manager for code tests is eliminated. But getting to "the end" is sometimes Emily Leary, Assistant Production Manager These are the salient points of the Hal Keith, Technical Illustrator like going to the dentist. Chances are I'm Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI, Photographer restructuring; for more details, read this only in for the standard cleaning, but the A publication of month's "Washington Beat" column onthought of that bright light and all those page 65. These changes have been com- shiny tools practically kills me. So it was CO Communications, Inc. 25 Newbridge Road ing for a long time - long overdueeven with the basic Technician test.I Hicksville, NY 11801-2953 USA changes that finally put the code/no-codeknew my stuff, but nevertheless still got Offices: 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville. NY 11801. Telephone debate to rest once and for all. Who won sweaty palms. (516) 681-2922. FAX (516) 681-2926. Web Site:
4 / POP'COMM / April 2000 ScanOurWeb Site Download Sup?orted by Radio Manager for Windows for downloading record- ed f-equencies to a computer
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ory with number of hits and time and date iInternal speaker, Audio earphone/headphone jack Built-in PC interface for down - iI )ading memories to a computer 800 feet pick up distance from 5 watt UHF radiotiManually record CTCSS, DCS, LTR, DTMF, Signal Strength, and Deviation to memory Locks onto strong signals in less than 1 second IAutomatic or manual hold OPTODIRECT 800-327-5912 Xplorer Test Receiver include,: aft MTV% umEmONTE.110. IL Etrita 0 TAMPS. PC load cable. %ellII V`__-= *tog II MI6/I 111 5821 Northeast 14th Avenue Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334 Lleptione 954-771-2050 Fax 954-771-2052 Email [email protected] www.optoelectronics.com `Cellular frequencies blocked except for FCC approved users CIRCLE 155 ON READER SERVICE CARD OUR SPEAK OUT...
Each month, we select representative some folks out there ready to rumble. have one and can't drive a tractor -trail- reader letters for our "Pop'Comm P.O." Requirements to be an amateur radio er doesn't mean I'm not roadworthy. It column. We reserve the right to condense operator: Morse Code, receive at a spe- will he a cold day in hell when I'in found lengthy letters for space reasons and to cific word -per -minute rate for a certain driving one of those rigs! There''s a rea- edit to conform to style. All letters sub- license class and a written examination. son for that, Ray. I'm a darned good dri- mitted must be signed and show a return Simple, those are the two requirements. ver (just like you're a darned good ham mailing address or valid E-mail address. except for .your attitude, right?) but I'm Upon request, we will withhold a sender's Requirements for a driver's license: name if the letter is used in "Pop'Comm Eye test, written exam, and an on -the - not yet qualified to drive a big rig. Not P.O." Address letters to: Harold Ort, road driving test. Simple, those are the only that, but I DON'T WANT TO RIGHT N2RLL, SSB-596, Editor,Popular Com- three requirements. NOW. But it certainly doesn't make me munications, 25Newbridge Road, Hicks- No -Code amateur radio operators are less qualified to drive our car. ville, NY 11801-2909, or send E-mail via lazy individuals with a lot of excuses; I Ray, I'm not a psychologist, but I'll bet the Internet to
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4 4 his is Radio Moscow. Good evening, everybody. You are tuned to the North American service of Radio Moscow, operating in the31-,41-,and 49 -meter bands. Transmission begins daily at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 10 frequen-
cies: 9.62, 9.59. .." Thus began the Soviet Union's propa- ganda message aimed at U.S. shortwave listeners in the 1950s and '60s. The Russian transmissions combined hour- long programming cycled with interludes of music each day between 6 p.m. and I a.m. The above Radio Moscow opening was also heard three times a week on the commercial airwaves in Charlotte, N.C., between 1959 and 1965. It was part of an American version of Radio Moscow aired by WBT(AM). WBT's version con- sisted of taped excerpts from recent Russian broadcasts, followed by analysis and rebuttal by WBT's co -hosts. Although hard-core McCarthyism was mostly out of date when the program WBTV engineer Lon Chaney monitors Radio Moscow in the basement of his home in Union made its debut in January, 1959, the ColdCounty. Lon has three receivers and three tape recorders. Depending on reception, he could War was going strong and anti -Russian have as many as three recordings at once. Later, he rigged a device which automatically recorded from the receiver giving the best reception. sentiment would remain strong for sev- eral years, aided by incidents such as the downing of the American U-2 spy plane and the Cuban missile crisis. Therefore,the propaganda coming into America. He the Observer included foreign affairs edi- the atmosphere allowed the airing of aalready had the vehicle - WBT, a 50 kW torial writing. commercial radio program that would be clear channel station operating at 1110 WBT staff announcer Alan Newcomb laughed at today. kHz. With a north -south nighttime trans- was selected as producer and primary Radio Moscow, the American version,mitting pattern, the station had a healthyanchor for the program. Newcomb had was the brainchildof Charles U.S. audience up and down the East Coastbeen a WWII prisoner of war in Nazi Crutchfield,VicePresidentofthe and in Cuba, which was to be a primaryGermany and was freed by Russians. He Jefferson Standard Broadcastingtarget for the Radio Moscow series. made many Russian contacts at that time, Company, the owner ofWBT. For starters, Crutchfield recruited his using these and his prisoner -of -war expe- Crutchfield was familiar with Soviet "team," which revolved around two menriences as resource material for a book, radio propaganda tactics following State who did most of the research, writing, and Vacation With Pay. Department missions to Greece and on -air work. Hired as chief writer was for- After experimenting with various types Russia, where he listened to Radiomer Charlotte Observer editor Rupertof shortwave equipment, WBT installed Moscow'sEuropeanprogramming.Gillett, who had previously worked forreceivers and recorders in the basement of When Crutchfield returned to the United newspapers in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. the home of a staff engineer, whose pri- States, he decided to do something about Gillett's duties during his 15 -year stint atmary job was to monitor and record the
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I ,dttIN:. sales tax.Prices. Chuck. KM4NZ, Mgr. (AMC OM III(N; specifications, Exit 1 descriptions, 1-93 kt. Subject to change 28 mi. No. of Boston without notice. daily Russian broadcasts. Gillett would then listen to the recordings and select the MO CKOBCKOE PAAI4O excerpts he considered to be suitable for AA.I use on WBT's version of Radio Moscow. ICA.N: He and Newcomb would refine the WBT rebuttal and serve as co -hosts during the broadcasts. To keep the commentaries as current as possible, programs were usual- RADIOMOSCOW ly written from the previous night's Soviet MOSCOW USSR broadcasts. During periods of poor recep- tion of Soviet signals, programs were put April 2, 1959 together from Radio Moscow tapes on file that had no time element, such as dis- RADIO STATION WET Charlotte, N.C. coursesongeneraltopicssuchas U.S.A. Communism, industrial growth rates, and education in the Soviet Union. With the production team chosen and the technical problems solved, the series Gentlemen: went on the air late in January, 1959. For We have learned that your station is re-broadcasting the first two months, weekly half-hour Radio Moscow's short-wave news prOgram on Sundays, with programs were aired Sunday nights at 9 comments by American news-analysts. p.m. From then on, programs were cut to we would very much appreciate it if you would send 15 minutes and aired at 9:15 p.m. on us a few of these programs on tape for our information. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Respectfully, format for each program was basically the same: a half -dozen 30- to 40 -second cuts from Soviet broadcasts would be played (Mrs.) Eugenia Stepanova and interspersed with commentary by NORTH AMERICAN SERVICE Gillett and Newcomb. A typicalprogram wasaired on RADIO February 15, 1959. Part of the program STATION centered on the controversy involving the charlotte, WBT Russian downing of an American plane BorthCaroli. U.S.A. tut inside the Soviet borders. This was not the Gary Powers' U-2 incident, although that event would be a prime source for many Radio Moscow programs, both the Soviet and American versions, the following - MOscow year. The February 15, 1959 program maccow assn began with the standard recording of the Soviet program's opening, followed by: The letter from Radio Moscow to WBT requesting tapes of the programs. Newcomb: "You are listening to the actual voice of Radio Moscow, beaming Gillett: "Yes, the theme song this weekthe American plane. It gives a graphic its powerful propaganda message towardhas been mainly the incident in which the description, from Russian lips, of the the North American continent, as theAmerican plane was shot down behindwhole incident. Now listen to what Radio Soviet Union sends hundreds of broad-the Soviet frontier in Armenia, and also, Moscow has to say about this revelation." casts in many languages to people all overthe closing speech of Premier Kruschev the world each day. before the Communist Party Congress." Radio Moscow: "This evening Radio With the purpose of informing the Moscow news observer Nikoli Andriev American public of the day-to-day activi- Newcomb: "Well, this plane incidentdwells on the fuss raised in the United ty of the Cold War, WBT has begun thehas really stirred a lot of fuss. MoscowStates about the United States Air Force actualre -broadcastingofshortwavecould be expected to scream 'Foul' whenplane crash over Soviet territory last reception from Radio Moscow, so that you the State Department released the record- September, and this is what he has to say. -a free American citizen - may knowings of conversations between Russian `It looks as if the State Department wish- what the Russians are saying about youfighter pilots while they were shooting es to make the crash of the American mil- and your country. I am Alan Newcomb and down an unarmed American transportitary plane over Soviet Armenia last with me here in the shortwave room is Mr. planeneartheborderof Russian September the main leader for fanning the Rupert Gillett, editorial foreign affairsArmenia. This recording, as translated by Cold War and its anti-Soviet campaign for expert. Mr. Gillett, our monitoring ofthe State Department, gives the wholethe present. The ceaseless hullabaloo in Russian broadcasts this week has all hadexchange of messages by the Russian one emphasis, hasn't it?" pilots while they stalked and shot down (Continued on page 15)
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byGRUIF1CIIG Lextronix I Grundig, P.O. Box 2307, Menlo Park, CA 94026 Tel: 650-361-1611 Fax: 650-361-1724 Shortwave Hotlines: (US) 1-800-872-2228 (CN) 1-800-637-1648 Web: www.grundigradio.net CIRCLE 159 ON READER SERVICE CARD the last few days about the fake voicenominal charge and offered to universitythe perceived threat of Communism recordings of Russian fliers supposed to stations at no charge. According to an in-seemed to fade. The Russians contributed have shot the plane down are meant tohouse WBT newsletter in February, 1963, to this by pursuing cultural and agricul- breathe new strength into an old campaign.25 stations subscribed to the service, tural trade agreements with the West and Let's just for one moment disregard themaking Radio Moscow available to 80by lessening its jamming efforts against propaganda rattle and melodramatic posespercent of the U.S. KGEI in Belmont, radio services such as Radio Free Europe. of State Department spokesmen. Let'sCalifornia, also beamed the programs via The Sovietsalso toned down their examine the facts objectively and soberlyshortwave to a Latin American audience. rhetoric. Terms of denunciation such as and see who's right and who's wrong inThe Soviet version of Radio Moscow"capitalistic pigs" and "fascist hyena" this whole affair. The American plane thateven paid some attention to the program, faded from the airwaves. Meanwhile, crashed over Armenia was a militaryrequesting tapes of the WBT broadcastsAmerican attention was being increas- plane. It was deep in the USSR's air space. in April, 1959. ingly taken up by threats in another part Its intrusion was not accidental, but delib- Radio Moscow received several hon-of the world - Southeast Asia. erate. As the New York correspondent ofors over the years for WBT. When Sigma the Paris Figarro wrote yesterday, 'TheDelta Chi awarded its two radio awards The Cold War Ends American plane that crashed was mostin 1960, one of them (for distinguished probably a flying antenna for an American public service) went to Radio Moscow, As the Cold War faded, Radio Moscow intelligence station located in the Turkishwhich was in good company that year:died. It was taken off the air by WBT in border town of Vann.- other SDX winners were Hodding Carter January, 1965, after a six -year stint as one III, Managing Editor of the Greenville, of the most unusual locally -produced pro- Newcomb: "Well, as you can see Mississippi, Delta Democrat for editori- grams in American broadcast history. (interrupting this Radio Moscow sum -al writing, Smith Hempstone, Jr., of the Newcomb, Gillett, and Crutchfield have mar), when Moscow begins to investigate Chicago Daily News for foreign corre- all since died, and Crutchfield donated all something objectively and with a coldspondence, and David Brinkley, then ofRadio Moscow material to the Broadcast look at the facts, the facts turn out to be NBC, for TV newswriting. Pioneers Library, the archives at the Russian facts - flat denials, first of all, After receiving the SDX and severalUniversity Of North Carolina, Chapel of the fact that Russia had anything to doother awards, WBT got a letter from FBIHill and the Charlotte Public Library. with the loss of the plane. Secondly, a flatDirector J. Edgar Hoover. "Your series Crutchfield felt that the atmosphere in statement that the Americans trumped up certainly is deserving of recognition," hethe United States had become consider- and fabricated the whole affair. You' 11said, "and I know these awards must giveably different than it was in those days. note, for example, that they say it was ayou a deep sense of satisfaction. YourHe said Americans used to believe every- military plane, implying that this was an continued interest in seeking to alert ourthing that came out of Washington. "But," armed invasion of Soviet Armenia, whencitizenry to the menace of atheistic [sic] he said, "there's a great deal of skepti- actually this was a military transport -acommunism is indeed encouraging." cism. And rightfully so. We not only dis- flying boxcar - and not a military plane In effect, the fate of Radio Moscow was trust Communist propaganda, but we dis- in the sense that it was a weapon of war. tied to the ebb and flow of the Cold War. trust our own news, particularly that
It was rather a transport plane." As the nation moved into the mid -'60s,coming out of Washington."
Gillett: "And you notice that they quote the newspaperFigarro,' which isa youAIN'T HEARD NOTHIN ...YET Since 1967, CRB Research has been the worlds Lee Electronics French Communist newspaper. If not leading publisher and supplier of unique hobby and Communist, it is at least very far to the left professional books and information including: Scanners, SW, FRS and More: Scanner Freq. Guides Military/ Federal Comm and could be expected to agree with Radio Broadcast Station Undercover ASR Bearcat again Registries Communications Moscow on whatever that organ says." Shortwave Feq. Guides & Other Related Topics! SANGEANFREE PLAYuniden Ask for CRB RESEARCH 1-800-578-6006 Newcomb: "They seem to make a our latest P.O. Box 56, Commack, NY 11725 FREE Ph: (631) 543-9169 FAX: (631) 543-7486 Tech:1(7*24) 275-5822 point, don't they, Mr. Gillett, of quoting catalog. [email protected] www.cibbooks.com www-LeesElect.corn those papers which are probably going to CIRCLE 11 ON READER SERVICE CARD give the line they want to use anyway?" SEE US ON THE WEB! Rave Review www.vikingint.com Gillett: "Oh yes. They either do that or Pop Comm they change the quotations that they take April '96 ..---;Pbfessional from more respectable newspapers." HOUR "BUILTLIKE H BliTTLEBHIP" Heavy duty commercial recorder - SPECIAL NOT improvised from consumer models During the remainder of the WBT pro- 7'DP DM- gram, Gillett offered examples of how the 12, 14, and 16 hour models also available Soviets altered quotes taken from The BUILT-IN voice activation (add $30) Washington Post and The New York Times. Applications information includedFREE The Americanversionof Radio Dimensions: 11.5 x 7 0 x 2.75" Moscow became national in scope short- ly after WBT began producing the pro- COOS OKCalit resioenis add laxSorry. no credit cards. Free catalog USA only, other countries S grams. Tapes of the programs were Viking Systems International 100 North Hill Drive #42, Brisbane, CA 94005 offered to other commercial stations at a Factory Direct Phone: (415) 467-1220 Fax: (415) 467-1221 "Since 1971" www.popular-communications.com CIRCLE 76 ON READER SERVICE CARD April 2000 / POP'COMM / 15 Broadcasting From The Outlaw Empire The "Nation" Lasted Only 13 Years, But Made Itself Heard!
By Alice Brannigan
Manchuria, a region in East Asia using as little as 10 watts and another under loose Chinese control, rated at 100 watts. The lower powered had long been coveted by both local stations were located in Russia and Japan, and was the primary Mutankiang, Yenki, Tsitsihar, Chengheh, site of the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese war. Chinchow, Chinhsien, Peian,Hailar, The Russians lost and withdrew, leaving Chiamssu, and Kirin. theJapaneseincontrolof South Those odd call letters beginning with Manchuria. In 1907, a Chinese civil the prefix "MT" were bootleg. That's administration was set up in Manchuria, because "MT" belonged to a callsign though for years Japan insisted upon spe- block assigned to the United Kingdom. cial rights there. This was necessary, Actually, MT&T used the prefix "MT" Japan claimed, to defend its interests in Studios and transmitter site of station JQAK, simply because it happened to reflect the adjacent Korea. But in the 1920s, the Darien, Manchukuo. initials of Manchuria Telephone. The net- Japanese became uneasy about Chiang work's flagship station, MTCY, earned Kai-shek's increasingly successful those self -assigned call letters because efforts to unify China. This resulted inout resisting the Japanese. However, the theylooselyrepresentedtheterm officers of the Japanese Kwantung forces League of Nations appointed the LyttonManchuria Telephone Company. stationed in Manchuria staging an inci-Commission to investigate the Japanese dent that led to the complete Japaneseoccupation and decide what should be Getting On Shortwave occupation of Manchuria. done. The Commission declared Japan the aggressor, ordered Japan to dissolve Beginning on July 16, 1937, station The Mukden Incident the Empire of Manchukuo, and withdraw JQAK's programs were occasionally its troops. Instead, Japan walked out ofgiven one -hour shortwave relay broad- Known as The Mukden Incident, thisthe League of Nations, continued its occu- casts via MT&T's 10 kW point-to-point event occurred on September 18, 1931. pation of Manchuria, and maintained itsstation JDY. This station operated on An explosion took place along the Empire of Manchukuo. 9925 kHz (later changed to 9994 kHz). Japanese controlled railroad. Japanese JQAK's programming was in Japanese, troops used this pretext as justification to Spreading The Word Chinese, and English. JDY was primari- quickly occupy the city of Mukden, fol- ly used for two-way phone communica- lowed a few days later by a full-scale The occupation government realizedtions with Tokyo and was considered Japanese invasion of all of Manchuria. In the potentials of radio broadcasting to"elusive" by North American DX' ers. 1932, despite protests from the League ofreach out to local citizens. By 1936, theThough JDY would send colorful QSL Nations,theJapaneseproclaimedJapanese -run Manchuria Telephone andcards to confirm correct reports of its Manchuria as the "independent" republic Telegraph Company, Ltd., 601 Daido- JQAK relays, it ignored reports concern- of Manchukuo (or Manchoukuo), with its Traigai,Hsinking (now knownas ing its point-to-point transmissions. JDY capital at Hsinking. In 1933, the adjacent Changchun) had constructed 15 broad-took at least three months to respond to province of Jehol was also occupied andcasting stations across Manchukuo. FiveNorth American reception reports. Note annexed. In 1934, figurehead Manchuregional stations ran the most power.that during the 1930s, Japan was a nation emperor K'ang-te was the appointed They were JQAK in Darien with 1 kW onthat forbade its own citizens (except ruler, and the Japanese puppet Empire of760 kHz, MTBY in Mukden (now called licensed amateur operators) to own short- Manchukuo was established. Shenyang) with1 kW on 890 kHz, wave receivers. The Japanese forces had met little resis- MTCY in Hsinking with 10 kW on 560 tance because Chiang Kai-shek was con- kHz, MTGY in Yinkow with 1 kW on Telling The World centrating his efforts and resources on1270 kHz, and MTFY in Harbin with 3 controlling the rest of China. He had told kW on 674 kHz. Other stations had only The shortwave relays from JDY were his forces in Manchuria to withdraw with - local coverage and ran 50 watts, with onetoo brief, too irregularly sent out, and too
16 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site the Tripartite Pact (September 27, 1940), provided for a military and political coali- -r, tion between Japan, Germany, and. Italy kr.Lilt, (the Axis Powers). Inasmuch as France ZIPo antp.'4-,2 d tiorify your report CiVICIr' had fallen to the Germans, on September 22, 1940, Japan was sanctioned by the followingprogram /mu our 16orhurts stabon local Vichy (German appointed) govern-
J bY,4425 10 ment in French Indochina to station
30,000 troops there. From that date, and until the end of WWII, Indochina was a Vichy French -administered possession of 7:4411.5 "C Japan. This marked the onset of World War II military action in the Pacific. MTCY continued its shortwave broad- casts, but until WWII ended, MTCY was just one of more than 45 other Axis short- An early version of the four-color QSL sent out by JDY, which relayed JQAK on shortwave. wave propaganda stations in Japan and French Indochina. As soon as the U.S. dropped the atom bomb on Japan in 1945, Soviet troops poorly received overseas to be consideredprovision of good wholesome entertain- invaded Manchuria, and Manchukuo was true international broadcasts.Surely, ment to listeners abroad." dissolved. Russia occupied Manchuria JDY was insufficient to allow These shortwave programs were wide-from 1945-46. Fighting broke out there Manchukuo to plead its case before thely reported and soon attracted a substan- from 1946-48 between Chiang Kai- world. This, in the face of Japan's rejec-tial audience. MTCY was generous with Shek's (American supported) Nationalist tion of the League of Nations edict, andits QSL cards, and even sent listenersChinese troops and Mao Tse-tung's the continuing controversy regarding its greeting cards for Christmas, 1939. One (Soviet -aided)ChineseCommunist occupation of Manchuria and establish- curious thing about MTCY's 1939 greet-troops. Manchuria came under the com- ment of the Empire of Manchukuo. Ining card is that it depicts a Manchurianplete control of the Communist forces in response to this, the government claimed folk character namedPulaohu,a tiger. 1948, and Mao launched his successful it would reduce the world's anxiety levelThis thing looks strangely like it might be sweep across the rest of China from there. about Manchukuo's existence using edu-a distant ancestor toPikachu,today'sManchuria became incorporated into cational broadcasts about itself. ThispopularPoketnoncharacter! Mao's People's Republic of China. would be done by means of introducing Official CIA monitoring records of late powerful and regularly scheduled daily World War II Arrives 1947 indicate that, even though Japan had international broadcasts. been out of Manchuria for three years, On July 20, 1939, the MT&T Company A series of four agreements beginning about half of the captured former MT&T established what it calledThe Shortwave in October of 1936, and culminating inmediumwave broadcast stations were Systemunder the control of its flagship station MTCY, the Central Broadcasting Station, Hsinking. What this meant was evrimm. orJATA6111.11,CNC8011IC114130 that MTCY set up shop as an international broadcaster with its own 20 kW short- wave transmitters on 6125, 9545, and T. 11775 kHz. Four different one -hour international CI& are pleased to confirm 16af,on.74, 2,1937, broadcasts were directionally beamed to you listened -in to our station g. 0. 'V. for overseas various areas by MTCY each day, con- Sroadeasts. sisting of news, lectures, and entertain- vatting *undoes of this opportunity, 4 ment. Programs directed to Europe, as tue wish to express our sincere well as Hawaii and the Pacific Coast of dation for your find information. North America, were in English only. The Vow.' truly, broadcastsenttowardsChina,the 11, Philippines, Strait Settlements, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Seas was in Manchu, Japanese, and English. A broad- ck.crAA, cast to Mongolia and Russia was in Mongolian and Russian. Direciatiff. Oaintrn tnalAlan)Station. MT&T explained MTCY's shortwave Mamzhurta broadcasts as follows, "Our purpose lies .1111110 in the introduction of Manchukuo to the world, the creation of good -will among Occidental and Oriental peoples and the By early 1939, JDY was sending out this QSL. (Courtesy George Saunders, Calif.) unnw.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 19 TheSeason'sGreetings from MTCY
PU LAO HU. the typical Machu Tiger Toy P41.414 of straw and cloth. Hsinhing Central Broadcasting Station The toy Is made inell sires and the larger IP * one. ara as pillows tor children. They keep the children healthy. make them strong as the Tiger. . * sr Hainking, Manchoukuo. and keep miercrtunie away from the home t 7vvr't. v,tt , iii This 1940 QSL from MT&T station MTGY MT&T sent listeners this two-sided holiday greeting card in 1939. That critter on the right was similar to those sent out by all of the com- bears a vague resemblance to today's Pikachu. (Courtesy George Saunders, Cali f ) pany's AM stations. still in operation, though being run by the kHz and had a new callsign, XQPA. The 980 and 1070 kHz, but it isn't known if Chinese Nationalists! The stationat 100 watt station at Chinchow on 955 kHz thisoutletwasusingtheformer Darien (ex-JQAK) had been shifted from was given the call letters, XQDC. Former MTBY/XQPA facilities. 760 kHz to 1065 kHz. The former MTCY MT&T stations at other locations were Remember that Germany's network of atChangchun(formerlyHsinking) reported as being inactive. powerful shortwave stations had origi- remained on 560 kHz, but had new call Records of 1955, however, indicatenally been constructedat enormous letters, XQRA. Its shortwave broadcaststhat these and all other previously extantexpense in 1936. At the time, it was had been discontinued. Kirin's stationstations in China had been phased out. claimed these stations were needed to with 50 watts on 765 kHz had been given Broadcasting was run by the Peoplesbroadcast the Berlin Olympics to the the callsign XQDK. The station at HarbinRepublic of China, and stations were world. Three years later, when Germany (ex-MTFY) had been shifted from 674 known as Radio Peking. A Radio Peking attacked Poland and France, their true kHz to 670 kHz. The station at Mukdenmediumwave transmitter in Shenyang purpose and great value as Axis propa- (ex-MTBY) shifted from 890 kHz to 885 (formerly Mukden) was then operating on ganda tools was revealed. This made me wonder if MTCY's international broad- casts from Manchuoko were, as claimed, primarilyintendedtoexplainthe Empire's existence. A mere 14 months after these broadcasts had begun, Japan FREE became fully aligned with Germany, and an active participant in WWII. MTCY's CANADIANSAMPLE popular shortwave facilities were there SHORTWAVE BOOK COPY! waiting to be immediately placed into ser- vice disseminating Axis war propaganda. PROVINCIAL ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED Was it just a coincidence? Antique Radio's Largest -Circulation Hope you will be with us next time for SCANNER BOOKS Monthly Magazine another look into the forgotten nooks and Articles - Classifieds - Ads for Parts & Services crannies of radio history. We are always HAM CALL BOOKS Also: Early TV, Ham Equip., Books, Telegraph, 40's & 50's Radios & more... anxious to hear from readers with com- Free 20 -word ad each month. Don't miss out! ments as well as column ideas. Our direct COVERING OF :=10 ALL =1 -Year: $39.49 ($57.95 by 1st Class) E-mail address is
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20 /POP'COMM / April2000 ScanOurWeb Site Come With us On a Fascinating Journey to Explore the Excitement of Amateur Radio and the Mystery of Basic Electronics
The Alpha Delta video/book production r- for the "Basic Technology for the Amateur BasicTechnology Radio Enthusiast" is a simple straight- AmateurRadioEnthusiast forward program that takes you on this journey, explaining the wonderment of Table of Contents the hobby along the way. I litroduction About the Authors Thevideo shows how radio waves are Note to the Reader formed and how electrons move to do work, the New Millennium Communications and and explains terms like voltage, current, Chapter 1: Historyof Wireless power, resistance and other terms you'll hear Amateur Radio-Insight and Philosophy Chapter Two: relating to the hobby. You will even go with Hobby Chapter Three:Hobbies Within a a miniature "tourguide"on a walk through Communications Long Distance(DX) Global a receiver printed circuit hoard. He will show Modulation (FM) RepeaterOperations VHF/UHF Frequency you how amplification, power supplies, Amateur RadioContest Operations radio frequency and audio amplifiers and Chapter Four:Video Script other parts of a radio work. He will also explain what "semiconductors" are all about. Basic Electronics Chapter Five: Neither the video nor the book get into math Basic Electron Theory or formulas --we'vekept it simple. The History ofSemiconductors Transistors The book is designed for the non -technical Integrated Circuits person interested in joining the hobby or the Memory Devices amateur operator who would like to know Microcontroller andMicroprocessors Amateur Bands more about "what's behind the dials", and Chapter Six:Propagation and the explains the fascination of the hobby in It Right" Chapter Seven:Antennas, "Doing detail. The hook is ideal as a support tool for someone who is being mentored by an Transceivers andModulation Chapter Eight: "Elmer", and for amateurs involved with Chapter Nine:Resource Guide school system programs.The program was designed by our Training Director who Chapter Ten:Thoughts andReflections formerly did college course development and Terms fromVideo Alpha Delta Glossary and was director of training for a major electronics company.
Thisvideo/book programis not a study guide for a specific license class but bridges the gap between study guides and programs that go into technical detail with formulas, math, circuits and theory. In fact, it is a great support program for license study guides, and thenew FCC License restructuring. Every aspiring or existing amateur should have this wonderful program in his or her collection! "Basic Technology for the Amateur Radio Enthusiast" video/book ----$39.95 ea. At your Alpha Delta dealer or direct plus $5.00 s/h in the U.S., Exports quoted Au:NADEL CaMiumCAONS, INC. (AA) P.O. Box 620, Manchester, KY 40962 Phone (606) 598-2029 Fax (606) 598-4413 -1 Toll Free Order Line: 888-302-8777 Alpha Delta - Where Imagination And Reality Merge Website: www.alphadeltacom.com Interesting Thoughts And Ideas For Enjoying The Hobby Ready For Worldwide HF Action? Gordo Tests All -Band HF Vertical Antennas Whether you're a shortwave lis- 40 meters tening enthusiast, or a new ama- 75/80 meters teur operator taking advantage Now this is a lot to ask of an aluminum MFJ HF 'VHF SWR ANALYZER . of the restructured 5 wpm General class vertical antenna that is not much more 1.8-170 MHz license, a single antenna and feedline thatthan 20 feet in length. The capability of a MODEL MFJ-249 would cover all shortwave bands would beresonant vertical antenna is to eliminate a nice thing to have on your roof, hiddenthe need for any type of antenna tuner in the backyard, or mounted on a patiodown below at the ham shack, or an cover where only the tip of the antenna expensive antenna tuner somewhere hid- FREQUENCY COUNTER might be seen from the front yard. den under the eaves. The resonant verti- This month we will present the tests ofcal antenna uses matching networks that verticalmulti -bandantennas.In will either pass, block, or pre -tune spe- upcoming months, we will show you the cific bands without any moving parts, or results of our horizontal dipole tests, long any external tuner required. Each manu- wires with tuners tests, and many other facturer has their own way of developing hidden wire configurations that cover thea multi -band resonant vertical for ham
HF bands. operation. I recently tested many of these 26.2-62.516-26 For shortwave reception, all of our ver- antennas on my roof to see how well they 62.5-113 t'10 tical antennas worked out well in improv- performed, how easy or difficult they 113-17^ 1.8-4 ing signal strengths from the AM broad-were to put together, and how good or cast band through 30 MHz. For reception ugly they looked from the street. purposes where no transmitting will take place, almost any conductive vertical TUNE FREQUENCY radiator, fed with quality coaxial cable Hustler Multi -Band HF Use an SWR analyzer by MFJ to tune your and a suitable ground plane, will work Verticals vertical antenna. well. But don't forget the ground plane; if you were to run coax to a 30 -foot long My favorite is the 5 -band trap vertical wire that goes straight up to an overhead that looks the cleanest from the street inantenna system. But if the base of the tree branch without a good ground plane case you have antenna restrictions. Theantenna is 2 feet higher, 2 feet lower, or 2 right at the point the long wire clears the Hustler verticals are stout aluminum thatfeet separated from the aluminum cover, braid, the entire coax would act as an barely bend in the wind, and have paral-chances are you won't get an effective antenna, and may pick up excessive noise lel resonant L/C traps that provide good match of your ground system. inside your radio monitoring room. If youefficiency, low SWR, and can handle The Hustler 5BTV sells for around take the far end's braid and terminate it 1,000 watts power. The 75/80 meter top$160, and does not require monofilament to the aluminum downspout, your verti- section is really the mobile series loadingguy lines. It is one of my favorites. cal wire now has a "push -off point," andcoil, along with some not -so -obtrusive your radio receiver down below will be capacity hat appendages. Cushcraff R7000 less apt to pick up nearby noise sources. But the Hustler requires tuned ground For those of you who may take advan- radials for each band of operation. Hustler Here is another nice, trim, 24 -foot tall, tage of the new restructuring rules that provides the specific lengths for each wire self -tuned, vertical antenna system. It may allow worldwide ham operation with radial, or you can work it out yourself by uses traps quite similar to the Hustler, and just a 5 wpm code test, you will be look-the formula 468 ÷ frequency in MHz = seven short counterpoise rods eliminate ing for a resonant vertical antenna, along length in feet and fractions of a foot. Two the need for a lengthy ground radial sys- with an associated ground plane, that will wire radials per band would be a mini- tem. There is a tuning "match box" at the resonate on the following bands: mum, and four radials per band exquisite. base of the antenna that properly induces 10 meters If you have an aluminum patio cover, you the currents up the shaft, and out into the 12 meters might try the aluminum cover beneath the airwaves with minimum SWR. But this 15 meters vertical antenna as a substitute for the wonderful little match box makes this a 17 meters radials, and as long as the base of the rather expensive antenna system - about 20 meters antenna is right there at the aluminum$379, and comparative signal reports 30 meters patio cover, you will achieve a well -tunedreally don't show any skywave signal dif-
GORDON WEST, 22 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site fe -encesbetweentheR7000 fromin the breeze. But it also covers 6 and 2 tical antennas, and I have tested the Titan Cushcraft and a comparable Hustler. But meters, and is great in case you're also into DX that covers 10 meters through 80 if you really can't lay out ground radials scanning the VHF bands. It also does ameters, and stands 25 feet tall. It sells for like you need to do with the Hustler, the nice job of receiving 460 MHz public just a little over $300, and like MFJ, it will R7000 is a terrific performer at a much safety signals! You can see it on the Web, take you a couple of days to put together higher price tag. along with all the other great MFJ prod- and a couple of years for your neighbors ucts, at www.mfjenterprises.com. This isto appreciate the looks. But despite its Butternut a very noticeable antenna. strange looks with no loading coils, it's a good, solid performer without the need of Here is another 6 -band yen' efficient HF GAP Antennas ground radials. They say that adding radi- antenna we have tested, measuring 26 feet als won't significantly improve perfor- tall. The three loading coil/trap assem- Like MFJ, GAP sells direct, and to mance, and they say that elevating the bl es are located down low so you don'torder GAP antennas, call 561-571-9922.GAP also offers no significant improve- see any strange open-air coils waving inGAP offers several styles of all -band ver- ments to its performance and range. This the breeze near the top. However, the Butternut HF6V-X does use a small wire near the top that runs along the length of the aluminum radiator. It looks a little bit BEYOND Family Radio! t of place and also tends to slightly pull Stay in touch with your family and fiends! * 4 Watts Output Power the antenna to one side. The Butternut is * Just 4.25 inches tall! relatively lightweight, and this tends to The new PRYME Radio Products FR -460: SportConnecfmand PR -460: (excluding antenna) cause the antenna to swing back and forth OearConnect'mtransceivers use frequencies * Includes CTCSS if a little breeze picks up. in the General Mobile Radio Service (38 tones) For grounding the Butternut, you can (GMRS) to provide long range personal * Communicate with go with inexpensive ground one -quarter communications. Unlike half -watt FRS radios the FRS Radios that wavelength radials like the Hustler, or tiese new two-way radios provide a full you already have! you can go for their $100 radial system FOUR WAITS output power. * One touch access to the 462.675 MHz that eliminates the need for a whole bunch The 8 -channelPR -460: SportConnectTMmodel of long wires running all over the roof. t -as a range of up to 5 miles, while the emergency channel * Up to 5 miles range. The price of the HF6V-X from Butternut PR -460: ClearConnecemhas 23 channels including all GMRS repeater frequencies Use the repeater is around $289, so again, $100 more than for a range of up to twenty-five miles mode on the the similar -performing 5 -band Hustler. or more! ClearConnect model to increase your Family Radio PLUS! Family Radio users range up to 25 miles! MFJ's Line -Up upgrading to GMRS can still communicate with their existing FRS radios! Channels I-7 The gang at MFJ recently purchased in both ourClearConnectteand Hy -Gain, and the Hy -Gain 8 -band AV -640 SportConnectrMare the same as Family vertical is a great performer with a no - Radio channels1-7, so you can still talk ground -radial system similar to Cushcraft. with any FRS radios in your group!
Bit instead of coils, the Hy -Gain 8 -band rcc License Required: Operation on the DCIAN vertical employs capacitive loading and General Mobile Radio Service requires an FCC issued GMRS license. Information on obtaining quarter -wave stubs that can be seen on the a license is included with your transceiver. The outside radiating aluminum mast, and at FCC license fee is $80 for five years, which breaks down to a little more than $1.00 per MR the top as short capacitive rods. It's a rather month. One license covers you and everyone stout antenna, so it doesn't move around in your immediate family, including your much in the breeze, but is not quite as rigid children and parents. PRYME as the low-priced Hustler. The Hy -Gain sells for around $350, so again, this is a PR- 60: SpOrtCOftneCt PR -460 relatively expensive vertical antenna with 8 Channels up to 5 miles range! a proven track record. MFJ also makes a - catch this - 10 - $199.95* band, high -frequency plus 6 -meter and 2 - PR -460: ClearConnect meter antenna withits own built-in 23 Channels including repeater ground radial system, and it sells for under operation for range up to 25 miles! $290. It's a massive collection of wires, 'As, loop, and black box, that will take $219.95* you a couple of days to finally figure out range may vary due to obstructions, weather, low battery, or otter facts. Access to repeaters may require a fee. how to put together. I suggest you wear * NOTE: The prices shown above are estimated street prices. Actual dealer prices may vary. safety glasses because of all the things sticking up and out. But once you get it all by PREMIERCommunications Corp. together and tune it, it works very well. PRYME 4E0 Apo lo St. #E Brea, CA 92821. Because of its top -loading, it does sway Phone: 714-257-0300 Fax: 714-257-0600 /Vadio /5-0,4ick Web: http ://www. ad i - rad i o . co m www.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 23 Preparing a big GAP antenna.* roof mounting. means you could hide it quite nicely inCONTACTING POWER LINES MAY your back yard; and as long as you have KILL YOU! WATCH FOR OVER- The big GAP with its top capacity hat in place. a nice tall house, no one will see it except HEAD WIRES! NEVER MOUNT A your neighbor over the back fence. JustVERTICAL CLOSE TO POWER If you're just starting out on the high - tell him it's part of your clothes line. LINES. YOU COULD BE KILLED! frequency bands, you may wish to start Now that I've said that, try to get the with the simple Hustler 5 -band trap ver- antenna up as high as possible; and if you tical, and make up your own small -wire The Best Performer? have the capability of running one -quar- radial system. You will be pleasantly sur- ter wavelength ground radials, two orprised on all of the DX you are going to All of these verticals offer omnidirec- three per band, chances are you'll have a work; and if you mount it on the back side tional, multi -band performance within relatively inexpensive and efficient radi- of your roof, hardly anyone around you other. one or two S -unitsof each ating system. will be any the wiser of your ham radio Performance will change between the dif- Will any of these verticals do as well as and shortwave hobby. Just watch out for ferent verticals depending whether or not a nice compact 15 -foot boom beam? I've those overhead dangerous wires! you're trying to work stations close in, made the tests, and the answer is NO! I Your local ham radio stores will have halfway across the country, or that rare have never tested a vertical that has as most of these verticals in stock, so look DX coming in over the poles. This means much punch as a compact I5 -foot or larg- for our advertisers and log onto their Web - I really can't say that any one single ver- er beam. But keep in mind that they don't site, get to the antenna section, and see all tical is much better than any other verti- make compact beams for 75 meters either! what is offered. cal for all situations. And any claim from a manufacturer thattheirvertical isdra- maticallybetter than all of the other ver- ticals mentioned here has also been unfounded in my tests. But I did make some interesting dis- coveries. Getting the vertical up to the highest point on the roof and in the clear really makes one heck of a difference. While some verticals can work quite nice- ly right at ground level, some of the sig- nal may be absorbed by surrounding trees, and sometimes ground -mounting will increase the susceptibility of the antenna to hear noise coming out of your nearby computer and your neighbor's cable TV box. Getting the vertical up and away from any noise sources will cer- tainly help. WARNING: STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES. ANY VERTICAL The radial kit going in place below a five -band Hustler.
24 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site Experien vents andPlaces Arod theo the `comfort of yo
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We We so comment you ii11 be al. the our radios, we'll give you a fullrefund on your A order, less shipping charges, if the receiver doesn't meet your expectations. Call for complete details. Order Today, From Your Local Dealer or Factory Direct By Calling 1-800-937-2531. The Finest Line of Products For The Shortwave Enthusiast. CIRCLE 127 ON READER SERVICE CARD R.L. Drake Company 230 Industrial Dr. Franklin, OH 45005 U.S.A. phone: 513-746-4556 fax: 513-743-4510 on-line: www.rldrake.com DRAKE J A Look Behind The Dials Building A Selective Crystal Set /was about seven or eight years old and owned a Remco crys- tal receiver kit. It was a tiny plastic toy radio, yet only using a humble 15 -foot antenna wire and a connection to the kitchen radiator it let me hear signals from WTIC and WDRC in Hartford, Connecticut, some 15 miles distant from my child- hood home back in the late 1950s. No matter that someone stand- ing on my roof would most likely see the transmitting towers - a radio that needed no batteries or other sources of power was purely magical! Crystal sets were never known for being overly sensitive or selective -indeed, a set that allows single -signal reception of two or three strong stations across the band is usually consid- ered to be an outstanding performer! The reason is simple: most modern crystal sets are based on the same simple designs used back in the early 1900s when stations were few and far apart. Many of you were Cub Scouts during the '50s and '60s and probably had a chance to build the simple Cub Scout crystal radio kit that was so popular back then. Nowadays, crystal radio kits are still being offered by RadioShack and Vectronics. Unfortunately, while simple crystal sets are fun, they do little to inspire confidence in a crystal set's ability to do any serious AM DX work. Our three -stage tuning capacitor provides about 365-pF per section. Nothing could be further from the truth. I will show you a Capacitors between 300 to 400-pF section are usable. few designs that are capable of hearing signals from distances of several hundred miles when used with a good antenna and ground system. Crystal set DXing is a sporting alternative, not My favorite crystal set is a three -tuned stage design; it easi- a replacement for a serious communications receiver in yourly separates WBZ at 1030 and WBBR at 1130 kHz from near- listening post! It simply adds a much more challenging dimen-by WTIC's 50 kW signal on 1080. I've logged dozens of DX sion to hearing distant stations. stations across the Eastern U.S. and Canada using that set! Below 900 kHz, stations as close as 30 or 40 kHz have been Let's Build One! resolved with careful tuning. Each of the three stages has adjustable coupling, tap positions for setting the optimum L/C Our first crystal set project will be a single -coil design loose-tuning ratios, and antenna load coils for improved lower fre- ly based on a design by Mike Tuggle. Mike dubbed this set thequency performance. Unfortunately, the set's design is not eas- Lyonodyne in light of its co -developer, Terry Lyon. My infor-ily reproduced since it is poorly documented and uses some mation on the Lyonodyne is based on two different copies ofexotic vintage components. I'll include some photos in a later different Lyonodyne articles that were sent to me by a friend. Icolumn since it is a very interesting set. wish I could fully credit the original sources for this material, but I am sure at least one came from the Old Timers Bulletin Headphones published by the Antique Wireless Association. With some small changes, the set that will be shown here is basically sim- A set of high -quality vintage headphones is most important; ilar to the original Lyonodyne receiver. your headphone sensitivity will make or break the best -designed Crystal set performance is often gauged by the number ofset. Early Brandes headsets are probably the most commonly tuned circuits, hence 'coils,' which are used to provide selec-found vintage headsets, and by luck are also fairly decent per- tivity. The Lyonodyne set uses a single coil in a unique circuitformers. My favorites are three pairs of early Baldwin headsets that offers surprisingly good selectivity. It is an unusually com-I use exclusively for weak signal crystal set work. You can find plex design for a one -coil set, and features numerous switchesvintage headsets on Internet auction sites, such as eBay, and and controls for tweaking the most signal from a distant weakalso at local vintage radio meets and in the classified sections station. Later on, we will add a notch filter for eliminating strong of Antique Radio Classified. local stations that interfere with reception of near -frequency Ardent crystal set builders swear by homemade headphones weaker station and also a second tuned stage for even betterusing headpiece elements salvaged from old war -surplus sound - selectivity. powered telephones; apparently the performance of their bal-
.11111111110pJ. BERTINI We' 11 get into this in more detail in later columns, but one of the limiting factors in crystal set performance that is most often overloaded is the "loading" of the tuned circuits by the detec- tor diode and headset impedance. Even the 12,000 -ohm imped- ance of most early magnetic headsets requires audio matching transformers for the best possible performance -a subject that is rarely discussed in modern or vintage crystal set design. The 13 -point form for winding the basket -wound coil is made from aFortunately, the inexpensive Kobitone ceramic earphones from square plywood base with 13 spikes spaced equally over the diame- ter of a 3-112 inch circle. The wire is wound over the outside of twoMouser have an impedance of over 20-Megohms, and are a per- nails, on the inside of the third, over the outside of the next two, overfect choice for our crystal set experiments, even if their sensi- the inside the next one to produce a winding pattern that repeats everytivity is not as good as could be desired. We'll discuss head- third turn. These coils are produced using forms with an odd number phone impedance matching after we build our first crystal set of points. and look for ways to further improve its performance. Getting Started aneed armature design offers unequaled sensitivity. These early headsets had DC resistances of around 2,000 ohms; that equates The heart of the receiver is the coil and the tuning capacitor. to in impedance in the area of about 12000 ohms (12K -ohms)!These two components are very critical, and attention to detail When buying vintage headsets, make sure the buyer will allowin winding the coil will be amply rewarded later. In fact, it is yoia to return them if the coils are open or if the magnets havefair to state that the exceptional results achieved by the origi- become demagnetized. nal designers probably would be difficult to fully duplicate by Don't despair if you don't have ready access to vintage head- most of us. The Lynonodyne was the culmination of several sets. Inexpensive imported Kobitone ceramic earphones, carried years' worth of experimentation and research by its designers. by Mouser Electronics, can be ordered with 2.5 -mm or 3.5 -mmNevertheless, even when using commonly available off -the - mono plugs, or with simple tinned leads and will work fine with shelf parts performance, will still be far ahead of simpler mail crystal sets. For best results, you will need one earphone for each order kits. The original Lyonodyne receiver used a three -sec- tion 365-mmFd (365 pF) tuning capacitor. Mike offered sever- al suggestions for finding the most optimum tuning capacitor design for the Lyonodyne: 1. Each of the three stages should be 300 to 400 mmFd per section. 2. Preferred stator insulator material is glass, ceramic, Bakelite, or phenolic (in that order). 3. The rotor wipers should be brass or silver plate, with a pair of forks for each gang and they should be directly soldered to the frame. 4. In general, the larger the plate size and the spacing, the better. 5. "Straight-line" tuning designs are preferred (oblong plates with eccentric shaft mounting). Alas, what is ideal is also rather impractical for the average builder reading this column. I only mention the ideal capacitor in case a more experienced builder just happens to have some- thing that meets these criteria in his junk box. Mike noted that Once the 60 turns of number 20 -enamel wire are completed, the coil the capacitor that worked best in his set was an "ugly duckling" is recured using lacing cord. Five tap positions are also added. These compared to others he had tried. Feel free to experiment if you mil be used for antenna matching, setting the tuning range, and detec- have a variety of suitable candidates on hand. Don't worry. The tor impedance matching. suggested suppliers listed at the end of the column can supply www.popularcommunications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 27 three -gang tuning capacitors and all of the other parts needed to build a Lyonodyne crystal set if your junk -box is lacking. Radio Parts Suppliers The capacitor I selected is a war -surplus item I've been hoard- ing for about 30 years; and it is certainly not the most optimum Vendors are suggested as a convenience for our readers. We selection for this project based on Mike's criteria. However, it do our best to avoid errors, but please verify with the supplier is probably very representative of what is most commonly avail- that the part numbers shown are correct before ordering mate- able. If you want to keep to the original design, the most like- rial. Also, keep in mind that the "suitability" of some part sug- ly source for a capacitor meeting all requirements would be like- gestions is often based on catalog descriptions and not bench ly salvaged from an early TRF type receiver. Both Ocean State Electronics (part number BC15500 for 500 pF) and Antique testing of the actual components. Electronic Supply (part number C -V500 -X3 for 500 pF, C - V365 -X3 for 365 pF) offer three -section variables that are suit- Antique Radio Classified able for this project. P.O. Box 2 You could also use two capacitors. Two sections of the capac- Carlisle, MA 01741 itor are paralleled and used to control the amount of ground cou- 978-371-0512 pling - with the most coupling (maximum capacitance) pro- Dealer and private party ads for vintage electronic parts, vided at the lowest BCB frequencies. This results in improved vendor ads, dates for radio shows, and events. sensitivity at the lower frequencies, and less loading and improved selectivity at the higher end of the tuning range. A Antique Electronics Supply dual -section 365-mmFd capacitor could be used for sections 6221 South Maple Avenue C lc and Clb for the ground coupling adjustment; while a sin- Tempe, AZ 85283 gle section 365-mmFd could be used for C lc, the main tuning Tel: 602-820-5411 control. (These part numbers reference a schematic that will be For headphones and variable capacitors, misc. hardware, shown in the next issue). Having to juggle two caps does com- and parts. plicate the tuning, but it also gives the operator a bit more con- trol of the ground coupling at any particular frequency the set C and H Sales Company is tuned. I suggest using a larger -sized knob(s), four inches or 2176 East Colorado Blvd. so, or better yet, a vintage vernier dial like shown on our Boy's Pasadena, CA 91117 First Receiver project for tuning. 800-325-9465 Lacing cable (part numbers M19501, 750 yds. waxed nylon); The Coil also surplus electronic parts, supplies, assemblies, optics, mechanical devices. The amount of enjoyment delivered by a project is often relat- ed to the amount of work and skill needed to bring it to com- Hosfelt Electronics pletion! The more handiwork you put into a set, the more you 2700 Sunset Blvd. will get out of it. So, I intend to make our "Radio Connection" Steubenville, OH 43952-1158 projects as challenging as possible. Let's take a look at how coil 800-524-6464 L1 is constructed. Heat -strippable magnet wire; 150 feet #20 AWG part num- Even more important than using a high quality tuning capac- ber 36-374; misc. hardware, and parts. itor is the design of coil L 1 . Coil L1 is designed for a very hi "Q," that is minimum losses due to internal resistance. Ideally, Mouser Electronics crystal set coils should have a diameter approximately equal to their winding length for best results. The coil is wound with 958 North Main Mansfield, TX 76063-4827 number 20 -enamel wire in a basket -wound 3-1/2" diameter 13 - 800-346-7873 point form. Use wire with heat -strippable insulation since sev- eral tap positions will be soldered to finished coil windings. Kobitone earphones: part numbers 25CR025, 25CR035, 245CR06; also misc. electronic hardware and parts. (Hosfelt part number 36-374). The basket -winding technique minimizes the stray capacitance between adjacent coil turns and improves the tuning range. Basket -wound coils are rarely used Ocean State Electronics these days, but they were very common in early battery sets dat- P.O. Box 1458 ing from the 1920s. 6 Industrial Drive You will need to make a form to wind the coil. I used a sec- Westerly, RI 02891 tion of 5" x 5" square plywood for the form base. A 3-1/2 circle 800-866-6626 was carefully drawn on the surface using a drafting compass. Variable caps, earphones, misc. hardware, and parts. At the same time, I also drafted several identical 3-1/2 inch cir- cles on scrap paper. Next, 13 equally spaced points need to be marked around the circumference of the scribed circle. These Once the board is marked, use a drill press to drill holes that are each 27.7 degrees apart, or roughly a little over13/16"apart will produce a snug fit for a large -sized nail at each of the 13 for a 3-1/2" diameter circle. Since setting the exact distance on points. Mike Tuggle suggested using number 16 nails, but I used the compass can be touchy, use the circles drafted on the scrap a much larger size. I'll have the local hardware gore "size" them paper to test various compass settings until one finally produces and report back in the next column. Each nail must be snug and thirteen equally spaced points. perfectly perpendicular to the board's base. Once the form is 28 /POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site Are You Ready to Move Up? 111182000 Incredible oerf)rmance in a hand-held receiver! 500 KHz - 2040 MHz * coverage 1,000 memory channels (20 banks) Computer control and programming. (requires optional connection cable) Download free control software from AOR veb site! "All Mode" reception includes "super narrow" NI liUS wide and narrow AM in addition to USB, LSB, CWani standard AM and FM modes True carrier reinsertion in USB and LSB mod as. Includes 3 KHz SSB filter! 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Aprofessional grade receiver with superior $lality and selectivity When you're ready to move up to superior 10 KHz - 2060 MHz* quality, dependability and support, AOR 1000 memory Channels Triple Conversion IF stage has a portable or desktop receiver to suit Multiple IF bandwidths (3 KHz, 6 KHz, 15 KHz, 30 CHz, your application. 110 KHz & 220 KHz) Solid Metal Cabinet :yber Scan up to 45 channels/sec rovision for optional Collins mechanical filters AF 8200B attenuator 110 dB) AM, FM, LSB, USB, CW modes Automatic electronic front end preselection Analog S -meter 1S -232C port Alphanumeric channel labels Discover why 20 Search Banks N -Type and S0-239 Antenna Conn3cbrs rrLrinrinrrvi-v.,7 'I I- AOR is LI I j tj LI I_I_ J I ,,,, ,_ ,_,_ , Interfaces with SOU5500 Spectrui Dsplay Unit = = = = TCXO standard for high stability Boon Manual tuning dial The Serious Choice AFC, Noise Blanker and Synchronous ID ED in Advanced 1= = r= AM Detector AOR U.S.A., Inc. Technol?gy 20655 S. Western Ave. Suite 112 Torrance, CA 905(1 Receivers.TM 310-787-8615 Phone 310-787-K15 Fax www.aorusa.com CIRCLE 156 ON READER SERVICE CARD *Gentler freqizr me: iocked.ncompliance with U3L regulations Continuffur &overage .norMs wadable for iithorized use-eagencies; riocurieetEt on required. ACR Engages ,ng-3,n2 eftr-sito improve its produc-s. As Rid: de:igr. and to-fornar ce pa.:ain..e:s may ch,rge withouinetee or obligation NI -he Jan of the manufacturer and/or distributor(s). The coil free of the winding form. Several 1/8" sections of wood dowel are inserted in the windings to stiffen the coil assembly. made, you may begin winding the wire. Begin by running the Figure 2. Coil is laced at the "X" winding crossovers to strengthen wire over the outside of the first two nails, then on the inside of the coil form shape. the third, followed by the outside of the next two (Figure I). Keep winding following this "over two, under one" pattern until about 60 turns are completed. If you are doing this properly, for every to prevent the coil from unraveling or losing its shape when free third turn the winding pattern will repeat, and no two adjacent of the winding form. If lacing cord is not available, use some- turns will match. Keep the wire fairly tight while winding thething similar, such as the heavy thread used for sewing on coat coil to produce a nice tightly wound coil, and be careful notbuttons. Note that the lacing cord loops through the "X" overlap any of the windings. crossover points of the coil windings and that the loops are Don't be in a rush to remove coil from the form when it's secured at each "X" crossover (Figure 2). My coil is roughly 60 finally finished. First, you should lace and tie the turns as shown turns, and I wanted to add five tap positions. At about every 10th winding, I added a tap -off position by tinning the wire using a very hot 47 -watt soldering iron and soldering on a 4" wire lead. It is best to use the recommended heat -strippable wire to keep this job manageable. The exact tap positions are not extremely critical, so don't worry if you end up off by a winding count or two at any of the tap positions. It's more important to select tap points that are easily soldered to, than exact positions that end up being impossible to reach with a soldering iron. Likewise, don't worry if your coil ends up being a few windings more or less than 60 turns. The large tuning capacitor and numerous tap positions will more than cover the entire BCB plus some of the SW spectrum. The important thing is to wind the coil with snug and neatly wound windings. While winding the coil, take pride in reliving the craftsmanship and skills honed by pioneer radio set builders well over 80 years ago. After It's Wound After the coil is wound, tapped, and secured with lacing cord, carefully work it free of the 13 -point nail winding jig. Once my coil was free of the jig, I inserted 1/8" diameter wood dowels at four points on the coil form to give it added strength. Large size toothpicks could also be used to reinforce the coil. Place the coil Figure 1. The basket winding is done by winding the wire over the in a safe place until we're ready to install it. outside of two nails, then on the inside the next nail, followed by the That's it for this month. Next month, we will be mounting the outside of the next two nails, then the inside of the next nail until 60 coil and tuning capacitor, and I will be covering the final items full turns are finished. Fora 13-pointform, every third winding repeats and the steps needed to finish building the basic version of the the pattern. Lyonodyne Crystal Set. 30 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site Tuning In To Anti -Government Radio Radio Free Chechnya's Current Schedule, And The Latest Anti -Castro Lineup On WRMI Here's the current schedule for the new Radio Chechnya in Kurdish and Arabic. Svobodnya (Radio Free Chechnya), programmed by The 4085 frequency is also used by the KDP for broadcasts the Russian government and aired over transmitters atof its own Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, which is on the air from St. Petersburg: 0300-0600 on 5935; 1830 to 2100 on 7305;0350 to 0600 in Kurdish and Arabic and 1615 to 1800 in 0300-0700 on 7335; 1430 to 2100 on 7340; 1500 to 1800 on Kurdish only. 7355; 0630 to 1430 on 11635 and 0730 to 1400 on 15605. The Another new one is Radio International (a rather vanilla service should be reasonably well heard in the transmissions name for a clandestine!) which is broadcasting in Persian during North American evenings (0300 plus). Brian Alexander(Farsi), directed to Iran. The schedule seems to be from 1730 in Mechanicsburg, PA, has found this on 7335 at 0257 sign -onto 1800 on 7520, although this may not be daily. Apparently, with test tones, "distinctive" instrumental IS and ID sequencethe broadcasts come from a site in Tajikistan. The station (or at 0300 and again at 0400, talk and brief news breaks. Brianrepresentatives thereof) can be reached through this address: suggests using LSB mode to avoid interference from CHU. HeBM Box 1499, London WC1N 3XX, England. also spotted them on 11635 at 0621 sign -on after running test Rainbow Radio, beamed to Ethiopia, is currently scheduled tones. This was a very good signal and in parallel with 7335. Iffor Sundays at 0100-0159 on 6155, 1000-1059 on 5995. Also you hear it, let us know. Thursdays at 1600-1659 on 15105. All of these transmissions The Voice of Tibet is aired via various transmitter sites, in are via Germany's site at Julich. Tibetan and other local languages, from 1215 to 1300 on 9910 The Voice of Oromo Liberation's current schedule is Sundays and 15645, and 2315 to 0000 on 9920 and 15685. This is also and Thursdays from 1700-1800 on 15105, also via Julich. relatively easy to hear in North America. The address for recep- The Voice of the Tigers, operated by the Liberation Tigers tion reports is Wellhavensgat 1, 0166 Oslo, Norway. of Tamil Eelam is active from 0130 to 0300 on 7460. This one La Voz de Alpha 66 airs Monday through Friday at 1030uses very low power. and 0000. The anti -Sudanese Voice of Sudan is currently on the air from La Voz de la Fundacion is on Monday to Friday at 1100 and0400 to 0600, 1200 to 1400, and 1600 to 1800, using 8000, 0100, Saturdays at 1100, and Sundays at 0000. 9520/9517, 10000, and 12000 in Arabic. The station is run by Foro Militar Cubano is aired at 2000 Saturdays and 1500the Sudanese National Democratic Alliance and has an address Sundays. of 16 Cameret Court, Lorne Gardens, London W11 4XX, Conversando entre Cubanos is broadcast at 0100 SaturdaysEngland. Brian Alexander (PA) recently spotted an unidentified and 0230 Sundays. Sudanese -flavor station on 7999.94 at 0405 which was not the Radio Revista Lux is on at 0200 Saturdays and 1700Voice of Sudan (which he located on 8000.76). This might have Sundays. been the government -operated jammer which tries to bug the La Nueva Voz de Cuba airs on Sundays. Voice of Sudan. He also heard the Voice of Sudan on new All of the broadcasts are in Spanish. WRMI will usually issue 9517.51 squeezed between stations on 9515 and 9520. This was its own QSL confirming reception of the individual broadcasts,from 0400 sign -on and notes that reception was much better on if requested. Write to WRMI, Radio Miami International, 8500 the usual 8 megahertz frequency, specifically 8000.76. S.W. 8th St., Suite 252, Miami, FL 33144. Be sure you enclose Anti -Vietnamese Oue Houng Radio is via KWHR in Hawaii one unit of first class postage. (9930) from 1530 to 1630 daily except Sundays. The address is Brian Alexander found the Colombian FARC guerrilla sta-2670 South White Road, San Jose, CA 95148. tion, La Voz de la Resistencia on 6261.25 from 2215 tune -in Radio Gaalkacyo, based in the Somali town of that name, is to sign -off at 2231, airing folk music, with talks, IDs, TV themeone of the many small stations trying to make headway in the music, including the one for the "Dallas" TV show. They closedpolitical confusion that is Somalia. This one is the work of with an anthem. Six megahertz conditions aren't good enough Australian Sam Veron, who was also behind Radio Free this early the further one is from the East Coast. Chances for a Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. The station currently oper- log are as good or better during their morning transmissionates from 1600-1700 on 7012. around 1130. Note that the frequency tends to wander. That does it for this time, except to remind you that we always A new Kurdish clandestine is the Voice of the Kurdistan welcome whatever information you may turn up relating to the Toilers. the station of the Kurdish Toilers Party. It operates on subject of clandestine broadcasting - whether it's a logging, a 4250 from 0400 to 0430 in Kurdish and 0430 to 0500 in Arabic. QSL, or other information you might run across about the var- Also from 1600 to 1700 daily, with the same language split. ious stations and their backers (schedules, locations, etc.). We Harim Radio is the Voice of the Regional Government ofcan certainly use any illustrative material, such as copies of clan- Iraqi Kurdistan, operating on 4085 from 1430 to 1530. It isdestine QSLs. Thank you for your continued interest and sup- backed by the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and broadcasts port. Until next month, good hunting! BY GERRY L.DEXTER IMII01111111111111111, www.popular-communications.corn April 2000 / POP'COMM / 31 cc 27 MHz Communications Activities Idiocy At The Repair Bench, Horror And Trepidation At The FCC, And Cobra's New NightWatch 29 WX ST This time, readers, I come bearing bad tidings: there's some crazy stuff going on in the world of CB radio that you need to be aware of, that could impact you, and that, perhaps, you can do something about. Recently, I spoke with a service technician at a national electronics firm that makes, among other CRIB CMS, things, CB transceivers. M1OR WEATHER "You wouldn't believe what we're see- 3 ing," he said. "The rig has come back to us because the customer keeps getting reports that it sounds awful. When we talk to the customer, the story is almost always the same: they took it to some repair shop to have it tuned up. The so-called techni- cians'only tools apparently were a screwdriver, a pair of diagonal cutters, Cobra's new NightWatch 29 WX NW ST delivers classic Cobra performance, weather chan- nels, and pleasing after -dark operation. and somebody's tune-up guide," the ser- vice technician reported. "When we look inside the radio, weplaints to the local authorities or the FCC. enforcement bureau called. I won't give find the modulation limiter has been cut And that leads me neatly to the next point. his name because after the interview was - sometimes in several places - the over, he said that all his comments were power has been turned up full, and the "on background," but you can find the modulation has been maxed out. If you Horror And Trepidation At name on both cigarette packs and a stock were to design a transmitter for maximum The FCC car racing series. I asked the question: splattering, you could scarcely do a bet- "When was the last time the FCC busted ter job. And we're seeing this kind of In November, I decided to act on an someone for intentional interference to butchery on almost every single radio that urge that had been prodding me in the ribs CB Ch. 9?" comes in for warranty work." for some time. So I called the Federal "You don't understand," he said, "the Some of the key signs of a good CB Communication Commission's Public real problem is the CBers. We get hun- technician - one who can do a properInformation Office and asked the follow- dreds of thousands of complaints about tune-up on your radio - include: the fac- ing question: "When was the last time theCBers. They have to clean up their act." tory manual and schematics for the radio,FCC busted someone for intentional They use the CB instead of long distance an oscilloscope for examining the trans-interference to CB Ch. 9?" I was curious telephone service. Some don't have local mitter signal, and a frequency counter forabout the answer because it is my under- phones so they don't have to deal with the aligning the rig's transmit, and receive fre-standing that the FCC is supposed to pay neighbors." He then went on to cite a quencies. A superb tune-up shop may even special attention to "hazard to humanlitany of horrors. There was a case in have a spectrum analyzer for making sure life" frequencies, those on which emer- Bellevue, Illinois, where a CBer was ter- that your tuned -up CB does not splatter at gency transmissions take place. CB Ch. rifying the neighborhood, another case any frequency. Further, the modulation 9 is defined in the FCC rules as "may bewhere a CBer wouldn't stop interfering limiter should never, ever, be disabled. used only for emergency communica- with a phone, so a neighbor could call an When radios are butchered, the service tions or for traveler assistance." ambulance for her husband who had suf- technician told me, they produce enor- After I left a message on the Publicfered a heart attack. mous amounts of splatter, even when they InformationOffice'svoicemail,a "CBers have to become more human," are not running huge amounts of power.woman from the office called me back he said. This means they are far more likely to get and said that someone would call me soon I asked about situations in which CBers into your neighbor's phone, stereo, or tele-about this issue. The answer, as you will are running legal stations with legal vision. Continual interference with thesediscover, both astounded and shocked power and the interference is the result of devices will eventually provoke com-me. A "high-ranking official" in theconsumer electronics failing to meet 1111111111111111111111111 BY JOCK ELLIOTT 32 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site 4091 Viscount Street "The performance of this radio Memphis, TN 38118 is classic Cobra 29 - smooth (901) 794-9494 Fax (901) 366-5736 audio on receive and crisp www.majestic-comm.com/maco audio on transmit." TM ANTENNAS POWER SUPPLIES CABLE ASSEMBLIES HIGH PERFORMANCE and MADE IN U.S.A. sh, ndards. He then said he was putting ALL MACO BASE STATION ANTENNAS are made of aircraft alloy 6063-T5 great hope in a bill before Congress that aluminum tubing-.050 guage. NOTE! To prevent fatigue failure, would put CB enforcement in the hands no holes are made in any boom or element. of local law enforcement. He never did satisfactorily answer my MACO M107C or ginal question, but as I reflected on his answers and his strident tone, the picture 7 -element "Maximum" became clear. CB as it now stands, is a Beam monumental irritation to the FCC. It's out of control, and the FCC has done little to get it back under control. In all likelihood, the FCC has done little to protect CB Ch. 9, a hazard to human life frequency. More th in anything, the FCC would like to get th s annoyance off their plate and on to someone else's. It won't solve the prob- MAXIMUM BEAMS le n, but at least from the FCC's perspec- SINGLE AND DUAL POLARITY, YAGICBBASE STATION ANTENNAS ti' e, it will be gone. available in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 element There is a lot we can do, as CBers, to for CB or 10 meters; vertical or horizontal. help ourselves. First, we can, indeed, cyan up our act: run legal power and legal modulation. If you need more oomph to Call or write for free catalog and name of reseller near you. communicate locally, put up a direction- CIRCLE 70 ON READER SERVICE CARD al antenna. I can highly recommend the Maaco 103 beam. It will mount on a TV a new millemum! rotor and can be strapped to many chim- neys. It will improve both receive and lime to he on time...... ,atomic time! transmit and add more punch to your sig- nal than having ten times the power. withthe world's most accurate time pieces, atomic When you're running a completely clocks & watches from IN-- legal setup, if someone comes knocking at your door, you can say, "Go ahead, synctime metallic lid atomic dual alarm mesh band, metal clock w. 2nd world irspect my station. You'll find that I am bezel mineral lens, 11011IC TIME time, 5x4x21 2" a good neighbor." hi -tech polym179.95er case mi black arch design I= $ rehal)le «inyenient time pieces $59.95 Second, we can organize. You could sync hromzed to the Las atomic c kick, tort collins/co join the U.S. CB Operators Association accurate to I second in on the Web at http://home.att.net/-uscb_ 1 million years w..sociation/. It costs nothing and could be engineered in germany radio -controlled time just what we need for representing our- choose from our wide variety: selves in the future. casual & sport watches In addition, we could become self- travel alarms wall clocks 1111111111000.1. desk c locks wood clocks )licing. If CB "1 percenters" are ruining atomic radio with rad', is weather static ins jumbo digit atomic CB in our towns or neighborhoods, per- IN 2 alarms and U omputer I -ft clocks Mclock w. temperature. tempature, industrial & conimercial clocks & humidity, wall or haps we should track them down, turn day, date, LCD desk 8"xll "x1" III $59.95 mi $79.95 tl em in, and then hold the FCC account- 20% off second item MI able for doing something about it. call or our tree ichurc: - 4 biai,., M (630) 472-9999 U Cobra's Nifty NightWatch 29 1' / www.atomictime.com 1'',\N 1",....:,.; credit card I water, call 6)11 tree lid lid ips A;, CB manufacturers seem to be on a hot :r 1-800-985-8463 s reak for Stuff That Glows, and Cobra has +end chrcks. 1111)ncy orders ti (11C joined the club with the NightWatch 29 total amount Inc ix) to atomic digital alarm black arabic 12" wall V:X NW ST. That's quite a name, and what MI s watth 2ndgalay UTC ATOMIC TIME, INC. IMclock for home or the alphabet soup means is that this is a 2purt4hr time d, lap 1010 JORIE BLVD. , #332 office $69.95 etc. $99.95 OAK BROOK, IL60523 (wood $89.95) CIRCLE 61 ON READER SERVICE CARD Cobra 29 (the model that so many over the Let's take a guided tour of this new rig. Dynamike control, and finally a concen- road drivers know and love) with sevenIt measures 8-5/8 inches deep by 7-9/32 tric knob for controlling volume and weather channels, NightWatch technolo- inches wide by 2-13/16 inches high. At the squelch. On the back panel of the rig are gy (more about that in a moment), andupper left corner of the front panel is aan antenna connector, power connector, Cobra's SoundTracker system. meter for measuring transmitted power,and connectors for a PA speaker and an This 40 -channel, AM -only rig has areceived signalstrength, and SWR. external speaker. bunch of goodies that makes life easierImmediately to the right is a three -posi- A couple of features deserve special for any CBer. There's a front -mountedtion switch for selecting meter function.mention: the radio receives weather alert microphone connector that makes mount-Next to that is the noise blanker/auto- tones even if the rig is turned off or if the ing in or under the dash easier, a nice long matic noise limiter switch, followed by arig is in CB mode, so long as there is nine -foot microphone cord, and the abil- switch for choosing between CB and pub-power to the rig. This means that you can ity to use the CB as a public address sys- lic address function, and then a switch forbe driving down the road listening to tem with a PA speaker. Tactile controls selecting CB or NOAA weather channelother drivers, and if the weather service allow you to feel where a dial is in its rota- operation. Moving to the right again,issues an alert of threatening weather, you tion without taking your eyes off the road, there is a switch for normal operation orwon't miss it. which is always a good idea. instant Channel 9 or instant Channel 19. The performance of this radio is clas- What setsthis radio apartisthe These are followed by LEDs for indicat-sic Cobra 29 - smooth audio on receive NightWatch fully -illuminated display. It ing transmit and receive and weatherand crisp audio on transmit. In addition, consists of an electroluminescent panelchannel operation. Below these LEDs isthe SoundTracker system, when activat- that glows under an overlay. Switch it on a button for activating the SoundTrackered, can provide a noticeable reduction in and the lettering for each of the controlssystem. At the upper right of the frontnoise on receive and, in certain situations, glows. Crank up the dimmer switch to the panel is the channel indicator. can help to boost transmitted audio. max setting and you'll see that the letter- Beneath the channel indicator, in the In all, this new Cobra NightWatch 29 ing glows brightly while the entire face- lower right corner, is a larger channel WX NW ST might be called "the travel- plate of the radio is faintly illuminated. Inselector knob. Next to it is the SWR cal-er's friend." It's a great radio for staying all, it is a satisfying effect that works well ibration knob, followed by a knob forin touch on the road, and NightWatch for finding the control you want, when selecting one of seven weather channels, makes it even better for after -dark oper- you want it, as you are trying to put milesthe NightWatch on/off/dimmer knob, aation. Suggested retail price of this new behind you on a "dark and stormy night."concentricknobfor RF gainandCB is $149.95. II The "Special" You've Been Waiting For P\ ec-; :=15. "Free Shipping-Big Savings *ivp/09)..1 trVrg(-10 Jsrpf-;Irji viral Ficlijrca Now thru April 15th - Jo Gunn will pay the shipping charges on any Hot off the press, our widely acclaimed calendar series is back antenna that is UPS Shippable in the U.S. with CO's new 2000 editions. You'll refer to your CO calendar time after time asyou search for the schedules of upcoming ham All orders must be prepaid events and conventions. Public holidays and valuable astronom- no COD's on "Shipping Special". ical information will be right by your side too! Orders must be prepaid by VISA, MasterCard, Enjoy 15 months of use (January 2000 through lvarch 2001) with this year's editions. Each month you will be treated to some Discovery, AMEX, Cashiers Check, or Money Order. of the greatest photography in all of amateur radio. Note: Shipping charges applies to UPS Ground Rate Shipping only. Any special shipping costs will be added to antenna cost. "Shipping Special" must be mentioned in order to receive the discount S"0 0 Only 4Star $9.95 ea. Excellent Local +$2 Shl & DX Antenna IMO 2000 -2001 -Radio Classics Calendar- Enjoy this, -'s selection of 15 magnificent eyes of some I rr in Ham gear, age 1935-1968. Excellent DX'er Collins, Drake. [Ow, Geese, rrecy Wells, Lake re, Hammarlund, Hallicrafters, G,tobe, and more. The 20001001 Amateur Radio Calendar-F ores 15 terrific CALL FOR A professional color photographo or the most i esting stations, FREE CATALOG the biggest an Tula ay 5te.mtry t ',rrfaLrz, operato a average hams throughout the`t15A. 3138 County Road 30 Availakle directly from CQ and from your local dealer! Aft Ethelsville, AL 35461 J 0 (205) 658-2229 Fax: (205) 658-2259 For Fastest Service call 1-800-853-9797 or FAX 516-681-2926 Hours: p.m. (CST) Tues - Friday 1e..- CO Communications, Inc. 25 Newbridge Rd., GUN4IC Answering System After Hours 4417tenc0 Hicksville, NY 11801 Dealer Inquires, please call. 71 - 34 / POP'COMM / April 2000 &an Our Web Site BM s 2 Way 1(tpTi (D[rJ4 t CB Radio Equipment IMEMMIT. uniden KENWOOD AIDLAND 0 Congratulations To Nick Ferrari Of CHEROKEE ICOMCSC Cobra Canton, Ohio! TEXAS RANGER.. muxonGalaxy FREE CATALOG! "We are the DISCOUNT LEADER in sales of scanners, FRS, CB, GMRS radios and accessories." Bill's CB & 2 -Way Radio Service PO Box 306, Morgan Hill, CA 95038-0306 Tech Line: (408) 782-0064 FAX: (408) 782-2985 e-mail:[email protected] Website: http://www.bills2way.com CIRCLE 64 ON READER SERVICE CARD Wireless Internet & TV WIRELESS CABLE - IFTS - MMDS ATV - INTERNATIONAL - DIGITAL Amplifiers Antennas Books Components RF Frequency 2100.2700 MHz SASE For "FREE" Catalog or Send S, PHILLIPS -TECH ELECTRONICS ,e - 4t" P.O. Box 737, 607 Parker St., Trinidad. CA 95570 CATALOG/1NFO: 707-677-0159 ORDER LINE: 800-880-MMDS li-,LLENGER SYSTEM FAX LINE: 707-677-0934 11Channel Complete S240 Other Systems Available WEBSITE: www.phillips-tech.com 5 re., warranty E-MAIL: productaphill1ps.tech.com CIRCLE 72 ON READER SERVICE CARD A look inside Nick Ferrari's radio shack. youAIN'T HEARD NOTHIN' popular Communications invites know if you're sending photos. If you're yET Since 1967, CRB Research has been the world's you to submit, in about 150 words, E -mailing photos, please send them in a leading publisherand supplierof unique hobby and professional books and information including: how you got started in the com-separate E-mail with your name in the Scanner Freq. Guides Military/ Federal Comm. munications hobby. Entries should be Broadcast Station Undercover "subject" line. Registries Communications typewritten, or otherwise easily readable. Shortwave Freq. Guides 8. Other Related Topics! If possible, your photo (no Polaroids, Our April Winner Ask for CRB RESEARCH please) should be included. our latest P.O. Box 56, Commack, NY 11725 FREE Ph: (631) 543-9169 FAX: (631) 543-7486 Each month, we'll select one entry and Pop'Comm reader, Nick Ferrari of catalog. [email protected] www.crbbooks.com publish it here. Submit your entry only Canton, Ohio, says, "My interest in radio CIRCLE 11 ON READER SERVICE CARD once; we'll keep it on file. All submis-started the year I graduated from high sions become the property of Popular school in 1935; I was 19 years old then, Communications,and nonewillbe and now I am 82. I started building one acknowledged or returned. Entries will and two -tube sets with hand -wound plug- be selected taking into consideration the in coils for different frequencies. I built at story they relate, and if it is especially least a dozen receivers. Later, I purchased interesting, unusual, or even humorous. professional receivers, such as National, We reserve the right to edit all submitted Hallicrafters and Howard. material for length, grammar, and style. My firsttransistorradiowas a The person whose entry is selected willLafayette HA -600A that I still own. I now Recei e Say Ilites with receive a one-year gift subscription (orhave a Kenwood R-2000 and a Realistic you anner one-yearsubscriptionextension)to 200 -channel PRO -2022 scanner. I've Shuttle / Space Sttion hritary / etc. Popular Communications. Address all logged many foreign stations, but being Call for FREE brohure deiatiping entries to: "How I Got Started," Populara native Italian, I listen a lot to RAI Italian easy techniques to hAr and seelatellites. Communications, 25 Newbridge Road,Radio. In my retiring years, I enjoy my Complete frequency gu'ile with ail orders! HLcksville, NY 11801 or E-mail yourhobby more than ever and Pop'Comm 1-888-FLGHT-rieN er try to [email protected], letting us helps a lot." (1-888-3541ft856) Flightline Engineei-ing, Inc. =111111111111111D '111111111 CIRCLE 68 ON READER SERVICE CARD www.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 35 Getting Started As A Radio Amateur Radios And Road Trips Just in case you've been asleep for a decade or so, HF mobile operation is better, cheaper, and easier than ever before. That's especially good if you're on the go, suffer from antenna restrictions, or endure pesky RFI problems at your home shack. Ham radio can be a constant companion on cross-countryrunsor daily commutes totheoffice. Contesting, ragche wing, DXing - whatever. Today's mobile hams do it all! Mobile Reality For all their glitter and apparent innovation, most mobile ham stations use vertical antennas worked against the body and frame of a car or truck, which serves as the RF ground. As with ground -mounted verticals, the size of the radiating element and the quality and size of the RF ground determine the overall effec- tiveness of the antenna system. Big radiators and big RF grounds Ten -Tee's Scout isn't flashy, but it's probably the only mobile rig made that's truly easy to use when you're cruising down the boulevard and mean big signals, and vice -versa. splitting your attention eight ways from Sunday. The compact 0-50 Unless you drive a 40 -foot RV, this imposes certain restric- W rig uses plug-in band modules (available for all bands 160 through tions. At 2 meters and up, where car bodies are more than a 10) instead of a conventional bandswitch. What it lacks in frequency wavelength in size and whip antennas are a quarter -wavelength agility, it makes up for in all-around good performance and ease of or longer, mobile installations are typically efficient and repre- use. Check out Ten -Tee's complete line at BY KIRK KLEINSCHMIDT, NTOZ 111111111111111.11 36 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site or larger. The big cables will practically eliminate voltage drop and minimize RFI "...physically small antennas with poor RF grounds don't radiate and noise pickup under the hood. Use apowerhouse signals." few inches of smaller -gauge wire to make the connections at the back of your rig. The positive and negative supply cables Hamsticks ( Mobile Antennas Choosing exactly where to mount your mobile HF antenna is your first antenna task. Performance -wise, mount- World's Most Powerful CB ing the antenna in the center of the vehi- cle roof is best. The trunk and hood decks and Amateur Mobile Antenna are next, and the front or rear bumpers Lockheed Corp. Test Shows Guaranteed To Transmit and Receive are tied for last place. WINIM11000 CB Antenna Has Farther Than Any Other Mobile Antenna mounts come in all shapes and 58% More Gain Than The CB Antenna or Your Money Back** sizes. Some bolt directly to your car body, K40 Antenna (on channel 40). New Design IntestsconductedbyLockheed Corporation,one of The Wilson 1000 higher gain performance is a result of new some attach to the lip of your car's trunk, the world's largest Aerospace Companies, at their Rye Canyon design developments that bring you the most powerful CB base and some use powerful magnets to hold Laboratory and Antenna Test Range, the Wilson 1000 was found loaded antenna available. your antenna in place - but they all sim- to have 58% more power gain than the K40 Electronics Com- Why Wilson 1000 Performs Better pany, K40 CB Antenna. This means that the Wilson 1000 gives Many CB antennas lose more than 50% of the power put into ply provide a place to mount your whip you 58% more gain on both transmit and receive. Now you can them. The power is wasted as heat loss in the plastic inside the anienna. The whip must be insulated from instantly increase your operating range by using a Wilson 1000. coil form and not radiated as radio waves. We have designed a new coil form which suspends the car body and the coax shield must be Lockheed - California Company the coil in air and still retains the rigidity needed for A Division V Lockheed Corporation support. connected directly to the car body/frame. Burbank. Calder. 91520 I'his new design eliminates 95% of the dielectric losses. We feel that this new design is so unique that we have filed a patent application on it. Wilson Animas& Company Inc 3 Surest Way Una A.10 In addition, we use 10 Ga. silver plated wire to "The positive and negative Green Utley Commerce Ceram reduce resistive losses to a minimum. Heridersco. Nevada09015 In order to handle higher power for amateur use. supply cables should each be Subject. Comparative Gain Testing of Citizen's Band Antennas Ref: Rye Canyon Antenna Lab File 4870529 we used the more efficient direct coupling method of matching, rather than the lossy capacitor coupling. fused at the vehicle battery." VVe have to:0,10010d ,allele gain measurements a your model 1000 antenna using the 6.40 antenna as the With this method the Wilson 1000 will handle 3000 reference. The test was conducted with the antennas watts of power. mounted on a 16' ground plane with a separation of greater than 300' between the transmit and lent antennas. The Best You Can Buy The antennas were tuned by the standard VSWR method. The So far you have read about why the Wilson 1003 results of the test are tabulated below There are dozens of mobile HF anten- performs better, but it is also one of the most rugged FREQUENCY (MHZ) RELATIVE GAIN (dB) RELATIVE POWER GAIN (%) antennas you can buy. It is made from high impact nas to choose from, but I'm going to men- 26.965 1.30 35 thermoplasticswithultravioletprotection. The tion only two here today. If you get the 27.015 1.30 35 00 27065 1ss 40 threaded body mount and coil threads are stainless 27.115 1.e0 45 steel; the whip is tapered 177 ph. stainless steel. All fat er, be sure to investigate mobile anten- 27.1e5 1.50 tv, r.p. of these reasons are why it is the best CB antenna on 27215 1ao 45 00- nas more thoroughly. W6AAQ's book is 27.265 1.75 50 the market today. and we guarantee to you that it will 27.315 1.95 a great place to start. 57 A 'll&V% IA outperform any CB antenna (K40, Formula I. you 27.365 2.00 se 0 / name it) or your money back! Arguably, the best antenna for HF 27.405 2.00 se 11(`-00 'Inductively base loaded antennas mobile newbies is a monoband whip. If Individual test results may vary upon actual use. "Call for details. yoi want a simple, inexpensive, and rea- Roof Top Mount 5995 Little Wil 2995 sonably effective antenna, or if you want CALL TODAY TOLL FREE: 1-800-541-6116 Trunk Lip Mount 6995 Wilson 2000 Trucker 3995Wilson to operate on a single band at 20 meters FOR 1OUR NEAREST DEALER Magnetic Mount 7995 Wilson 5000 Trucker .7995 ANTENNA INC. or higher, consider Lakeview's line of 500 Magnetic Mount 3995 Call About Fiberglass!!! A Division of Parkin Products, L.L.C. Wilson 1000 Wilson 5000 Baseload - NOW AVAILABLE! East Moline, IL 61244 www.popularcommunications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 37 cockpit. Now it's time to talk aboutstrap made from copper braid or strap. It age swings, mechanical shock, exces- grounding things at the antenna feed pointmight sound excessive, but reducing the sive humidity, and a host of other factors and elsewhere. resistance in the ground connection bythat aren't relevant at home. You may Despite comments from well-meaningeven a small amount can dramaticallyalso have to deal with electrical noise bystanders, every mobile antenna mountimprove antenna performance and helpfrom the ignition system, on -board com- must have a good, low -impedance con-reduce or eliminate unwanted noise. The puters, blowers, fans, defrosters, and so nection to ground - and that includesbottom line is, you can never have aon. You may even cause interference to magnetic mounts! Without that connec- ground connection that's too good. your car's electrical system! W6AAQ's tion to the vehicle body/frame, your RF book covers noise and RFI in detail, as performance will suffer tremendously. does The ARRL RFI Book. If you have Bumper mounts and other direct -to -the - Good Advice noise problems, be sure to follow up with frame mounts usually provide an OK con- one or both volumes. nectiontoground, but even direct Unfortunately, most mobile installa- frame/body connections can usually betions are pretty hostile. Your rig may "Unfortunately, most mobile improved with the addition of a groundencounter temperature extremes, volt - installations are pretty hostile. Your rig may encounter temperature extremes, voltage swings, mechanical shock, excessive humidity, and a host When seconds count, of other factors that aren't relevant at home." REACT There's a lot to learn about mobile HF operating. Here are a few points to needs you.... consider: An effective noise blanker is price- less. When shopping for a mobile rig, test ...to summon for help for an injured motorist, an elderly woman trapped in a fire, a trucker stranded in a noise blankers carefully and check out blizzard, a drowning child! ham magazine product reviews to see how well the noise blankers work. As a REACT volunteer radio monitor, you may be the only Install a good -quality auxiliary speak- communication life -line for someone in serious trouble. You er. Unlike the minimal speakers found in relay messages from those desperate for help to police, fire, most rigs, a speaker designed for mobile or emergency services. work can pump out crisp, clear, loud Your REACT team may also use CB, GMRS, Amateur, and other audio without breaking up. radio services to provide safety communications for events like parades, marathons, and even balloon races. Be safe, not sorry. Enthusiastic ham The fellowship with other REACT members at team meetings and annual conventions is an added bonus, as is operators can easily cause an accident help with licensing, equipment advice, and radio training. when tuning antennas, tweaking knobs, reading SWR meters, jotting logbook "The mission of REACT International is to provide public entries, etc. Drive first, operate second! safety communications to individuals, organizations, and government Never use a cockpit -mounted anten- agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give assistance wherever na tuner to "match" your mobile whip. and whenever needed. We will strive to establish a monitoring Mobile antennas are physically small and network of trained volunteer citizen -based communicators using offer compromised performance at best. any and all available means to deliver the message." Don't waste precious decibels by using a tuner! If you require extreme frequency Add a new, exciting challenge to your life. agility, get a screwdriver antenna or place an autocoupler at the antenna feed point. Volunteer. Help save lives and property, There are many excellent resources JOIN TODAY! for mobile ops on the Internet. Try KA6WKE's HF Mobile Web Pages at REACT INTERNATIONAL, INC. www.qsl.net/ka6wke/hfmobile.html or Phone (301) 316-2900 WB6HQK's Mobile Antenna Shootout Fax (301) 316-2903 Resultsathttp://people.delphi.com/ Web: www.reactintl.org cecilmoore/shootout.htm. 5210 Auth Road, Suite 403 If I don't see you on the highways and Suitland, MD 20746 byways, I'll see you next month. Send your QSL cards, questions, and letters to PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER ACTION AWARD Popular Communications, "The Ham RADIO EMERGENCY ASSOCIATED COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Column," 25 Newbridge Road, CIRCLE 73 ON READER SERVICE CARD Hicksville, NY 11801. 38 / POVCOMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site Tap into secret Shortwave Signals Turn mysterious signals into exciting text messages with the MFJ MultiReaderTM Plug this self-contained MFJ MultiReader"' greatly improves copy on CW and other modes. into yoirshortwave receiver's earphone jack. fin Easy to use, tune and read The watch mysterious chirps, whistles and It's easy to use -- just push a button to select buzzinsounds of RTTY, ASCII, CW and AM - modes and features from a menu. TOR ("EC) turn into exciting text messages as r 4 It's easy to tune -- a precision tuning indicator they scroll across an easy -to -read LCD display. makes tuning your receiver easy for best copy. You'll read interesting commercial, military, A)) 4i411 ;, It's easy to read -- the 2 line 16 character LCD diplon atie, weather, aeronautical, maritime and display with contrast adjustment is mounted on a amateur traffic ... -- all over the world -- MFJ -462B brushed aluminum front panel for easy reading. Eavesdrop on the World Australia, Russia, Japan, etc. Copies most standard shifts and speeds. Has Eavesdrop on the world's press agencies Printer Monitors MFJ AutoTrakr" Morse code speed tracking. transn itting unedited late breaking news in 24 Hours a Day $17995 Use 12 VDC or use 110 VAC with MFJ-1312B -- China News in Taiwan, Tanjug Press MFJ's exclusive TelePrinterPorem lets you AC adapter, $14.95. 5'/4Wx2 tHx51,D inches. in Ser )ia, Iraqui News in Iraq -- all on RTTY. monitor any station 24 hours a day by printing Cc9y RTTY weather stations from Antarctica,transmissions on an Epson compatible printer. No Matter What" One Year Warranty Mali, Congo and many others. Listen to military Printer cable, MFJ-5412, $9.95. You get MFJ's famous one year No Matter RTTY passing traffic from Panama, Cyprus, Peru, MFJ MessageSaver' What!" limited warranty. That means we will Capet, Awn, London and others. Listen to hams, diplo- You can save several pages of text in an 8K repair or replace your MFJ MultiReader' (at matic research, commercial and maritime RTTY. of memory for re -reading or later review. our option) no matter what for one full year. Lbten to maritime users, diplomats and High Performance Modem Try it for 30 Days amateurs send and receive error -free messages MFJ's high performance PhaseLockLoopm If you're not completely satisfied, simply using various forms of TOR (Telex -Over -Radio).modem consistently gives you solid copy -- evenreturn it within 30 days for a prompt and cour- Nimitor Morse code from hams, military, with weak signals buried in noise. New thresh-teous refund (less shipping). Customer must comr iercial, aeronautical, diplomatic, maritimeold control minimizes noise interference -- retain dated proof -of -purchase direct from MFJ. l'.::;;;.:%; Ilf.-2:z..-zi fL..::::::::::::: "Ilorld Radio TV Handbook" says MFJ-1026 MFJ-1214PCMF1-1704 ' Mfg -1702C MFJ 1024 is a "first-rate easy-to-op- 0 9' 814995 $6498 \\f,/$2495 erati active antenna ...quiet... excell- $17995 ent avnamic range... good gain... low Use your computer and radio to MFJ-1704 heavy duty antenna New Completely eliminate receive and display brilliant full switch lets you select 4 antennas or nois..... broad frequency coverage."power line noise, lightning crashes N'ount it outdoors away from elec- color FAX news photos and incred-ground them for static and lightning and interference before they get intoible WeFAX weather maps. Also protection. Unused antennas auto- trica noise for maximum signal, mini-your receiver! Works on all modes mum noise. Covers 50 KHz-30 MHz. SSB, AM, CW, FM, data -- and onRTTY, ASCII and Morse code. matically grounded. Replaceable Frequency manager lists over 900 lightning surge protection. Good to Receives strong, clear all shortwave bands. Plugs between main external antenna and receiver.FAX stations. Auto picture saver. 500 MHz. 60 dB isolation at 30 signals from all over the Includes interface, easy -to -use MHz. MFJ-1702C for 2 antennas. world. 20 dB attenuator, Built-in active antenna picks up power line noise and cancels unde-menu driven software, cables, power World Band gain control, ON LED. sirable noise from main antenna. supply, manual and JumpStart"" guide. Build this regen- Switch two Also makes excellent active antenna.Requires 286 or better computer erative shortwave ) O.0 -.. li receiversI and with VGA monitor. receiver kit and lis- _ auxilary or ten to signals from all Mt 1.1024 -. MFJ-95B$9995 High -Q active antenna. High -Q over the world with just $13995 6x3x5 inches. Remote MH -956 a 10 foot wire antenna.VeLki"°°WMFJ -81 passive LC 0 +8v-Ivired has 54 inch whip, 50 feet coax. Matches your antenna to your preselector Has RF stage, vernier 3x-.. x4 inches.12 VDC or 110 receiver so you get maximum sig- reduction drive, smooth regenera- boosts your tion, five bands. VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. nal and minimum loss. favorite stations while rejecting L:77r:c:-.1:,::::".:.'f....::7.7::::::::: Preamp with gain control boostsimages, intermod and phantom sig- Rival outside T weak stations 10 times. 20 dB atten- MFJ's mH 8121 for g wires with nals. 1.5-30 MHz. Preselector new 21$3995 uator prevents overload. Select 2 bypass and receiver grounded posi- thii tuned indoor antennas and 2 receivers. 1.6-30 Band active antenna. tions. Tiny 2x3x4 inches. World Receiver MFJ-1020B MHz. 9x2x6 in. Use 9-18 VDC or Super.-4.=:Z7., tVorld Radio TV $7995110 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14 95. lets you travel the world from your Handbook" says MFJ- MFJ-1046 armchair! Listen to BBC news 1020B is a "fine value... fair .9995 from London, live music from price... best offering to date... per-MFJ-752C1 $99951). ) 1'474-.:74 Improves any receiver! Paris, soccer matches from fo 711A very well indeed." Germany and more! Covers 21 Tuned circuitry minimizes inter - Suppresses strong out -of -band sig- Two separately tunable filters letnals that cause intermod, blocking,bands including FM, Medium m improves selectivity, reduces Wave, Long Wave and Shortwave. noise outside tuned band. Use as ayou peak desired signals and notchcross modulation and phantom sig- out interference at the same time. Younals. Unique Hi -Q series tuned Sony" integrated circuit from preselector with external antenna. can peak, notch, low or high pass circuit adds super sharp front-end Japan, multicolored tuning dial, C veers 0.3-30 MHz. Tune, Band, signals to eliminate heterodynes andselectivity with excellent stopband built-in telescopic antenna, perma- Cain, On/Off/Bypass Controls. De-interference. Plugs between radio attenuation and very low passband nent silkscreened world time zone, chable telescoping whip. 5x2x6 in. and speaker or phones.I Ox2x6 in. attenuation and very low passband frequency charts on back panel. se 9 volt battery, 9-18 VDC or loss. Air variable capacitor with Carrying handle. Operates on four 110 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. vernier. 1.6-33 MHz. "AA"s. Super compact size! MFJ-$9995 1C Plug MFJ-1022 f3 # ----- How to build t us corn_ $499$ andput utptiliinye x -( Free MFJ Catalog High -gain, high -Q receiver pre- ;au' pen and Nearest Dealer ... 800-647-1800 'act MFJ seletor covers 1.8-54 MHz. Boost tested wire tll band active antenna into your weak signals 10 times with low http://www.mfjenterprues.corn receiver and you'll hear strong, clear I MAantennas using noise dual gate MOSFET. Reject I Year No Matter What' warranty 30 day money ignals from all over the world, 300 readily available out -of -band signals and images with back guarantee (less s/h) on orders from MFJ KHz-200 MHz including low, med- MFJ-38 parts that'll high -Q tuned circuits. Push buttons MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. um. shortwave and VHF bands. $1695 bring signals in let you select 2 antennas and 2 likeyou've Box 494, Miss. State, MS 39762 Detachable 20 inch telescoping (601) 323-5869; s-r:30cs-r. mo.,f -n intenna. 9 volt battery or 110 VACreceivers. Dual coax and phono never heard before. FAX: (601) 323-6551; Add s/h MFJ-1312B, $14.95. 37xl'hx4 in.connectors. Use 9-18 VDC or 110Antennas from 100 Tech Help: (601) 323-0549 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. KHz to 1000 MHz. Pri dspcoilicattons ,uhtect to change. lc, /998MP/Enterprise, Int. CIRCLE 120 ON READER SERVICE CARD Pop/Commis World Band Tuning Tips April 2000 Thislisting is designed to help you hear more shortwave broadcasting stations. The list includes a variety of stations, includ- ing international broadcasters beaming programs to North America, others to other parts of the world, as well as local and regional shortwave stations. Many of the transmissions listed here are not in English. Your ability to receive these stations will depend on time of day, time of year, your geographic location, highly variable propagation conditions, and the receiving equipment used. AA, FF, SS, GG, etc. are abbreviations for languages (Arabic, French, Spanish, German). Times given are in UTC, which is five hours ahead of EST, i.e. 0000 UTC equals 7 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. CST, 4 p.m. PST. UTCFreq. Station/Country Notes UTCFreq.Station/Country Notes 00006000 Radio Havana Cuba 030011655 YLE Radio Finland 00006155 NHK Radio Japan, via UK 030015395 Radio Thailand 00007375 Radio Bulgaria 030015470 Voice of Russia 00009470 Voice of Russia SS 03309660 Vatican Radio 00009580 Radio Yugoslavia 03309835 Radio Budapest, Hungary 000011615 Radio Prague, Czech Republic 04004819 La Voz Evangelica, Honduras SS 00303310 Radio Mosoj Chaski, Bolivia Quechua 04006105 Radio Universidad, Costa Rica SS 00306120 Radio Vilnius, Lithuania, via Germany 04007245 Tajik Radio, Tajikistan RR 005011800 RAI, Italy 04009517 Voice of Sudan Unid 01005940 Voice of Vietnam, via Russia 04009630 Radio Jordan AA 01006536 Radiodifusora Huancabamba., PeruSS 040011585 Kol Israel 01007300 Radio Slovakia Int'l 040011690 Voz Cristiana, Chile SS 81303280 La Voz del Napo, Ecuador SS 040011760 BBC, via South Africa 01306055 Radio Exterior de Espana, Spain 040011820 Broadcasting Service of Kingdom 01307275 Voice of the Islamic of Saudi Arabia AA Republic of Iran AA 04154919 Radio Quito, Ecuador SS 013015425 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation 04307500 Radio Moldova Int'1, via Romania 01456120 Radio Tirana, Albania or 6115 04309705 Radio Mexico Int'l SS 01456280 Voice of Hope, Lebanon AA/EE 04309745 HCJB, Ecuador 02004885 Radio Clube do Para, Brazil PP 04309820 Radio Havana Cuba 02004980 Ecos del Torbes, Venezuela SS 04309905 Swiss Radio Intl, via French Guiana 02006200 Radio Prague, Czech Republic 043011765 BBC, via Ascension 02007180 Voice of Russia 04456165 Radio Netherlands, via Bonaire 020011675 Radio Kuwait AA 04459775 Voice of America, via Botswana 020011780 Radio Nacional Amazonas, Brazil PP 05004770 Radio Nigeria, Kaduna 020011865 Radio Canada Int'l 05005025 Radio Rebelde, Cuba SS 020015140 HCJB, Ecuador SS 05006100 Deutsche Welle, Germany 020015365 Radio Sultanate of Oman 05006110 NHK Radio Japan, via Canada 020015575 Radio Korea Int'l, South Korea 05007135 Radio France Int'l FF 020017675 Radio New Zealand 05007175 Voice of the Broad Masses, Eritrea Amharic 02303290 Radio Namibia 05007255 Voice of Nigeria 02304845 Radio Fides, Bolivia SS 05009410 BBC, England 02309845 Radio Netherlands, via Bonaire 05009435 Kol Israel 02309905 Swiss Radio Int'l 05009445 Voice of Turkey TT 023011710 Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior 05009495 Radio Sweden 02459495 Radio Sweden 05304915 Ghana Broadcasting Corp 024511905 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Unid 05304950 Radio Nacional Angola PP 02506265 Radio Zambia 05306115 NHK Radio Japan, via Canada 03004960 Radio Vila, Dominican Republic SS 05309420 Voice of Greece 03009165 Voice of Azerbaijan Azeri 05309490 RTBF Intl, Belgium, via Germany 03009655 YLE Radio Finland 053017580 RTBF, Belgium, via Germany FF 40 POP'COMM / April2000 Scan Our Web Site UTCFreq. Station/Country Notes UTCFreq. Station/Country Notes 05454815 RadioTV Bukina, Burkina Faso FF 125015775 Icelandic State Broadcasting 06004835 RTV Malienne, Mali FF Service USB, Icelandic 06006080 Voice of America, via Sao Tome 13004895 Radio Malaysia, Sarawak Unid 06007125 RTV Guineenne, Guinea FF 13006020 Radio Australia 06007250 Vatican Radio 13007365 KNLS, Alaska 06009400 Radio Bulgaria 130011980 KDSA Adventist World Radio, Guam 06009580 Africa Number One FF 13309715 Radio Tashkent, Uzbekistan 060011515 Voice of Hope, Lebanon AA 133015240 Radio Sweden 06306015 Radio Austria Int'l, via Canada GG 133017870 Channel Africa, South Africa 06306940 Radio Fana, Ethiopia Amharic 14007405 China Radio Int'l 06309570 Radio Korea Int'l, South Korea 14009670 Radio Veritas Asia, Philippines 06309575 Radio Medi-Un, Morocco AA 140017790 Radio Romania Int'l 063012095 BBC, via Cyprus 143013720 Adventist World Radio, via Russia 063015515 Radio Australia 15009525 Channel Africa, South Africa 06457180 Radio Norway NN 15009580 Radio Australia 06457255 Vatican Radio 150013630 UAE Radio, Dubai, UAE 06459530 Radio Romania Int'l 160011570 Radio Pakistan 07004991 Radio Apintie, Surinam local 160011690 Radio Jordan 071:06005 BBC, via Ascension 160015435 Radio Jamahiriya, Libya AA 07006070 CFRX, Canada relay CFRB 160015540 RDP International, Portugal PP 07006100 Radio Liberia Int'l 170017780 Channel Africa, South Africa 07007290 Radio Rossi, Russia 171515365 Radio Romania Int'l 07305020 Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. 173013720 All India Radio Unid 07307260 Radio Vanuatu, Vanuatu 173015640 Kol Israel HH 07459870 Trans World Radio, Monaco 174513630 UAE Radio, Dubai, UAE AA 08003290 Radio Centro, Ecuador SS 183017695 Radio Vlaanderen 08006030 CFVP, Canada Belgium, via Germany 08006185 Radio Educacion, Mexico SS/EE 190011990 Radio Kuwait 080011755 HCJB, Ecuador 190015190 Radio Pilipinas, Philippines EE/Tagalog 08309515 Radio Nova de Paz, Brazil PP 19309022 Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran 09002410 Radio Enga, Papua New Guinea 20007440 Voice of the Mediterranian, via Russia 09003925 Radio Tampa, Japan JJ 20009685 Radio Baghdad Int'1, Iraq 091513820 Croatian Radio, via Germany Croat 200011715 Radio Algiers Int'l, Algeria AA 09303350 South Pyongyang Prov. Stn, 200015150 Voice of Indonesia North Korea KK 200015160 Radio Algiers Int'l, Algeria 09304975 Radio del Pacifico, Peru SS 210011705 Radio Bulgaria 09306090 Radio Esperanza, chile SS 210011830 Radio Anhanguera, Brazil PP 10004775 Radio Tarma, Peru SS 21307105 Radio Belarus Int'l 10004783 Radio Oriental, Ecuador SS 21309525 Voice of Turkey 10304835 Radio Tezulutlan, Guatemala SS 21309555 Broadcasting Service of 10456674 Radio Nueva Sensacion, Peru SS Kingdom of Saudi Arabia AA 11003325 Radio Maya, Guatemala SS 21309570 Qatar Broadcasting Service AA 11003380 Radio Chortis, Guatemala SS 21309625 CBC Northern Service, Canada 11006798 Radio Ondas Rio Maranon, Peru SS 21309735 Radio Sultanate of Oman AA 11009590 Radio Singapore Int'l 214511605 Croatian Radio, via Germany 11009740 BBC, via Singapore 22009695 Radio Rio Mar, Brazil PP 110012095 Far East Broadcasting, Philippinesvarious Asian 22009780 Republic of Yemen Radio AA 110013605 BBC, via Singapore 22009900 Radio Cairo, Egypt 110025820 Radio France Int'l FF 22009925 Radio Norway NN 11309490 Radio Nacional, Venezuela SS 220011620 All India Radio 12004725 Radio Myanmar, Myanmar (Burma) local 220011720 Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 12004755 Radio Republik Indonesia, 220015170 Radio Exterior de Espana, Ujung Pandang II Spain, via Costa Rica SS 12004925 Radio Republik Indonesia, 220015325 Radio Canada lnt'I Sumatra II 220017565 Voice of Greece, via 12007130 Radio Taipei Int'l, Taiwan VOA/Greenville Greek 12007145 Radio Pyongyang, North Korea CC 22309925 Radio Denmark, via Norway DD 12009965 KHBN, Palau 223011840 Deutsche Welle, Germany, 120011940 National Radio of Cambodia Khmer/EE via Sri Lanka GG 120021510 Radio Ukraine Int'l 223011975 China Radio Intl, via Mali 12304890 NBC, Papua New Guinea 223015540 RDP International, Portugal PP 12305010 Central People's 230011335 Radio Pyongyang, North Korea Broadcasting Station, China CC 230011660 Swiss Radio Intl, via 12309500 Radio Australia unid French Guiana II 123015700 Radio Bulgaria 232011560 Adventist World Radio, Guam CC wwwpopular-communications.com April 2000 / PCP'COMM / 41 Review Of New, Interesting And Useful Products MFJ's New Simplex Pocket and a rapid four-hour recharge (four ),,,,,.%.,1.1,L,. Repeater1M times faster than Uniden charger and battery), housed in the same cradle shell iu/AimID/Ainift___Jj Bearcat provided on models before the Extend the range of any radio; 2 -meter, 111.1-^....VJtia...A.V4Iile 440 MHz, handhelds, mobile, or base! 245-XLT. The Mini -Max 500 also pro- This easy -to -use unit just plugs in and vides trickle charge mode for true 100e4 APLE_RATIOR$ package records/plays back your 32 -second mes- stand-by.TheMetroWest sage. It's perfect for when you and a includes a 1500 mAh NiMh battery irgariss GlilitOtIE pack, which doubles the run-time of the friend are out of radio range; you can have -- . ,, CarlBergquist ., your own private portable repeater with- 245 and nearly triples it on earlier scan- ___....m.-- . ...-:-_, in your neighborhood or when hunting, ners with 600 mAh packs! fishing, or on the road. During a disaster, The unit is only for use with NiMh bat- - -... teries. (MetroWest also makes a Mini ------' S;7- ;.:- your MFJ-662 can provide emergency .--,,,i."' . - Max 300 for NiCd battery packs). The - -..1 ,.. comms when other repeaters are down. o.:.... ;.,-....j new 500 is powered by a higher capaci- .._ ThenewMFJSimplexPocket Repeater' works with virtually any ty wall transformer. For more informa- tion on the new MetroWest Mini -Max radio in any mode or frequency in any 5 AM',. "-'t:.: in "" '''',. i rem! ham band or business band. It's perfect- 500 charger, which sells for $55 ($80 with ly legal! The unit uses a 9 -volt battery, or a 1500 mAh NiMh battery pack), contact limiurti W. Sums has psi rchased Curl 9-15 Vdc or 110 Vac with optional MFJ- MetroWestat708-354-2125 orfor Bergauist's Ham Radio Operator's Guide. 1312B ($14.95). The new Simplex sales800-657-1475orviaE-mail Pocket Repeater 'M is $79.95 from MFJ [email protected]. Be sure to visit the MetroWest Website at www.metrow- Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box494, hwsams.com. They're located at 2647 Mississippi State, MS 39762 or call them estscan.com. You can also write the com- Waterfront Parkway, E. Drive, at 662-323-5869 for more information. pany at 822 N. Spring, LaGrange Park, Indianapolis, IN 46214-2041. You can also visit the MFJ Website at IL 60526. Tell them you read about it in Howard W. Sams & Company has also BY HAROLD ORT AND R.L. SLATTERY 42 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site worldwide, along with contact details forsays it's "The ultimate digital hard disk each station. recorder."Amen.Thebrandnew It's now possible to update the com- CCRecorder can record over 115 hours of pact and easy -to -useGlobal Broadcast- great voice quality audio in monaural, and ing Guideat any time via the AIB's cassette -quality in full stereo for 15 hours! Int2rnet Website. Copies ofThe Guide This is one hot radio accessory that we'll always be up-to-date within eachbe reviewing in an upcoming issue of broadcasting season! The new low price Pop'Comm, so stay tuned. In the mean- is$5.75,post-paid. time, here's the scoop on this truly great -heGlobal Broadcasting Guidecan shack accessory. alshe ordered via the AIB's Internet Designed for long -duration mono voice We bsite at www.aib.org.uk, where you'llor direct -from -your radio recording, it's find an order form which that can bebilled as a "complex tool for the record- printed out and mailed to the appropriate ing enthusiast." That's not to say it's com- Ala address. plicated to use, but this is one piece of gear The new CCRecorder is a high-tech recorder that can store up to 240 separate recordings. While the Association for Internationalthat you'll need to read the manual to use. Broadcasting is a non-profit, profession- It features a built-in microphone, plus two tinuous playback feature that's great for al trade association for everyone involved programmable line inputs, built-in speak- background music and many other appli- in international broadcasting, they alsoer to monitor or play -back live recordings, cations. have the interests of the listener in mind. headphone jack for listening or output to The CCRecorder comes complete with OriersshouldbesenttoMarbian another recording device, QuickSetupa power cord, built-in mic, radio patch Productions Intl (AIB), P.O. Box 41063, feature that allows you to record many cord, and a one-year warranty serviced by 2529 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam,popular AM BCB radio shows in a fewC. Crane Company, Inc. The 3-1b. unit, BC V3C 5Z9, Canada. Payment can beseconds (really!), keys to allow you to which sells for $449.95, operates on 110 mi,cle by personal check (USA & Canada scan back or forward, mute/pause to stopVac power only (adapter included) and on y) or by International Money Order,playback or mute the recording session,measures (HWD) 4" x 4 1/2" x 9". payable to Marbian Productions Int' 1. ability to pre-program to record up to 16 Formore information on the events, storage of up to 240 separateCCRecorder, contact C. Crane Company, CCRecorder Is HOT! recordings, 10 -year lithium battery back-Inc.,1001 Main Street, Fortuna, CA up to retain time, 90 -minute sleep timer, 95540-2008 or call 800-522-8863. Visit The brochure from C. Crane Company and much more. You can even use the con - them on the Web at ccrane.com. 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All units have 37 exci,,sive auto-class,tica:.oe oce?e ":54F tkiso (Surveillance -Enhanced) that tells YOU what you're listening to AND automatically sets you up to start FEATURES decoding. No other decoder can do this on ALL the modes listed below - and most more expensive decoders have no means of identifying ANY received i.:/ivel*SOundRecording using PC -compatible ,. looney of Dwell. Hangsignals, Why spend more money for other decoders with FEWER features? sound card.' -Point A Shoot- playback by Ri 6 separate CODE -3 GOLD works on any IBM compatible computer with MS-DOS with at individual hits. on us least 640kb of RAM, and a VGA ma--lar CODE -3 GOLD includes software ' ' foncy co-ordination and 2 -way TIMED ON/OFf 1,, 1. and a complete audio to digital ESkiy'verter. loop Simulated Speed Measurement Module type files with DATE Sig Run as o , , ) ICI -V address::,, Modes Included ADDITIONAL In BASIC package Modes included in STANDARD and PROFESSIONAL package A Functions New, Sofa' I tcrlInr, TI,no Or Ai1 fspec11f ,I s II 101.124:' ARO Plactu.o VT II BT2dc! DUI' 4110 Am ac 6.12 4 ;i42 Coquelet foabase plot ear ,ery Sea rani' ' ' T * Twirpie. Tt.n.1342 ARO 612/4 4 special ARO 8, SEVERAL GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS MODES AVAILABLE Sitor CCIN e25 476 4 ARC/6-90. 98 FEC-A FEC systems. 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Oscilloscope On Correlation Be SCANCAT GOLD FOR WINDOWS (NON -"SP) $99.95s a tl UPGRADE TO V7.5.7 $29.95 .s CODE) GOLD CODE -3 GOLD All the teatures you EXPECT from a true Windows application such as: VHF/SW DECODER PROFESSIONAL E -,A .) 7." 7 .7 UNI,j, If.1013,1,1n-anagethent s,stein With move 450.00 795.00 ) E. .1,SIC IT columns into doubles or tholes -n nu of ALL nnporlant data nr, Includes POCSAG 8 ACARS With ALL Modes Options Plus Professional Plus r Modes Options Analytical Package :I ItI »!),1,, BASIC PROFESSIONAL : . ng of most DBASE. FOXPRO, ACCESS. use our gm; .1 ./n rig knot, I 1 This month we're continuing our series on scanner terms and fea- tures. And we tackle a couple of tough ones this month. Look through the subheads, and if you already know all the terms, you can have the month off. We'll see you next time. In the meantime, let's jump right in where we left off. The Dreaded dB dB is a commonly used term and often misunderstood, so while it's not really a scanner feature per se, I thought it might be appropriate to include. If you're read- ing this paragraph, then it means that 01' "What the heck are you talking about" More sophisticated receivers often include an RF gain control in addition to, or instead of Harold agreed with me and left it in. an attenuator. This reduces the amplification in the front end of the receiver and can help The d part of dB stands for deci - one reduce interference. Of course, it also reduces sensitivity to weak signals, so you don't want tenth. One tenth of a Bel is what the dB to use it unless necessary. measures, so what exactly is a Bel? Bel is a measure of gain or efficiency expressedcompared to when you see publishedment helps underscore the problem with in a funny notation. If something is 10 specs? That's where things get a bitspecifications in general. Most manufac- times better than something else, or cantricky. There are some standards, butturers aren't going to distort things this amplify or produce 10 times more signal they're not always adhered to in the realmuch, but it means you have to take specs than something else, it would be one Bel world. By comparing to some otherbetween two different manufacturers better. Something 100 times better would"adjusted" standard, you can make the dBwith a liberal grain of salt. Comparing be two Bels, so each zero adds one to thefigures much more impressive. two models from the same manufacturer count, so to speak. Mathematics people For instance, it's very common to seeshould be a reasonable thing to do. will recognize this as a logarithmic scale, gain figures for antennas published in dB. and that's exactly what it is. The standards for comparison are an Delay So now, to confuse things a bit, butisotropic dipole (an antenna that doesn't since we don't normally get as much as really exist, but is a perfect dipole in an Depending on how the two-way sys- 10 times the amplification, a smaller, interference -free environment) or a stan- tem that you're listening to is set up, the more graduated scale is in order, anddard 1/4 wave ground plane antenna, reply to a particular transmission may or that's where the decibel comes into play.which would also have been affected bymay not take place on the same frequen- Ten dB is equal to one Bel, or 10 times its environment. Often, however, there's cy as the original transmission. Put anoth- the amplification. Twenty dB would be no way to tell what the manufacturer useder way, sometimes the mobiles are on the two Bels, or 100 times the amplification. as a comparison. same channel as the base, and sometimes By using decibels, we can get some easy - This problem caused the AOL scanner they are not for a variety of reasons. to -think -of numbers that are meaningful. conference group to come up with a new If the reply takes place on the same fre- For instance, 3dB is about two times thestandard that makes most antennas lookquency, then it would be nice to have the efficiency, or if it's a loss, then -3dB quite impressive. It's abbreviated dB-ws; scanner wait a second or two for the would be about 1/2. 6dB is about fourdB over Wet Spaghetti. You can get soresponse before going off to find the next times the gain or efficiency. much gain by just switching to a metal available activity. This feature is called Having said all that, it seems relative- antenna that even a 1/4 wave ground channel delay, or simply "Delay." ly simple. But there's a problem: the stan- plane probably has 20 or 30dB of gain. This is one of those basic functions that dard for measurement. In order to get aBut even then, there are problems asso- you shouldn't have to think about, but you gain measurement of one thing over ciated with how wet the spaghetti has todo. Some radios out there don't have it, another, there must be two things to com- be, and how do you connect it to theor have a universal delay setting. That is, pare. But WHAT was the other thing radio? This obviously sarcastic measure- you turn the delay (usually two seconds) I El I I I I I I I I I I a I IMff-Eiss S Meter Some form of indicator of the strength of the received signal is a very desirable feature on any receiver. It is helpful to test PHONES SR.MODE SR. antennas, or just to get some idea of how AOR AR5000 IkN' far away a signal might be, based on reception. And it's also useful to note if COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVER SC. MODE SS something changed. If you always hear your dispatcher at full strength on the meter and suddenly they drop to S7, A signal strength indicator is extremely convenient for testing antennas. It's also convenient there's something wrong somewhere. It to see the incoming strength of various mobile units (if not on a repeater) and have an idea of could be they've made changes to ahow far away they might be. Once reserved only for high end expensive communications transmitter, or switched to a backup, or it receivers, more and more scanners are including some form of signal indicator. could be your antenna got water in the coax last night, but it's a good indicatoris very convenient for tuning an antenna,radio signals out of the sky, and both prob- that you should check things out. or pointing it in the right direction. ably cover about the same frequency Unfortunately, signal strength meters The S unit, or Signal Unit, which isrange. Many of the VHF/UHF capable are found only on the higher -end units,what an S -meter is supposed to measure, communications receivers are actually and many of them are an LCD bargraphis also a distorted standard. The standard wide band units that also cover down into indicating one to five units. This is muchsays that the receiver with no antennathe 100- or 150 -kHz range. better than nothing, but it's not quite asconnected should read S-0. That allows The difference lies in the intention of convenient as a real meter. With a realfor the receiver's own internal noise and the receiver. A high -end Uniden scanner meter, you can see slight changes which environmental factors to be subtracted(one like the BC -9000 for instance) was before the signal measurement begins. intended mostly for scanning, and has Then each S -unit is supposed to be 6dB, many functions available to support scan- ® or 4 times the signal strength of the pre- ning including alpha display, banks, lock- IRS 11115 $156 vious S unit, up through S-9 or a total ofouts, channel selectable attenuators, etc. New: . Incremental Search 54dB. Then most meters indicate 10, 20, . Multiple Receivers . Y2K Pretty much all the things we've talked .Office Compatible User Inter- . Report Generator and sometimes 30 above that. about as being desirable for scanning. face, Standard Toolbar . Irrport (Klingefuss, ASCII, Intelligent Filter with History BBC, ILG, PerCon) The problem is that most meters are not A communications receiver on the The new shot® RSM 5 RadioSpectrumManager includes all calibrated. So comparing one receiver toother hand, might be able to scan, but the drivers and the actual professional shot® RadioData data- base with more then 74'000 records (26'000 Utility, 14'000 another is meaningless. The same signal primary purpose is to have the best receiv- Broadcast, 34000 VHF/UHF/SHF). Append/Edit of records, through the same antenna might measure Database -Scanning, Station Identification, Multiple search er possible. These units have very high filters, Channel control and Timer mode.s95/98/NT.Avail- S-5 on one radio, but S-7 on another.specifications, but tend to fall apart a bit able version: Economic $156, Standard $280, Professional Comparing signal strength on the same $2250. shoe can deliver drivers for the following equip- in the basics. Many of them make terri- ment: radio is valid. This is good for comparing ble scanners without computer control of AOR LOWE TELEFUNKEN relativesignalstrengthsofvarious EKD OPTOELECTRONICS UNIVERSAL some sort. Radios like the ICOM 7100 or ICOM RACAL WATKINS-JOHNSON received signals, or comparing the perfor- JRC - ROSETTA WAVECOM the AOR 3000 for instance, really are able KENWOOD ROHDE&SCI-WARZ WiNRADO mance of one antenna to another, but youto scan almost as an afterthought. The NEISNER-FDOERING TSL . YAESU can't compare across receivers. Sorry. 3000, for instance, can only scan one of WAVECOM W4OPC $1625 Real analog meters or LCD meters withits 100 channel banks at a time. The 7100 Data Decoder enough steps to simulate an analog meterdoesn't even have banks. Many of them and Analyzer. are only found on communications WAVECOM, don't have channel lockouts, or if they do, theworldwide receivers.. If you're not looking to spend it's a bit of a chore to make it work. eference, used that much money, you'll have to take what by most govern- So why bother? Well, the communica- ment bodies. you can get, but some form of signal Morethan100 tions receiver has specifications that will modes (HFNHF/ strength indicator is highly desirable. UHF/SHF) supported. DSP technology with two 56002-66 blow most of the scanners away. Most MHz. FFT and code analysis. AF/IF/ Discriminator Input. scanners these days are fairly sensitive, Updateson Internet. 118 95/98/NT.Otherversions: W4100DSP, W4050 and W41PC (Up to 8 cards in one Scanner Versus so that's not as much of a factor as it used Also available from shoc® Training, Engineering and Sys- Communications Receiver?to be. But the communications receiver temDesign,SatelliteEquipment,Antennas,RACAL, Rohde&Schwarz, Kneisner+Doering, INMARSAT, JRC... tends to be a bit more selective; the abil- R.Haenggi, dipl. Ing. HTL Just what is the difference between aity to hear one channel without being CH -8499 Stemenberg-Gfell high -end scanner and a communicationsbothered by another channel close by. Switzerland +41-52-394 12 55 receiver? Well, in some terms, nothing. Communications receivers also excel 1.1 +41-52-394 12 56 w+41-79-421 50 37 They're both receivers intended to pullin the area of dynamic range - the abil- [email protected] VAvw.shoc.ch Pali() Monitoring Company 46 CIRCLE 75 ON READER SERVICE CARD ity of the receiver to hear one weak sig- If you're really interested, we did aOnce again, I hope you've found the def- nal without being bothered by strongermore extensive discussion of this topicinitions useful or informative, or perhaps signals on close -by frequencies. Most ofway back in the June '98 - you remem- even both. We'll be back next month with our scanners can't do this, and so evenber - last century . .. the good ol' days?the third and last half of this continuing though they may have the same sensitiv-If you don't have the back issue or have series on scanner features. ity is another receiver, the real worldother questions, don't hesitate to write. In the meantime, if you've got a ques- operation of that scanner with strong sig-When we get enough questions, we'lltion or information you'd like to share, nals all around us means that it won't be address the issue again. don't hesitate to write. I can be reached able to process the weaker signals we at [email protected], or via tradition- want to hear on a consistent basis. The Your Input Needed! al methods at Ken Reiss, 9051 Watson Rd. communications receiver will. #309, St. Louis, MO 63126. Until next An example of this problem is my local Well, we're done for another month. month, good listening! pace, which have a transmitter that is about one mile from my house. That trans - miter has to cover quite a distance, so it puts out a fairly strong signal: The voice CALL, E-MAIL OR CALL TOLL FREE of St. Louis County, as we affectionately WRITE FOR OUR cal;it. They transmit on 154.845. The (800) 292-7711 Orders Only FREE north precinct of the county is on 154.875, Se liable Espaiiol 64 PAGE CATALOG! about 25 miles away. On a scanner, I can Order On -Line @ www.cs-sales.com (800) 445-3201 hearthe154.875 transmissionsIF Digital Multimeters Elenco Oscilloscopes 154.845 isn't on the air. As soon as that Elenco Model M-1740 Free Dust Cover and 01, 02 Probes strong signal 30 kHz away comes on fre- Elenco Model LCR-1810 Fluke 87111 $39.95 quency, my scanner gets overwhelmed &OIL $99.95 $319 Features high pot with the strong signal and the 154.875 t.'t ferrnance AC DC y,.11age .100. ,,rrenr traismission is lost - dropped below the rrea.arectent Ire receiver's ability to pull it out. 2 year , On many of the communications Made la -a160 524.95 Warranty 19 runtTP011,1 S-1325 25MHz Dual Trace $325 receivers that I've tested, this doesn't S-1330 25MHz Delayed Sweep $439 ha.ven. On the better ones, 154.875 stays Generators and Counters S-1340 40MHz Dual Trace $475 S-1345 40MHz Delayed Sweep $569 S-1360 60MHz Delayed Sweep $749 right where it is and nothing happens. On Elenco Sweep Function Generator Elenco Handheld 138K Frequency Counter 5-1390 100MHz Delayed Sweep $995 with built-in frequency counter Universal Counter Model BK'187S most, because the signal on 154.845 is so Model GF-8036 1MHz - 2.8GHz DIGITAL SCOPE SUPER SPECIALS strong, you can hear a little bit of desen- Model F-2800 DS -20320MHz/10Ms's Analog/Digital $695 DS -303 40MHz/20Msis Analog/Digital $895 sitization, or desense as it's commonly $99 DS -603 60MHzi20Msis Analog/Digital $995 called. This sounds like the 154.875 sig- '229 Soldering Irons nal has gotten a bit weaker... there's sta- This sweep function generaloi with counter Weller WLC100 LOW COST SOLDERING IRON .san rnstryment capable of genera., tic on it that wasn't there before. square. triangle, and sine waveforms and TTL. CMOS pulse over a frequency tango What's really happening is that the Irate 0.2Ha to 2MHz lf 4.845 transmitter's signal has gotten 20MHz Sweep / Function Generator wirer, inn tut tworMr, J with Frequency Counter sludents in_o the front end of the receiver a little bit Model 4040 C 'replete with 4 on and caused the receiver to turn down the Elenco RF Generator Elenco 10Hz - 1MHz w. Counter Digital Audio Generator anplification . .it thinks it's now deal- $445 Model SG -9500 Model SG.n300 '225 Marksman' 23W Soldering Iron ing with a strong signal. Same thing hap- C 2Rrl,.2DIAFir Model SP23 AM a 1-1.1 n Bib PRISCSISPIN' -... pens on the scanner, but to such a level Burst Operetran '225 By Weller -11111.1199919"--- ,xlmnal Frequency counter to '1,,,, $9.95 that the desired weak signal actually dis- Lon., and Log sweep 21.5MHz Model 4070$1295 It,r,1,MS, frequency appears. It is this "dynamic range" that cl,..lonton and 10MHz Model 4017 $325 Elenco Educational Kits really separates the two types of receiver. 5MHz Mulct 4011 $255 SG -e,".` cat/Kett $t24 Model AR-2N6K Model AM -780K I hate to draw lines, because as soon as Tekk Radios Four Functions in One I do, someone will remind me of an Pro-StErt FRS Two -Way Radio -ere, exception to the rule. However, in order Nbdel PRO -SPORT+ 1 $34.95 14 Channels s79each to help you see where the distinction is Battery Monitor 811 .95 Key Locket or 2 Meter / 6 Meter drawn, let's put an artificial barrier at Montlor Baton $125 Amateur Radio Kit 2 IC Radio Kit lightweigrY about the $800 level. Above that price Palm Sized Set of 2 Model M -1005K Model RCC-7K Large LCC Display Digital Multimeter Kit Radio Controlled Removable Belt Clip point, you're probably getting a fairly Rernovalst Antenna Race Car Kit Two Rad. Call Tones $1995 sophisticated piece of equipment that will Busy Chaynel Lockout Features: Accesson Connector One instrument with four lest and measuring systems meet most, if not all, of the requirements Highly Wp...er Resistant I 3001 Frequency Counter 21.40, Sweep Function Generator of a communications receiver. Below that PRO SPORT Model Digital Mullimeter price point, you probably have a high end $109.95 set of 2 Orval Toole Power Supply - 0-30V a 3A. 15V a IA 5V u 2A scanner. I know somebody's gonna say Guaraiteed Lowest Prices C&S SALES, INC. 15 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE UPS SHIPPING: 48 STATES 5% 150 W. CARPENTER AVENUE . 2 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY "what about.." and you're right. But as OTHERSCALL FOR DETAILS WHEELING, IL 60090 a quick and dirty judgement tool, this IL Residents add 8.25% Sales Tax FAX: (847) 541-9904 (847) 541-0710 SEE US ON THE WEB http://www.cs-sales.com PRICES SUEUECT TO CHANGE Wing. 'r MOT. should work with today's market. e-mail: [email protected] CIRCLE 65 ON READER SERVICE CARD www.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 47 rC DX, News And Views Of AM And FM Broadcasting Callsign Actions Are Back! Due to the overwhelming feedback received from our readers, the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION monthlylistingofstation changes returns to "Broadcast DXing." resources Thanks to all who sent letters and E-mail. The callsign actions released by the FCC J..I commissioners Mass Media Bureau will be listed each mayor initiatives month, along with facilities changes as warranted. However, if you can't wait for bureaus & offices the latest edition of Popular releases & updates Communications to arrive, then here's how to check out the latest information for yourself at the FCC website. The FCC's new Portals office building shown on their Internet home page. As a part of their 5 -year plan to stream- line and speed up the delivery of services, the FCC maintains a website with links nently displayed at the top of the page. To estto AM radioenthusiasts.The to such things as application forms, pub- get to the Mass Media Bureau, first click International Radio Club of America also lic notices, and E-mail contacts. FCCon "bureaus & offices," then click onhas a wide range of publications includ- Chairman William E. Kennard envisions"Mass Media Bureau." Next, click on ing a Mexican station list that's updated a paperless FCC with on-line E -filing. "Public Notices" followed by "Call Sign periodically. If FM and TV are more to The goal is for the FCC to be able toChanges" and a list of files will appear.your liking, then touch base with the respond to emerging technologies moreLook for "MMB Call Sign Actions" for aWorldwide TV/FM DX Association, efficiently. Some changes are already insummary of actions over the past couple which publishes the TV Station Guide on place. Application forms for broadcast of weeks. You may also go to "Broadcast a regular basis. DX club publications are station licenses and construction permitsActions" for complete listings of dailyalso carried by retailers including many can be printed off of the website. Call signactions. Much of the daily actions will that advertise here in Popular Communi- reservation and authorization can now beinclude such things as ownership namecations, but club members get discounts completed entirely through the Internet. changes and transfers, which are often by ordering direct. More of interest to DXers are the pub- transparent to DXers. The MMB Call No matter where you may go for the lat- lic notices released by the FCC's Mass Sign Actions are the best place to start forest information, I hope that you will stay Media Bureau. According to the website learning about changes, including newtuned to Popular Communications for a description, "The Mass Media Bureau station approvals. Back at the Mass Mediaconvenient monthly compilation of MMB regulates AM, FM, and television broad- Bureau home page, you may conduct anactions, along with the unique mix of DX cast stations and related facilities. ItAM or FM query to retrieve data on antips found here in "Broadcast DXing." assigns frequencies and call letters to sta-individual station. Monthly transmitter tions, and designates operating power site sunrise/sunset data and location plot- Legal ID? and sign -on and sign -off times ...it reg- ted by the U.S. Census Tiger Map service ulates existing stations, ensuring that sta- are also linked to AM/FM query. Reader Paul Darnell writes, "For many tions operate in accordance with rules and If you don't have convenient access to months, there has been a station broad- technical provisions of their authoriza-the Internet, then why not consider join-casting in Lexington, Kentucky, WSAI, tions." Because the broadcast airwavesing a DX club that caters to your specif-at 1580 kHz. I am in easy listening range are in the public domain, the Mass Mediaic interests. Club bulletins can provide aof this station, and have heard them ID Bureau issues public notices for com- wealth of timely information unavailablemany times. Historically, 1580 has been ment before final approval of actions. from any other single source. AM DXersassigned to Georgetown, Kentucky, and These are usually issued as an applica-will find FCC updates, DX listings, andprevious call letters have been WAXU tion or proposal. This process has been shared tips from members published by and WBBE. To your knowledge, is there streamlined considerably by the website, two clubs in North America dedicated to any other case in the United States of two making the latest broadcast actions avail- mediumwave: the National Radio Club, stations using the same call letters, oper- able to anyone with Internet access. and the International Radio Club ofating in different cities and on different Begin by going to 48 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site a EseiwrArapio-iorr- SNGP-4 (4') SNGP-2WM Stainless Steel (28") 3 -Way Mount Stainless Steel 4- SNGP-2-RM Window Mount (32'') Stainless Steel Roof Mount 4 TIGER NGP-1 "NO GROUND" (4') Fiberglass PLANE 3 -Way Mount with Weatherband NGP-1-SM (4') 4- SNGP-4-SM Fiberglass (4) Side Mount Stainless Steel 2" Ext. Bolts Side Mount 2" Ext. Bolts 4 9114f 4 MARVEL COMMUNICATIONS 6000-D Old Hemphill Road Fort Worth. TX 76134 COMING SOON The two antennas that produce the directional pattern for 620 AM in St. Petersburg, Florida, As shown above Everhardt manufactures are dissected by Route 92. six types of "NGP" antennas for CB. Now in design is a new "NGP" Cincinnati and 1580 Georgetown have not for CB but for 2 meter. WDAE is moving to 620 from 1250 3db gain side body mount rl not been assigned the same call letters. which will be occupied by WHNZ. 620 for fiberglass vehicles. The FCC only requires a legal ID at the is perhaps most famous for its transmit- EVERHARDT ANTENNAS top of the hour. If you listen carefully toter site, which is dissected by Route 92 6000-D Old Hemphill Road 1580, then you'll hear the legal ID for crossing Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg. Fort Worth, TX 76134 WTKT Georgetown buried in the pro-Of course, call letter movement and sta- Phone: 817-568-0177 gramming somewhere around the top oftion swaps are nothing new, but they do Fax: 817-293-4441 the hour. The rest of the time, a radio sta-seem to be more common in this age of Email: [email protected] tion may use whatever ID itwants. multiple station ownership. They often CIRCLE 66 ON READER SERVICE CARD WTKT is probably trying to capitalize onoccur when a station is sold to a com- the popularity of the nostalgia programs petitor that already owns stations in the heard on WSAI Cincinnati at 1530. same metro region. The owner may www.mouser.com It's common practice for radio broad- decide to move a popular format to a bet- casters to bury the legal ID between com- ter frequency, and then sell their old sta- mercials, or make the announcement so tion. Regardless of why they happen, Subscribe, quick that most listeners don't even hearthese swaps are always entertaining and it, especially on FM. The station nick- DXers enjoy collecting the history of call download, or view game and closest large metro area areletters with QSLs and air checks. emphasized instead,such as WQSX catalog online! Lawrence 93.7 IDing as "Star 93.7, the QSL Information RhythmofBoston,"or WWKX Woonsocket 106.3 as KIX 106 First, some disappointing news from Providence. So now you may ask whatDon Hallenbeck in Maine who writes, constitutes as a legal ID according to the"Just a quick note on WCBS 880 AM; FCC? Call letters followed by the city ofthey do not QSL. I have written several license at sign -on, sign -off, and as close times and E -mailed them once. I can copy to the top of every hour as feasible are the WCBS every night from local dark to only requirements. As far as I can tell, the approximately local dawn depending on 800-992-9943 FCC makes no attempt to assign parame- QRM & signal strength. I also use an ters regarding the clarity of the announce-antenna booster to haul in WCBS. I lis- ment, which may irritate DXers, but prob- ten to WCBS as I have relatives in the ably isn't at the top of the list of complaintsNYC area." 817-483-6828 from the general public. Is anyone else having difficulty verify- Fax: 817-483-6899 ing WCBS? I hope this isn't true, because Station Swaps WCBS is a favorite DX target here in North America and abroad. WCBS is [email protected] Call letters are being shuffled around often logged as far away as Australia and 958 N. Main St., Mansfield, TX 76063 in Tampa, Florida. First it was WHNZ New Zealand. QSLing broadcast stations 570 "Wins" that switched ownership with seems to be getting more difficult than WSAA 620. Now "The Sports Animal" ever. It might be a good idea to thank any MOUSER EL E C T R O N I C S CIRCLE 71 ON READER SERVICE CARD 49 Pending KKWK Cameron, MO 100.1 KNOZ KLMM Morro Bay, CA 94.1 KBZK New Call Location Freq. Old Call KLSC Malden, MO 92.9 KMAL-FM KXCD Duncan, OK 1350 KKEN KLUN Paso Robles, CA 103.1 KBZX WTMC Wilmington, DE 1380 WAMS KMBN Las Cruces, NM 89.7 KBOU KKLV Bismarck, ND 94.5 KQDY KMRR Sanger, TX 104.1 KXZN WOGI Charleroi, PA 98.3 WZKT KMXJ-FM Amarillo, TX 94.1 KBUY-FM WYKL Byhalia, MS 94.9 WYLT KPMB Plainview, TX 88.5 New KRKD Dermott, AR 105.7 KDTL Changes KRLJ La Junta, CO 89.1 New KSSZ Fayette, MO 93.9 KLSC New Call Location Freq. Old Call KSXZ Lost Cabin, WY 99.1 New CINF Montreal, PQ 690 New KTEE Seaside, CA 103.9 KISE CINW Montreal, PQ 940 New KULW Kindred, ND 92.7 KPHT KBLJ La Junta, CO 1400 KBZZ KVCF Freeman, SD 90.5 New KNTR Lake Havasu City, AZ 980 KBBC KWKD Roy, UT 107.9 KSNU KOMJ Omaha, NE 590 WOW KXLV Amarillo, TX 89.1 KLMN KSLG St. Louis, MO 1380 KZJZ KYCE Hams Station, CA 90.1 New KUYL Stockton, CA 1280 KJAX KYOD Glendo, WY 100.1 KUUY WFOG Riverhead, NY 1570 WRHD KZLV Lytle, TX 91.3 KXPZ WGMF Watkins Glen, NY 1490 WBZD WEGF Montezuma, GA 95.1 New WKYH Paintsville, KY 600 WKLW WFBJ Femandina Beach, FL 105.3 New WLGZ Rochester, NY 990 WDCZ WHYQ New Johnsonville, PA 89.7 New WMKI Boston, MA 1260 WPZE WJOF Monroe, MI 88.1 New WODZ Johnstown, PA 850 WJAC WKEY-FM Key West, FL 93.5 WKRY WPGY Ellijay, GA 1560 WLJA WMYP Frederiksted, VI 98.3 WREY WPTR Albany, NY 1540 WDCD WODZ-FM Rome, NY 96.1 WFRG-FM WWKK Petoskey, MI 1110 WJNL WPGT Roanoke Rapids, NC 91.1 WXQD WYDE Birmingham, AL 850 WMKI WRQQ Goodlettsville, TN 97.1 New KBQC Independence, KS 88.5 New WSJZ Folsom, LA 104.7 WYLK KDUW Douglas, WY 91.7 New WUZZ-FM Lima, OH 104.9 WAJC KGHL-FM Billings, MT 98.5 KIDX WVCM Iron Mountain, MI 91.5 WBMU KGNA-FM Arnold, MO 89.9 KCWA-FM WVEZ Louisville, KY 106.9 WVEZ-FM KHTA Wake Village, TX 92.5 KBHA WWJS Watertown, NY 90.1 New KJRF Lawton, OK 91.1 New WWSO-FM Suffolk, VA 92.9 WFOG-FM KKAL Morro Bay, CA 99.7 KWWV WWSY Seelyville, IN 95.9 WTHC KWWV Santa Margarita, CA 106.1 KKAL WZBA Westminster, MD 100.7 WGRX KKMR Haltom City, TX 93.3 KKZN radio stations that do reply to QSL 660 KEYZ Williston, North Dakota, 3463Ramona Avenue, Ste. 15, requests. Send a postcard letting them received in 300 days for a taped report of Sacramento, CA 95826. (Martin, OR) know how much you appreciate theira DX test,signed Earl Gross, CE. 1700 WAFN Miami Springs, Florida, response, and then let them know that the Address: P.O. Box 2048, Williston, ND letter in 10 days for a taped report, signed radio station will receive some free pub-58801-2048. (Martin, OR) Cindy Roman. Address: 8525 NW 53rd licity right here in Popular Communica- 1110 KLIB Roseville, California,Terrace, Ste. 109, Miami, FL 33166. tions when you send your report toreceived hand-written letter in 10 days (Martin, OR) "Broadcast DXing!" from "Rosa Garnja," Sales. Address: Broadcast Loggings A new x -band station is on the air from Colorado. Patrick Griffith checked out the CANADIANS ONLY! transmitter site. "I drove out to the trans- ave you read Scanning USA, the ONLY scanning mitter site for KBJD 1650 this afternoon Our 2000 Catalog agazine? Get more out of your scanner with and confirmed that the construction per- is now available. xclusive columns such as: CANNING USA mit for KRKS 990 is also on the air from *Amateur Radio *Shortwave viation nking this site. I suspect that the two -tower setup *Scanners *Marine deral/Military uses a separate tower for each station dur- CB Radios *Parts nternet And Radio Send $3.00 for our 68 page catalog. ailroad ing the day when 990 is non -directional *Bonus** $5.00 off coupo roduct Reviews and the 1650 tower does double duty as eginners Corner part of the 990 directional array at night. for your 1st purchase. d Much More! Durham Radio Sales ubscribe today! I also noticed that KRKS is now using the VISA slogan Power Nine Ninety." Cr Service Inc. Call 1-600-651-0922 1380 Hopkins St., Unit 10 ample $3.00 8 Issues $16.95 Mark Connelly finds an opening that Whitby, Ontario LIN 2C3 16 Issues $33.95 26 Issues $49.95 was good to the Iberian Peninsula and Phone: (905) 665-5466Fax: (905) 665-5460 gUSA: 2054Hawthorne Joliet 11. 60435 northwest Africa, but poor to northern http://www.durhamradio.com Http://home.attnett-seanninguse infogdurhamradio.com [email protected] FAX 815-722-0717 Europe, Patrick Martin hears KBJD from CIRCLE 74 ON READER SERVICE CARD 50 / POP'COMM / April2000 Scan Our Web Site SIGNAL & Casino, Al Momberg, and Viking News ENGINEERING'S Radio Organizations at midnight, then into Andy Rooney at +7 SE to +9 signal strength. (Gillespie, MI) High Performance CB & International Radio Club of America 836 RDP, Pico da Barrosa, Azores, at 10 Meter Antennas P.O. Box 1831 2247 outdoor public address or sports SUPERHAWK Perris, CA 92572-1831 Goldenrod announcements by man in Portuguese, www.geocities.com/Heartland/5792/ 45 Spyder A+ better than Canaries -837 at the time. Broadband Hi (Connelly, MA) National Radio Club powered MOBILE 891 Algiers, Algeria, at 2242 Arabic P.O. Box 5711 vocal, flutes, drums, low audio but huge WHITE LIGHTNING THUNDER 8 Topeka, KS 66605-0711 THE Four Element Hi Gain www.nrcdxas.org S9+30 carrier. (Connelly, MA) Antenna Bi-Directional (Send two stamps for sample bul- 981.1 Radiodif. Algerienne, Algiers, OMNI letin.) Algeria at 2355 about 100 Hz on the high Electronically side of the channel with bits of Arabic Steerable Worldwide TV/FM DX Association vocal heard, otherwise mostly a big het And, also, P.O. Box 501 against WTRY/WCAP. (Connelly, MA) NEW QUAD Somersville, CT 06072 1070 KNX Los Angeles, California, LIGHTNING 8 www.anarc.org/wtfda at 0558 with commercial then ID. At THE most 0600, the Lone Ranger show. +20-40 POWERFUL here lasting 2-3 minutes then fade for one CB base in the minute, kept up same type of signal off world today! and on 'til fade out at 0614. The first west his new winter home in Rancho Mirage, ALL SE PATENTED rotary beams are true quads and of the Rockies for me here since I started OUTPERFORM their counterparts (quad/yagl types). California, and Dan Gillespie checks inlogging several months ago. (Gillespie, SE's patented SFS matching system makes SE with some new logs from Ada, Michigan QUADS the most technologically advanced antennas MI) Congratulations, nice catch! In the world today. in this month's selected logs. All times 1080 WTIC Hartford, Connecticut, If your dealer doesn't have SIGNAL ENGINEERING, are UTC. at 0039 with UConn/Louisiana Tech write or call for full specs. DEALER inquiries invited. 550 KGME Phoenix, Arizona good MasterCard, VISA, AMEX, Discover here with talk format, "KGME" ID atwomen's basketball game, at +7 to +9 sig- SIGNAL ENGINEERING nal strength. (Gillespie, MI) 0406. (Martin, CA) 1172 Aster Avenue. #E. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 1100 WTAM Cleveland, Ohio, at Phone: (408) 247-2300 560 KBLU Yuma, Arizona, heard0615 with Art Bell Show, news, and Website: www.signalengineering.com well all day here in the desert, but non- weather brief at 0630. (Gillespie, MI) existent after local sunset, talk format. 1250 KHIL Wilcox, Arizona, good at Full 800 MHz Scanners (Martin, CA) 0606 with country music, weather, and 585 RNE1 Madrid, Spain, at 2308 fair AR-8200(unblocked) with news and telephone interview in "K-Hil" IDs. (Martin, CA) Wideband Portable receiver Spanish parallel 855, hetted by Tunisia - 1503 AFRTS, Lajes, Azores, at 2215 - 0.5 to 2040 MHz continuous. with U.S. football game coverage, poor, - NFM, WFM, NAM, WAM, USB, LSB & CW 585.25. (Connelly, MA) - Alphanumeric memory indentification 630 KHOW Denver, Colorado, talkover RTTY-type jamming(?)signal. - Spectrum scan (Connelly, MA) - Computer control format, then "K -How" monitored at - Flexible dynamic memory bank layout 0605. (Martin, CA) 1580 WPGC Morningside, - Optional CTCSS & Extra memory boards Maryland, at 0855 an ad for an Isuzu 640 R. Progreso, Cuba, at 0925 car- ALINCO DJ -X1 O(unblocked) rying R. Reloj network, then at 0958 thedealer in Laurel, and "Heaven 1580... Wideband Portable receiver national anthem and start of R. Progresothe spirit of the Lord" ID, briefly over - 0.1 to 2000 MHz continuous. WRDD. (Conti, NH) - NFM, WFM, AM, USB, LSB & CW programming, over WHLO and CBN. - Alphanumeric memory indentification (Conti, NH) 1580 WRDD Ebensburg, IMO -Channel scope Pennsylvania, at 0835 fair, "You're lis- -1200 memory channels 670 KLTT Commerce, Colorado, - Superb sensitivity, Clear sound monitored at 0534 good with religious tening to the Cambria Radio Network, - Various scanning modes - Menu system format, "K -Light" IDs, no sign of KBOI AM 950 WNCC Bamesboro, and AM 1580 WRDD Ebensburg. Two great radio ?COM PCR-100-o8 down here. This one is also heard all day _ _ Wideband receiver for PC here. (Martin, CA) stations, one great sound at your service - PCR-100 can be used with your Desktop or Portable PC 670 WMAQ Chicago, Illinois, at 0533 24 -hours every day," and '60s to '70s - 0.1 to 1300 MHz continuous. with Larry King Live call -in, then intooldies music. (Conti, NH) - Modes AM, FM & WFM - Built-in tone squelch commercials. (Gillespie, MI) 1650 KBJD Denver, Colorado, at - Multiple screens: multi -function control panel 693.7 RDP Santa Barbara, Azores, at0655 with contemporary Christian music, 2259 discussion in Portuguese, stronger"KBJD, The Beat"ID,over/under MIR 7COPAALINCO than stations on 693.0 (growl of 700 Hz KGXL. (Martin, OR) OPTOO.ECTRONfa* YUPITERU noted). (Connelly, MA) ThankstoMark Connelly,Paul Guaranteed Delivery to USA. 830 WCCO Minneapolis,Darnell, Dan Gillespie, Patrick Griffith, Minnesota, at 0048 with 60 MinutesDon Hallenbeck, and Patrick Martin. audio feed, commercials reference Billy Until next month, 73 - and keep the Radieworld Phone: Dean appearing at Treasure Island Resortcards and letters coming! 416-667-1000 FAX :(41 Website Address: 11] Pop'Comm's Cyber Sleuth Checks Out Online Resources It's On The Internet, So It's Gospel, Right? Recently, a Pop' Comm reader sent me a note pointing out an important element with respect to information found on the Internet. I guess I had not thought to share it with you (until he tapped me on the shoulder) because it's second nature to me. Databases and other information you access online are sub- ject to the same problems that are found offline; namely, the difficulty of keeping things current and accurate. Information obtained via the Internet is no different from information found anywhere else. You'll find typographical errors, non -current, missing and incorrect data, or the effect of a programming glitch or two. Consequently, you can usually count on some of the information being incorrect, missing, or out-of-date. While I don't believe it to be any more of a problem than that found offline, it's something to keep in mind before "betting the farm" "I FOUND IT ON THE - as you would for any source of non-validated information. INTERNET THEREFORE It's also something you can help correct. When visiting an online IT IS TRUE" resource and you notice something not up to par, send an E- Image 1994 Corel Corporation mail to the Webmaster advising him/her of your observation. Most web pages have an E-mail contact link so you can easily notify them. Some sites even provide special pages that permit was not a product of the hosting service per -se, but rather the you to submit updates or changes right then and there. And, yes, person who built it using the hosting service's resources. Unless your help will be most appreciated. something illegal is attempted, most Web hosting services, When sending them an E-mail, copy the exact URL of theincluding regular ISPs, will exercise little or no control over "offending" page (from your browser's location window) andactual content. If people elect to just load -up their sites with paste it in your note. Sites have hundreds (even thousands) oftons of advertising (or even excessive graphics, animations, pages so the problem you encountered could be next to impos- etc.), they are free to do so -just as we are free to NOT return sible to find (let alone fix) unless the exact URL is known. I to their sites. The "pros," responsible for high traffic (exclud- used to have a large clip -art site (The Clip Art Connection) with ing "adult" oriented) sites, recognize that any volume of adver- thousands of images spread over about 1,200 pages. Imaginetising MUST be offset with substantial, meaningful, and use- trying to resolve a problem from notes that read (in entirety):ful content in order to keep folks coming back. "Bummer! Your cat image doesn't work" or "I clicked on the link and it made my computer die - thanks a lot!" or "Where Test And Upgrade Your Browser Here did you put that picture I saw last week?" If you'll provide the exact URL with a little detail about the problem, most Sometimes, your browser will appear to freeze because of the Webmasters will appreciate your input and get things fixedsheer volume of material being transferred. This is particularly pronto. (Thanks to Lee Freshwater for the tap on the shoulder true if you are using a "slow" modem or network traffic is excep- regarding this issue). tionally heavy. However, there are many, many web pages that While we're on the subject of site content, another reader will indeed "lock -up" an older browser. Most often this happens advised that, due to excessive advertising content, his web when newer programming techniques are used but not recog- browser "froze" when he visited a site hosted by a free Web nized or supported by the out-of-date browser. If you are expe- hosting service I had recommended. Consequently, he won- riencing frequent "display type" problems or lock -ups while surf- dered why I suggested them in lieu of a normal ISP (Internet ing the 'net, it's probably time to upgrade your browser to a more Service Provider), an ISP that could provide a gateway to the Internet plus Website hosting (with phone support and help on "how to do it") in a single package. If you are fortunate enough to have such an ISP within your local dialing district or are already paying for ISP services that afford that capability, then sure, it provides you with another, 0 )( perhaps more desirable, option depending on your needs and circumstances. Regardless, the keyword here (in terms of the reader's negative experience) is "hosted." The offending site Super Resource for Testing and Upgrading Your Web Browser. BY ERIC FORCE One of the best sites around for GMRS & FRS. ClearSpeechnfi Speaker Service information, this is THE site to check ont. (Even if Digital Noise -Canceling Speaker for you're not interested, visit this site and you will be.) Ironically, Two -Way Communications it's also a site heavy on advertising but exemplifies the exact This easy -to -use DSP speaker point I was trying to make. Advertising? Yes! Substantial, activates automatically and filters Meaningful, and Useful content? Another, but emphatic, YES! 95% background noise, static and There's hardly an area (including equipment reviews) about other interference. GMRS or FRS that hasn't been superbly covered - either Improves clarity & intelligibility directly or via pointers to other quality resources. I have yet to Continuous, adaptive removal of find a better overall resource for an area of communications that background noise 2.5 4 Listen with less fatigue & greater seems to be taking the nation by storm. (Thanks to Robert K. 5 (Reg. Price $149.00) Leef, KB6DON, for the timely tip.) Don't Miss http://www. concentration $12995 Improves signal to noise ratio gmrsweb.com/gmrs.html. plus $8.50 S8H New: increased audio output and speaker jack added. It's About Time It Works! Noisebuster TM Extreme!TM If I didn't know better, I'd swear there was some type of com- Headphone System petition going on between agencies of the U.S. government for best website and/or public resource. These resources just keep Electronically cancel low -to -mid frequency room noises generated by amplifiers, blowers, getting better and better. I think they've finally realized that computers, fans, air conditioners, engines. For investing in online technology is a much more cost effective two-way radio or personal stereo systems. Use and efficient way to serve the public. at home, portable, or on aircraft. Active noise cancellation 2-1500 The Official United States Time Server is a good example. This Regularly 549 HZ, better than 15 bd between 15-300 HZ. Am Com s Price public service is cooperatively provided by the two time agen- $4495 cies of the United States: the National Institute of Standards and ($5.00 S&H) Technology (NIST), and the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO). Website: www.amateurcommunications.com Readings from the clocks of these two agencies contribute with (Product Information & Secure Ordering) others to define Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). An attrac- tive interface and display is available online complete with a sun Email: [email protected] Phone Orders: 1-888-803-5823 clock for your particular time zone. Visit http://www.time.gov/. Mail Orders To: Am -Corn, Inc., P.O. Box 356, Lakeside, Montana 59922 TIP: While visiting the Official U.S. Time site, be SURE to CIRCLE 62 ON READER SERVICE CARD www.popular-communications.com April 2000 /POP'COMM / 53 Synchonize Your PC's Clock Updated WEEKLY THIS IS IT! THE ORIGINAL RADIO AIRCI since 2/12/96 - over 580 selections You're probably familiar with and routinely use the Time are online right now. Standard Broadcasts from WWV or WWVH on2.5, 5, 10,and B,".7+MAPi, r'reel top I5MHz (plus 20 MHz for WWV). However, there's an easier www.reelradio.com i? A DI r--) RE:%; --iv) (and perhaps more accurate) way to set your PC's clock - letj.lee ^"..17- 40 A not -for-profit public aircheck a online. While there are several "commercial" programs avail- ,.. 'TOP Volume IVIssue 47 Januar able for purchase, here's one that works like a charm and is FREE. Written by Judah Levine of NIST, it uses the NIST fpi,TB0001ff TAR 40 MICOILECTONSM- EXTRAS 11. SPECIAL W Network Time Service. I highly recommend it for your software toolbox. And, you can't beat the price! It's at http://www.bldr- doc.gov/timefreq/service/nts.htm. One of Eric's Favorite Desktop Reference Resources. Compare Local Time with NIST (RealAudio format) await your visit. Contributions to the repos- Server 7 response: itory are welcome. Don't miss it! Thanks to Mark from Cape Cod, E-mail CAPECOOL@AOL. COM, for the tip on this out- 51545 00.01.0211:44:43 00 0 0 726.9 LIT C(NIST ) standing resource. Visit http://www.reelradio.com/. Local Clock - NISI. 0117 seconds . A/ustment not needed. Thinking about RealAudio, there's another streaming media delivery system beginning to raise some eyebrows - and it's OK not from Microsoft®.Utilizing JAVA" and based on EMBLAZE" streaming media technology, it currently works on better than 80% of all Internet Web browsers and does NOT require a browser plug-in or other external programming - Synchronize your PC's clock with this FREE Software. pretty slick! Our neighbors in Canada also contribute to defining UTC via For a live demonstration of how this technology is being their Institute for National Measurement Standards (INMS) facil- used by a growing number of Web Broadcasters, visit WCIB ities in Ottawa. NRC Time Standard broadcasts on station CHU 101.9 FM's site. You'll also experience how another neat web can be heard on3330, 7335,and14670kHz USB. For more infor- application, Macromedia's SHOCKWAVE", is being uti- mation visit http://www.inms.nrc.ca/inms/time/ctse.html. lized. SHOCKWAVETM does require a plug-in but it's well worth obtaining if you don't already have it. (Thanks, again, to Mark from Cape Cod for pointing out his station's use of Updated WEEKLY THIS IS IT. THE ORIGINAL RADIO AIRCHECK WEBSITE. 5,nce 2/12/96 - these emerging technologies) Check 'em out at http://www. over Sell selections ar °ohne nght now. COOL IO2.com/. : tical r.1 -':reel top 4 For more information about EMBLAZE" streaming media ww.rwilradio.com j?;-\Dle...) REF' r technology visit http://www.emblaze.com/. eterJ4c A not -for-profit public aircheck arches.. o. lop 0)'41=1::::: Volume IVIssue 47 January 2, 2000 Additional information and the most current version of the SHOCKWAVETM player can be found at http://www.shock- *83 .8"IMP 4 FxIRAS T SFEC,At Z Ye,44XERS T LI11145C4E wave.com/. Countless hours of listening enjoyment await you here. MW DX Resource, And Government Sites In Other Countries All -In -One Desktop Reference The BCB DX Logbook,by Lee J. Freshwater, provides an Beeler Educational Technologies provides an outstandingimpressive online resource for MW (AM Broadcast Band) "desktop" reference resource that should be part of everyone's DXing. Using material gleaned fromM Street Journal, IRCA (online) research arsenal. You'll find cream -of -the -crop refer- DX Monitor,and FCC databases,The BCB DX Logbookuses a ences covering Online Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Maps, format similar to the Jones Log Book of the'60sand'70s.An Calculators/Converters, Almanacs, Factbooks, and Libraries atexcellent resource for MW DXers! Be sure to visit http://mem- this single page repository. Don't miss it! Be sure to visit them bers.aol.cotn/bcblogbook/main.htm. at http://www.beelertechnologies.com/links/refrnce.htm. To wrap things up for this month, here's a global telecom- munications resource. You'll find links to government telecom- Reel Radio Top -40 Repository munications and broadcast sites in countries outside the United States at this FCC page. If you're globally oriented, some inter- "The Reel Top 40 Radio Repository" Website by Richard W. esting material awaits you via these pointers. Check out Irwin (a.k.a. "Uncle Ricky") is an authentic aircheck museum ofhttp://www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/bickel/foreign.html. classic Top 40 Radio. The repository "is about Top40Radio, the Thanks for joining me on this month's journey into cyber- last great mass -appeal music format, before variety became space. Be sure to visit thePop'CominWebsite at http://www. diversity and every popular music station took a small, special- popular-communications.com/ for the latest greatest and keep ized piece of what was once a very big American Pie." Nearly those comments and suggestions coming! 600 selections and countless hours of listening enjoyment Until next time,73 54 / POP.COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site What's Happening: International Shortwave Broadcasting Bands Super Six: English Skeds From A Half -Dozen Broadcasters Watch for a frequency change for Mexico's XERTA Radio Transcontinental de Ameri- ca. They're planning a move from 4800 to 4810 and likely some higher power as Contirrnamoe a cua referencia sabre a nos= well. They also have a new address: Plaza We hereby confirm your report on our endssito de ONDA CURTA San Juan, Esquina con Ayuntamiento, RADECV broadcast, on at -00 .15U.T.C. Primer piso, Dispacho 2, Centro, 06070, pela qual nos confessamoa mutt° obrigadoa. Mexico, D.F. In recent months, they've RENASCENCA. for which we cordially thank you. operated only sporadically. If you've noticed rather spotty recep- tion of La Voix du Sahel, Niger, lately it's because equipment problems have been forcing inactivity. They are in the process of installing some new transmit- ters, so 5020 should be supporting better signals before long. A second transmitter for WBCQ (The Planet) has, by now, likely taken to the air. WBCQ-II was to have tested on 9340, though we don't know if that will be the The Catholic -operated Radio Renascenca in Portugal left the air a few years ago after a long permanent frequency. career on shortwave. Wanna hear English programming from our pals at the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran? Here's the currentfrom 0300 to 0330 on 9655, 11665, Lithuania may have vanished from schedule: 1530-1630 on 7245, 9885,0730-0800 on 9840 and 21670 and 2030shortwave (and medium wave) if they 11775;1930-2030 on 9022, 11740,on 6135. Other broadcast languages are can't dig into the backs of enough sofas 11765,13745; 0030-0130 on 6065, 6135;Finnish, Swedish, German, Russian, and come up with the necessary cash to 1100-1230 on 13710, 15395, 15585,French, and Latin. The Latin broadcasts keep the station going. They've been hit and 21470. are at 0750-0800 Saturdays on 9840 and with a budget cut of monster proportions. Radio Miskut (Nicaragua) is off the air, 21670 and Saturdays from 1950 to 2000 Radio Romania Internationalin thanks to some damaged parts, replace-on 6120 and 11755, and Sundays atEnglish airs at 0200-0300 on 9510, 9570, ments for which the station can't locate. 2020-2030 on 6135. Normally half-hour9690, 11740, 11830, and 11940. Also Here's something a bit different from broadcasts are shortened to 20 minutesfrom 0400-0500 on 9570, 11830, 15335, Poland. The state's shortwave facility is on those days in order to insert the tenand 17735. And from 0600-0700 on carrying programming from a Radiominute Latin segments. 9530, 11830 plus 0640 to 0700 on 7105, Racja, which is apparently a FM station English from Radio Pakistan is at9510, 11775, 15105. Also 0700-0800 on in the town of Bialystok. It's on the air 1600-1615 on 11570, 15100, 17510, 17720 and 21840, 1300-1400 on 11940, currently from 0600 to 0700 on 6035, in 15335, and 17720. English from Radio15335, 15390, 17805; 1700-1800 on Polish, though you'll have to find a wayYugoslavia is broadcast from 0100-0130 9625, 11740, 11940, 15365; 2100-2200 to get past QRM from the VOA. Other (except Sunday) on 7115, 0200-0230 onon 5955, 7195, 7215, and 9690; 2300- chances to hear this are from 1100-12007130, 1330-1400 on 11835; 1930-2000 0000 on 7195, 9570, 9690, and 11940. on 6180 and 1900-2000 on 6165 (ifon 6100 and 9720 and 2200 2230 on 6100 English from the Voice of Turkey is at you're an East coaster). and 6185. 0400-0500 on 6010; 7240, 21715; Belgium's Radio Vlaanderen Here's an odd one (we cannot vouch 1330-1430on15295 and17815; International sends English out via thefor its being 100% accurate), but we've 1930-2030 on 9630, 9895; 2130 to 2230 Bonaire relay from 0400 to 0430 onseen a report that the Russian Radioon 9525; 2300-0000 on 6135 and 9655. 11980, 0800-0830 on 5985. 1200-1230 Mayak is being relayed by military trans- Your editor could listen to their interval on 9925, 1830 to 1900 on 5910, 9925, mitters in Belarus during their nighttime signal for hours at a time. 13600 (Germany), and 17695 (Germany) hours, on 2382 and 3355, and "morn- A new shortwave service called Earth and 2300-2330 on 13670 from Germany.ings" on 3564 and 4541, all in double- One, a creation of the Global Vision YLE/Radio Finland has Englishsideband mode. Network, should be on the air by now, =1.1=1111111/1111111111110YGERML. DEXTER www.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 55 -w 17 z..- A .KRst.6.4. 11.___IL.D.le.W_V Nous avons lhonneur de vous confirmervoice reception du ... .06ti...... 1 2 de 2A 1 1 -. a 24 1.i.s G. M.T. surlafrequence de 4i_c..47...... KHz de noire emetteur dune puissance de as -o... KW 00 P /''. n.,, .:4, situe a Nador ( MAROC) 1414 liAil 4141a° , 1ril"I R.M.I. a a au capital de 18.000.000 db.. 3, Rue Ernsallah.Tang- . ) TO 19193.63.63 / 9357.55 - Telex 33711 41 Sergey Kolesov in the Ukraine recently got this QSL from Radio Medi-un in Morocco. Copenhagen, /0/6" 1959 DEAR LISTENER, our report of .9 lip 195p concerning our broadcast on45JO radio belong you." 9580 at 1623. 9500 at 1429 c/a, Si, m, CO kw, call lettersoLci, ate1af-af9rkC. are spare QSL cards you don't need n 1959, beamed to4414 dikcauutIs hereby verili returned, station photos, and other items with "Waltzing Matilda" preceding sign -on. Sincerely yours. from stations, including schedules. And, 9580 at 1548 and 11650 at 1558. (Becker, hey! How about a photograph of you at WA) 6020 at 1320. (Miller, WA) 9500 at 1227 with IS. (Brossell, WI) 9580 at 1615. (Burrow, your listening post? As always, thanks for This card is almost 43 years old. It was issued WA) 13605at1100 to South Pacific. back in the good old days, when Radio your continued interest and cooperation! (Provencher, ME) ABC/Camma Radio, Denmark not only had its own transmitters Here are this month's logs. All times Tennant Creek, 2325 at 0914 with what sound- within Denmark, but also had regularare in UTC, which is five hours ahead ofed like a cricket match in progress. (Foss, AK) English broadcasts. EST, i.e.0000 UTC equals 7 p.m. EST, 6 AUSTRIA - Radio Austria Int'l, 6015 via p.m. CST, 5 p.m. MST, and 4 p.m. PST. Canada at 0628 with sports broadcast in GG. Double capital letters are language abbre- (Miller, WA) 6015 via Canada is GG at 0519 using facilities of Merlin Communica- viations (FF = French, AA = Arabic, SS and 7325 in GG at 0319. (Becker, WA) tions, the people who operate transmitters = Spanish, etc.). If no language abbrevi- BELARUS - Radio Belarus Int'l., 7105 at 2130 with news, comment, choral music, for the BBC. Earth One will carry pro-ationisincluded,the broadcastis address. Poor, and even weaker on //7210. gramming with a "humanitarian edge" assumed to have been in English. and will be advertiser supported. The fre- 7210 also heard at 0300 with news, comment, ALASKA - KNLS, 7365 at 1308 with ID, local folk music under strong co -channel tobe used haven't been quencies news, music, ID. (Gale, NC) 9615 at 0825 with Qatar (presumed). Listed 6070 not heard announced yet. severe QRM. (Becker, WA) under strong CFRB. (Alexander, PA) This month's book winner is Bruce ALGERIA - Radio Algiers Int'l., 15160 BELGIUM - RTBF,viaJulich, Alexander, who never fails to come up at 2005 with news and a female DJ who said Germany, 21758 at 0556 in FF with commer- with some first rate logs. He knows how "I promise you a good show." (Brossell, WI) cials,Journal.(Kolesov,UK)Radio to dig out the really good ones! Bruce ANGOLA - Radio Nacional de Angola, Vlaanderen Int'l, 9925 at 1830 with EE ID and win's a copy of the year 2000 edition of4950 at 2230 in PP with modern Brazilian into unidentified language. (Brossell, WI) Passport to World Band Radio, courtesy songs. (Kolesov, Ukraine) BOLIVIA - Radio Fides, 4845 at 0235 in of Universal Radio, 6830 Americana ANGUILLA - WorldUniversity SS with songs. (Kolesov, Ukraine) Parkway, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 43068. Network (Dr. Gene Scott), 6090 at 0605 and BOTSWANA - Voice of America relay, 9775 at 0422 and 9885 at 0400. (Becker, WA) Universal has a monster catalog of SWL 0705. (Becker, WA) ANTIGUA - Deutsche Welle relay, 9690 BRAZIL - Radio Clube do Para, 4885 at supplies - everything from multi -thou- at 0708 in GG, 9700 at 0338, and 11810 at0245 in PP with music and ID. (-Gale, NC) sand dollar communications receivers to 0247. (Becker, WA) BBC Relay, 5975 at 0259 Radio Nacional Amazonas, 11780 at 0711 in antennas to books and batteries. To receive with ID, "World Today." (Jeffery, NY) PP. (Becker, WA) 2250. (Miller, WA) a copy of their latest catalog, call 800-431- ARGENTINA - RadioArgentina BULGARIA - Radio Bulgaria, 7535 at 3939.While you're at it, please also thank Exterior, 11710 at 0224 with economic news, 2052 and 9400 at 0235. (Becker, WA) 11720 them for supporting this column! music, sport, DX program. (Burrow, WA) at 2105 with news. (Burrow, WA) Remember your reception logs are ARMENIA - Voice of Armenia, 9965 in BURKINA FASO-Radio Burkina, 4815 always welcome. Just be sure to list items SS at 0345 with ID, talk. (Brossell, WI) 15270 at 2230 in FF with "Matador" song and phone by country, do a minimum double spaceat 1015 with letters and mention of Spanish conversation with listeners. (Kolesov, UK) programs. (Linonis, PA) CAMBODIA - National Radio of between each (so we can navigate scis- ASCENSION ISLAND - BBC relay, Cambodia, 11940 at 1210 with news in EE and sors more easily) and add your last name 6005 at 0640, 7105 monitored at 0555 in FF Khmer. (Gale, NC) and state abbreviation after each item. By to West Africa, 7160 at 0612, 12095 at 0256. CANADA - CHU time station, 7335 at the way, it's a good idea to include your(Becker, WA) 0555. (Becker, WA) Radio Canada Int' 1., full address in your report because AUSTRALIA - Radio Australia, 5995 at 5960 at 0638 in FF, 9670 with news at 0625, envelopesusuallyaren't forwarded. 1500 to the western Pacific, //6080 to SE Asia. 11945 with "Spectrum" at 2111. (Becker, Other things we can put to good use here0927 in Pidgin English "Radio Australia, WA) 9535 at 0359 with IS, ID, frequency info, 56 / POP'COMM / April2000 Scan Our Web Site RR to Europe, 9895 at 0524, and 12095 at 0516 with news. (Wilden, IN) 0541 with news. Abbreviations Used in Listening Post 0646. (Becker, WA) 7285 at 0215 with EE ID and off. (Becker, AA Arabic CZECH REPUBLIC - Radio Prague, WA) 11840 via Sri Lanka at 2230 in GG. Also BC Broadcasting 6200 monitored at 0220 //7345, both very 15275 via Rwanda. (Miller, WA) CC Chinese good. (Alexander, PA) 7345 at 0221. (Becker, EE English GHANA - Radio Ghana, 4915 at 2350 FF French WA) 11615 at 0000. (Provencher, ME) with religious service. (Brossell, WI) GG German DENMARK - Radio Denmark, via GREECE - Voice of Greece, 7475//9420 ID Identification Norway, 7180 at 0653 and 7485 at 0557, both at 0608, Greek music, EE ID. (Becker, WA) IS Interval Signal in Danish. (Becker, WA) 9925 at 2249 in DD. GUAM - Adventist World Radio, 11560 JJ Japanese mx Music (Miller, WA) in CC to Asia at 1120. (Provencher, ME) NA North America DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Radio GUATEMALA - Radio Chortis, 3380 nx News Villa, 4960 at 0035 in SS with LA songs. with SS ID at 1057. Nice, slow, easy listening OM Male (Kolesov, Ukraine) 0305 in SS. (Brossell, WI) music. (Montgomery, PA) pgm Program PP Portuguese ECUADOR - HCJB, 9745 at 0400 with GUINEA - RTV Guineenne, 7125 at RR Russian news. (Jeffery, NY) 0637. 9755 at 0711, 0619 in FF with Afro -pops. (Becker, WA) rx Religion/ious 11755 at 0800, and 12015 at 0645. (Becker, HUNGARY - Radio Budapest, 9835 at SA South America/n WA) 12015 at 0102 with news of South 0350. (Becker, WA) 9840 at 0243 with "DX SS Spanish UTC Coordinated Universal Time (er-GMT) America. (Wilden, IN) Radio Centro, 3289.88 Blockbuster" program. (Burrow, WA) Frequency varies at 0810. Looking for Guyana but found this INDIA - All India Radio, Delhi, 4860 at w/ With instead. SS announcement, LA music, elec- 1900 in Urdu with songs from Indian movies. WX Weather tronic sound effects, ID at 0820. (Alexander, (Kolesov, Ukraine) 9950 in unidentified Ian- YL Female // Parallel Frequencies PA) Radio Quito, 4919 at 0415 with news ingUage at 1630. (Brossell, WI) 11620 at 2100. SS. (Miller, WA) (Becker, WA) 2115 with music, astrology dis- EGYPT - Radio Cairo, 9850 at 1631 withcussion. (Wilden, IN) 2159 with news. and into "African Eyes." 9755 at 0300 with Koran, 9990 at 2207 with pops. Strong but(Miller, WA) 2205 to 2230 close with news, news, ID, and "The Vinyl Café." 13690 ataudio suffers. 9950 at 1700 with music. comment, ID. Very strong; weaker on /17410, 2130 and 2235. (Jeffery, NY) 11865 at 0200 (Becker, WA) 9988 with AA songs at 1830. 9910, 9950, and 11715. (Alexander, PA) sign -on, "Spectrum." (Wilden, IN) 15325 at 15210 at 1805 in unidentified African lan- 0300. Also 13720 at 1730 in unidentified lan- 2213 "The Arts in Canada." (Miller, WA) guage. (Brossell, WI) 9900 at 2204 with guage. (Brossell, WI) CFRX Toronto, 6070 at 0720 with CFRB "JourneyThroughLiteraryHeritage." INDONESIA - Radio Republik relay. (Becker, WA) CFVP, Calgary, 6030 at (Wilden, IN) Indonesia, Ternate, 3345 at 0932, woman in 0805, relaying CKMX. (Becker, WA) CKZU, ENGLAND - BBC, 6175 via Delano, CA, unidentified language. (Foss, AK) RRI Ujung Vancouver, 6160 at 1525 relaying CBU. with a drama at 0636. (Miller, WA) 9410 with Pandang, 4755 at 1255 in II. (Miller, WA) RRI (Becker, WA) Radio Japan via Sackville, news at 0518, 9580 at 0745. (Becker, WA) Sumatera, 4925 in II at 1228. (Miller, WA) 6115 at 0544. (Becker, WA) China Radio 11765 via Ascension Island at 0435, //7160. Voice of Indonesia, 15149.83 at 2000-2100 Int' I., via Sackville, 9535 at 0223 and 9560 at (Burrow, WA) 12095 at 0101 with news. with EE news and comment, ID, local music. 0520. (Becker, WA) CBC Northern Service, (Wilden, IN) 15225 at 1630. (Linonis, PA) FF prior to 2000. (Alexander, PA) 9625 at 2150 and 0320. (Becker, WA) 2217 15400 via Ascension at 1957. (Jeffery, NY) IRAN - Voice of the Islamic Republic of with "Home Run" and Quebec news. (Jeffery, ERITREA - Voice of the Broad Masses, Iran, 7340 at 0530 with Koran. (Becker, WA) NY) BBC via Sackville, 9515 at 1257, 9590 7175 at 0520 with news in Amharic, music. ISRAEL - Kol Israel, 7545 at 0409 with at 2110, and 17840 at 1800. (Jeffery, NY) (Gale, NC) QRM from WSHB-7535. 9435 at 0507, 11590 CHAD - Radio Tchadienne, 6165 heard ETHIOPIA - Voice of Ethiopia, 7165 in HH at 1705, 11605 in Yiddish at 1710. at 2200 in FF with journal, local folk songs. monitored at 1635 with news, rock 'n roll.(Becker, WA) 11585 at 0206 in unidentified (Kolesov, Ukraine) (Kolesov, Ukraine) language. (Miller, WA) 2300 in HH with pos- CHILE - Voz Cristiana, 6070 monitored EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Radio sible call -in show. (Linonis, PA) 15640 in HH at 0631 with religious broadcast in SS. (Miller, Africa, 15186 at 2005 with religious pro- at 1730. (Brossell, WI) WA) 11690 at 0720 and 11890 at 0803. gramming. (Brossell, WI) ITALY - RAI International, 11800 at (Becker, WA) FRANCE - Radio France Int'l, 5925 at2300 in II with news, music, and dialogue. CHINA - Central People's Broadcasting 0640, 7135 at 0522, 11700(probably via (Linonis, PA) Station, 5010 at 1242 in CC. (Brossell, WI) Gabon - Ed)and 11995 at 2113, all in FF.JAPAN - Radio Japan/NHK, 6110(via China Radio Int'l, 9730 ( via French Guiana) (Becker, WA) 7135 at 0701 with news in FF. Canada) at 0517 with listener letters and call at 0455 with ID, mailing address and web page (Miller, WA) to a listener in India. (Wilden, IN) 6155 via URL. (Becker, WA) FRENCH GUIANA - Swiss Radio Intl Skelton, England, at 0000 with news and com- COSTA RICA - World University relay,9905 at 0430with program ment. (Provencher, ME) 7200 with EE ID at Network/Gene Scott, 5030 at 0650, 6150 at "Rendezvous." (Becker, WA) China Radio 0200, 9505 at 1525 with "Let's Try Japanese." 0607 and 9725 at 0748. (Becker, WA) RFPI, Int' I relay, 9730 at 0418 with news. (Becker, Also 9535 in JJ at 1530 and 9835 inn at 1652. 6975 at 0700. (Becker, WA) 5050 at 2211. WA) Radio Japan/NHK relay on 11895 at (Becker, WA) 11705 via Canada at 2330 in JJ. (Miller, WA) 2250 in JJ. (Becker, WA) (Linonis, PA) MY time station, 8000 at 0645. CROATIA - Croatian Radio, 9925, via FINLAND - YLE Radio Finland, 9655 at (Becker, WA) Germany, at 0411 with headline news to 0419. 0311 with "Profiles in Finnish History" and JORDAN - Radio Jordan, 11690 with (Burrow, WA) 11605, via Germany, at 2148 Finnish language lesson. (Jeffery, NY) 0321. hits countdown at 1630, under heavy RTTY. with news. Also on 9525, 9925, 11880, and (Becker, WA) 9655 and 11655 at 0300 with (Brossell, WI) 1700 with news in EE. 13820. (Miller, WA) 13820, via Germany, at news of Northern Europe. (Provencher, ME) (Burrow, WA) 0925 in presumed Croatian. (Foss, AK) "Press Review," ID, and address at 0328. KUWAIT - Radio Kuwait, 9880 at 1630 CUBA - Radio Havana Cuba, 6000 at (Brossell, WI) with AA songs. (Brossell, WI) 11675 at 0211 0230, 9820 at 0339, and 13750 at 2112. GABON - Africa Number One, 9580 at in AA with call to prayer. (Miller, WA) 11990 (Jeffery, NY) 6000 at 0150, 9550 at 0634, 0528 in FF. (Burrow, WA) 0534 with ID every at 1950 with contemporary American songs. 9820 at 0639, 11875 at 0251. (Becker, WA) now and then. (Becker, WA) (Provencher, ME) CYPRUS - BBC relay, 9635 at 1637 in GERMANY - Deutsche Welle, 6100 at LEBANON - Voice of Hope, 6280 at 0149 www.popular-communications.com April 2000 /POP'COMM / 57 NY) 0204 commenting on recent floods. (Montgomery, PA) NIGER - La Voix du Sahal, 5020 at 1900 in FF with news from Paris, African music. (Kolesov, Ukraine) NIGERIA - Voice of Nigeria, 7255 at 0500 with ID and "Wave Train." (Jeffery, NY) 0607 with local music and ID. Terrible audio. (Becker, WA) NORTH KOREA - South Pyongyang Provincial Station, 3350 at 0935 with female vocal. Off in middle of instrumental. (Foss, AK) Radio Pyongyang, 9975at0701. (Becker, WA) 11335 at 2308 with EE news, //13760. (Burrow, WA) 11680 at 2315 with lengthy commentary in KK. (Linonis, PA) NORTHERN MARIANAS - KFBS, Saipan, presumed, 11650 at 1300 with reli- gious music audible under Radio Australia. (Silvi, OH) NORWAY - Radio Norway, 7180 at 0700 7465 at 0552, 9925 at 2204, all in NN. (Becker, WA) OMAN - Sultanate of Oman Radio, 9735 YLE Radio Finland operates from this snazzy complex in Helsinki. in AA at 2141. (Miller, WA) PAKISTAN - Radio Pakistan, 11570 at 1600 with time pips, ID, and YL with news. with AA music, EE ID at 0157. (Gale, NC) gram in unidentified language at 0045 to 0100 (Burrow, WA) LIBERIA - Radio Liberia Intl, 5100.02close. (Alexander, PA) Listed as Cerrik, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - NBC, Port at 2105 to 0000 close. EE news about Liberia, Albania. (Editor) Morseby, 4890 at 1257. (Miller, WA) Radio ID as Radio Liberia International and Liberian MOROCCO - Voice of America, 7295 Enga, 2410 at 0903 in unidentified language. Communications Network, some talk in ver- at 0548 to West Africa. (Becker, WA) Radio (Foss, AK) nacular, Afro and U.S. pops "Goodbye every- Medi-un, 9575 at 0506 with music, ID in AA. PERU - Radio Ondas Rio Maranon, one." And off. Also 6100 at 0700 with news, (Gale, NC) 6797.65, 1044 with SS ID by man, Peruvian politicaltalk about Liberia, Afro pops. NETHERLANDS - Radio Netherlands, music. (Montgomery, PA) Radio Nueva (Alexander, PA) 5100 at 2130 with music. 7375 via Petropavlosk at 1417. (Becker, WA) Sensacion, 6674 at 1050 with reverb effect ID, (Kolesov, Ukraine) NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - Radio back to Peruvian music. (Montgomery, PA) LIBYA - Radio Jamahriya, 15435 at 1720 Netherlands via Bonaire, 6165 at 0445. PHILIPPINES - Radio Veritas Asia, in AA. Near perfect signal. (Brossell, WI) (Burrow, WA) 9590 at 0505, 9715 at 0709 in 9670 at 1555 with EE ID and sign -off. MADAGASCAR - Radio Netherlands DD, 9845 at 0235. (Becker, WA) 17605 at 1938 (Becker, WA) Voice of America relay, 6110 relay, 11655 at 1719 in DD and 11695 in DD with "Sincerely Yours" and "Dutch Horizons." at 1513 with QRM from Japan. Also 9760 at at 1727. (Becker, WA) (Jeffery, NY) 1559 in Special English and 9845 at 1552. MALAYSIA - Radio Malaysia, Sarawak, NEW ZEALAND - Radio New Zealand(Becker, WA) 9760 at 1300 and 17820 at 4895 at 1419 with Islamic prayer. (Miller, WA) Int'', 17675 at 0006 with "Cadenza." (Jeffery, 2303. (Jeffery, NY) MALI - China Radio Int' I relay on 11975 monitored at 2250 with CC music to sign -off. (Becker, WA) MALTA- Voice of the Mediterranean, 7440 via Russia at 2020 with EE program aboutMalta,IDs,into AA at2100. (Alexander, PA) MAURITANIA - ORTM, 4845 heard at 2200 in AA with news and interview. (Kolesov, Ukraine) MEXICO - Radio Educacion, 6185, 0400endingSSandintoEEwith "DXperience" program. (Burrow, WA) 0637 in SS. (Miller, WA) 0648 with music, occa- sional EE announcements. (Becker, WA) Radio Mil, 6010 in SSat1255 with ID, pops. (Brossel, WI) Radio Mexico Intl, 9705at 0430 in EE. (Provencher, ME) MOLDOVA - Voice of Russia via Moldova, 7125 at 0535 with EE to NA but Short Wave Band very poor. (Becker, WA) 19, 22, 25, 31, 49 meters MONACO - Trans World Radio, 6240 at 0012 sign -on to 0032 off. Into EE religious programming with ID at 0015, abrupt sign -off Always creative when it comes to QSLs, AWR's now silent Radio Lira issued a series featur- midway through program, back at 0043 with ing crests of the Costa Rican states. end of EE program, IS and into religious pro- 58 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site in AA. (Miller, WA) 9870 at 2030. (Brossell, VIETNAM-Voice of Vietnam, 9840 with Listen to our programmes and you will become the friends of the "Voice of Armenia" WI) 11820 at 2300 with Holy Koran service. talks on foreign aid at 1245. (Brossell, WI) (Linonis, PA) ZAMBIA - Radio Zambia, 2130 in local SEYCHELLES - Far East Broadcastinglanguage with phone conversations with lis- Association, 11640 at 1725. Off with ID atteners. (Kolesov, Ukraine) 0248 with fish 1730. (Becker, WA) 15440 at 1030 in CC with eagle IS, national anthem monitored at 0250, religious program. (Linonis, PA) announcement in local language, and then SINGAPORE - BBC relay, 6195 at 1505 music program. (Montgomery, PA) and 9740 at 1558. (Becker, WA) 9740 at 1120 with news reports. (Montgomery, PA) Attention! And a snappy salute to the IOUS& 2113450VOCE Of ANNA SLOVAKIA -Radio Slovakia Int'l, 7300 following who came through for you this monitoredat 0100 with ID and news. month: Pete Becker, Clarkston, Washing- (Brossell, WI) SOUTH AFRICA - Adventist Worldton; Robert Brossell, Pewaukee, Wis- QSL consin;Sergey M.Kolessov,Kiev, 1947-1997 Radio relay, 12130 at 1758. ID at 1800. (Becker, WA) BBC relay, 7125 at 0341 and Ukraine; Dave Jeffery, Niagara Falls, New 11760 at 0419. (Becker, WA) York; Bruce R. Burrow, Snoqualmie, SOUTH KOREA - Radio Korea Inter-Washington; Jack Linonis, West national, 9570 at 0657 in KK. (Miller, WA) Middlesex, Pennsylvania; Mike Miller, To r . HAYG SANASARYAN SPAIN - Radio Exterior de Espana, 6055Issaquah,Washington;Edouard S. This verifies your reception at 0008 with "Panorama." (Jeffery, NY) 0501 Provencher, Biddeford, Maine; Marty with frequency announcements in EE, then Foss, Talkeetna, Alaska; Brian Alexander, report on our transmission news in SS. (Wilden, IN) 0154, and 9630 at Mechanicsburg,Pennsylvan-ia;Dave 0226. (Becker, WA) 11880 via Costa Rica at Radioagency Date: 24. Apr 11.1997 Gale, Newland, North Carolina; Lee Silvi, "VOICE OF ARMENIA" 2315 in SS. (Linonis, PA) 15170 via Costa Alek Mausiklen 5 Mentor, Ohio, and Sue Wilden, Nobles- Ibrevan 25 Time: 20:40 IITC Rica at 2212 in SS. (Miller, WA) 15285 at Republic of Armenia 2003 in EE. (Burrow, WA) ville, Indiana. Thanks to each one of you. (247-2) 570970, 552650 frequency: 9965 KHz. SRI LANKA - Sri Lanka Broadcasting Until next month, good listening! Corp., 11905 at 0255 in unidentified language. The Voice of Armenia issued this yellow and (Brossell, WI) 15425 at 0310 with U.S. pops, black QSL a couple of years ago. In a reverse six time pips at 0315, ID and into religious pro- of the usual pattern, this former Soviet state gram, (Montgomery, PA) Voice of America is easier to hear than it was back then. relay, 9645 at 1534. (Becker, WA) SWEDEN - Radio Sweden, 9495 at 0245 with "60 Degrees North." (Provencher, ME) 0303 in Swedish. (Becker, WA) 0330 with FACT: news and "60 Degrees North." PORTUGAL - RDP Internatonal, 15540 SWITZERLAND - Swiss Radio Inter- Foot for foot, top -loaded monitored at1725 in PP. (Brossell, WI)national, 9905 (via French Guiana - Ed) at 155401121550 with soccer at 2228. (Miller, WI) 0439 with "Rendezvous." (Burrow, WA) antennas outperform 1740 in PP with show tunes. (Jeffery, NY) TAIWAN - Radio Taipei Intl, 7130 at base -loaded antennas. Deutche Welle relay, 7225 at 0611, 9640 mon- 0743. (Becker, WA) itored at 0245 in SS to close at 0250, and 11820 TAJIKISTAN - Tajik Radio, 7245 at at 2250 in PP. (Becker, WA) 0409 with news and music in RR. (Gale, NC) FI RESTI K: PUERTO RICO - AFRTS, 6458.5 USB THAILAND - Radio Thailand, 9810 at monitoredat0415 with "The Parent's 1240 with news and Thai history to 1300 close. Firestik's top loaded coil Journal." (Jeffery, NY) (Brossell, WI) 15395 with talks, QSL address, design focuses more of QATAR - Qatar Broadcasting Service, IS, and into Thai. (Burrow, WA) VOA relay, 9570 at 2137 in AA. (Miller, WA) 7125 at 1540. (Becker, WA) your transmitted signal ROMANIA - Radio Romania Intl, 9510 TOGO - Radio Lome, 5047 in FF at 2345 on the ground..where you at 0200. Tough copy at times due to QRM with hi -life music. (Brossell, WI) from co -channelstationand carrier on TUNISIA - RTV Tunisienne, 11730 in need it most! 9515/9520 from 0230. (Silvi, OH) 9510 at AA with Koran at 1740. (Becker, WA) 0645 //9530. (Becker, WA) 15365 with TURKMENISTAN - Turkmen Radio, "World of Culture" at 1715. (Brossell, WI) 5015 monitored at 2000 in Ti' with local RUSSIA -Magadan Radio, 5940 at 1311 songs, weather, interview. (Kolesov, Ukraine) in RR, co -channel QRM from Vatican Radio. TURKEY - Voice of Turkey, 9445 at (Miller, WA) Voice of Russia, 7125 at 0519, 0516 in TT. (Becker, WA) 9525 at 2130 with 7180 at 0204, 120201113665 at 0253. (Becker, news. (Miller, WA) WA) Radio Rossi, 7200, Yakutsk, at 0530; UGANDA - Radio Uganda, 4976 at 2000 7210, Kharbarovsk, at 0657; 7250, Moscow, at with "Adventure With Christ" program. 0530; 7290, Irkutsk, at 0709; 7320, Magadan, (Kolesov, Ukraine) 0530; 9530, Magadan, at 0530; 9860, Moscow, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - UAE at 0339. All in RR. (Becker, WA) Radio, Dubai, 13630 at 1735 in AA. (Brossell, SAO TOME - Voice of America relay, WI) 13675 at 0329 with EE ID, music, news. FireStik 6080 at 0606, 7265 in FF to central Africa at (Jeffery, NY) ANTENNA COMPANY 0542 and 11975 in PP at 1754. (Becker, WA) VATICAN - Vatican Radio, 7250 at 602-273-7151 [email protected] SAUDI ARABIA - Broadcasting Service 0621, 7255 at 0645, 7280 at 0647, and 9660 http://www.firestik.com of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 9555 at 2134 at 0333. (Becker, WA) CIRCLE 67 ON READER SERVICE CARD www.popular-communications.com April 2000 / POP'COMM / 59 EY KEN REISS POP'COMM REVIEWS PRODUCTS OF INTEREST AR -5000 Plus 3 There was a lot of excitement in the scan- ner world when AOR first introduced their AR -5000, a new and ers exciting wide band communications receiver. Many people bought and are still enjoying this great receiver, although it wasn't long before people using the lower end of the spectrum started to notice a few deficiencies. Particularly for shortwave broadcast use, but all across the HF range, a couple more controls would have been nice. The Plus 3 version of this great receiv- er addresses these shortcomings, as well vvivivie vier mmr.F1 ft... .0015,11 as adding a couple of extra nice features. AOR should be complimented right away forlisteningtouserfeedback and The AR5000 Plus 3 provides a lot of radio in a small space. The speaker is botzmn-mounted responding in such a positive manner so hut directed ifOrward through the grille at the bottom. The elevated front feet can be removed quickly. It's not very often in this indus- if desired so the radio sits level on the table. try that we see this kind of response from a manufacturer. And make no mistake about it, the orig- SRCH or SCAN button as power is The receiver hasallthe common inal AR -5000 is an excellent receiver. modes, AM, USB, LSB, CW, and FM, Sure, if you're going to use it primarily turned on, you can switch from EPROM - .Each EPROM has a com- both wide and narrow. The correct mode for I -IF reception, the Plus 3 features are 0 to EPROM- I is chosen based on the frequency of oper- nice, but not essential, and if you're pri-plete set of memories, VFO's, and set- tings. I haven't found much need for this ation, as well as the correct channel step. marily interested in the VHF/UHF bands yet, but I could see using it to divide scan- These can be overridden if desired, so that ( which most wide band receivers are used any frequency and any step between 1 Hz for) then the Plus 3 options are not nec- ner functions from HF functions or some- thing like that so as to take advantage ofand 999.999 kHz can be used. Very ver- essary at all, although they still might be desirable for those times when you dothe effectively two thousand memory satile indeed. channels available.I haven't filled up The AR -5000 Plus 3 also includes a venture below 30 MHz. computer control RS -232 port. This is a functionsaddedare anywhere near the first thousand, but I'll Thethree standard 9 pin connector. an(' any stan- Synchronous AM mode, for broadcast keep you posted. dard computer COM port will work fine. listening; Automatic Frequency Control which works in both the AM and FM Great Receiver Before There is no need for a separate interface unit as with other models. Many applica- modes to help keep the signal centered Enhancement tions are on the market which support the (quite frankly, it's really more of a help On the surface, the AR -5000 hasAR -5000 and several more are under to the synchronous detector than any- development. The protocol is also avail- thing elseI could find); and a Noisealways been a well-equipped receiver. Coverage runs from 10 kHz to 2600able if you wish to write your own con- Blanker, which is highly desirable if trol software. Once again, hats off to you're using HF frequently, but not nec-MHz. It's an all mode receiver, and its AOR for making this available. essary in the FM modes that most of usone thousand channel memory is divid- operate in for scanning. ed into 10 banks of 100 channels each. In The added feature, which some AR - addition, there are 20 search banks, each Unique "Accessory" 5000 users discovered on certain earlierof which has 100 pass frequency memo- Connections units, but is now fully supported on theries available. There are five individual AR -5000 Plus 3, is EPROM bank switch- VFO's on board, so finding a place to One of the things that caught my eye ing. This is almost like having two radiosexperiment with frequencies shouldn't he almost immediately as I was unpacking it in one. By pressing and holding thea problem either. is the presence of two "accessory" jacks, 60 / POP CONIM / Apnl2000 ScanOur Web Site "This is almost like having two radios in one." this to be the case with the AR -5000. There are many keys that have more than one function and most, although not all of them, are marked. The keypad and con- AORAR5000 SR. MODE SR.P111111.1trols are reasonably well spaced so that TIM even with my big clumsy fingers, I was COMMUNICATIONS 11111- able to get along just fine. Some folks may RECEIVER SC.MODE &SCAN OFFSET object to the multi -function keys, which 7717 4 5 I certainly can understand. But in prac- ACC 1 AF GAIN SQUELCH PR.SET CLOCK tice, I found the AR -5000 to be fairly well \ / ALARM PRIO laid out, and quite frankly, there are so many functions that to have an individual V. MODE OPTION DELETE key for each would make the front panel so large that it probably wouldn't fit on your desk. Or else the keys would have to be so small that you couldn't operate them. Like anything else, once you get The unique front -mounted accessory jack provides a lot of options includinga discriminator used to how it operates, the AR -5000 is output if you need one. not difficult at all. I was, quite frankly, all set to blast the dynamic range of the receiver. That is, one on the front panel and one on the back. a somewhat more narrow filter than 3kHzwhen you're on one frequency, but anoth- They're called ACC -1 (front panel) andmight prove useful in extensive SSB useer strong transmitter comes on nearby, it ACC -2 (rear panel) so as not to get them for utility listening. An optional .5 kHz interferes with, or desensitizes the receiv- confused. Some very interesting signals filter is available for CW use, but that set- er so that the desired frequency is noisy are available on the ACC -1 connection.ting is only available when the filter has or not heard at all. However, I was re- These include things like discriminator been installed. reading the manual and discovered the audio for connection to a terminal unit or problem. To put it mildly: operator error. other accessory, and audio output, as well Comfortable To Use The AR -5000 has a built-in pre -amp, and as tape recorder control. There is an the default mode is on. optional tape recorder cable available, Many receivers with smaller front pan- If you've read "ScanTech" for any however it is not supplied. els can be a bit overcrowded. I did not findlength of time, you'll know that I'm ACC -2 is mostly used for connection of the optional antenna control unit. This allows for switching of up to four anten- nas from the front panel. If the receiver is regularly used for a wide variety of fre- quencies, and if you have the antennas available, this could be quite a handy fea- ture, although I did not get to try it out. Even without this feature, there are two ACC 2 antenna jacks on the rear panel; one with DC 12V EXT SP MUTE REMOTE IF OUT(10.7MHZ) an SO -239 connection, and one with an ?!=. "N" type connection. I used the N con- 47' nector for VHF/UHF and the SO -239 for Communicalions Receiver Model A R 5000 shortwave. You can set the radio to auto 111: INCtit:qv.° ANT 1 ANT 2 EI,CO. switch between the two connections ,,,,, s. """ ''''" based on a cutoff frequency, so once set STD IN/tome,) up, it's very convenient. There are a wide variety of bandwidths ®ilkirg available, particularly for VHF/UHF use. These range from Wide band filters of 220, 110, and 30 kHz, to more typical nar- row FM filter widths of 15 and 6 kHz. The The rear panel of the AR -5000 Plus 3 is quite well-equipped. Note the "+3" sticker which is 6 and a more narrow 3 kHz would be used the only outward indication that this receiver is equipped with the additional features. Also for AM and shortwave modes, although note the two antenna jacks -a type N and an SO -239. www.popular-communications.com April 2000 /POP'COMM / 61 quite close to a powerful transmitter and The book you've been waiting for... havetroublewith many receivers regarding this problem. Amplifying the incoming signal only adds to the prob- lem. You'll also know that I'm not fond of pre -amps in metropolitan settings. On the AR -5000, the pre -amp is con- trolled through the attenuation setting, which is why I missed it earlier. At 0dB This information -packed book is attenuation, you are in the pre -amp your most reliable,unbiased "ON- mode. By setting the attenuation source for detailed information to read -10dB, I'm actually turning the fir INformatoon About: on practically every piece of Rem Rodin Products pre -amp off, but not reall} adding atten- Accessory Item, Amateur Radio equipment and rs and Manufacturers uation to the system. And at -20dB, the every accessory item currently system actuallystarts reducing the incoming signal. I have used the -10 set- offered for sale in the United ting quite successfully, and have not States. From the biggest HF noticed much in the way of missing sig- transceiver to Ham computer nals except for the undesired artifacts of software, it's in the CO Amateur the interference problem. Radio Equipment Buyer's Guide, complete with specs and prices. There are over 2100 product "The AR -5000 Plus 3 also listings (3100 including trans- includes a computer control ceiver accessories!). RS -232 port." Product listings cover: HF Transceivers, VHF/UHF Multi -Mode Handheld Transceivers, VHF/UHF Base/Mobile Transceivers, Oh, no doubt, I'm missing a few fringe Transceivers, Receivers and Scanners, HF Linear Amplifiers, mobiles, but they're probably not pre- VHF/UHF Power Amplifiers, Transceiver Accessories, Repeaters, sent on other receivers either. By adding Packet and RTTY Equipment, Amateur Television, HF Antennas, the pre -amp, AOR is increasing the sen- VHF/UHF Antennas, Accessories for Antennas, Antenna Rotators, sitivity of the receiver significantly, and Towers and Masts, Antenna Tuners, Measurement and Test if you can use that extra sensitivity, great. If not, using the -10 position is not Equipment, Ham Software, Training Tapes, Publications, and much of a compromise, and you're elim- Miscellaneous Accessories. Thousands of products are described; inating the interference, at least in my many are illustrated. case which is pretty severe. Even at the -10 position, the AR -5000 is still a very The CQ Amateur Radio Equipment Buyer's Guide also includes the sensitive receiver as far as I can deter- mine without test equipmer.t. My pref- most comprehensive directory anywhere of Ham product manufac- erence would have been for the attenu- turers and dealers in the USA, complete with phone numbers, FAX ation setting to read +10, 0, and -10 numbers, Web sites, and e-mail addresses. Dealer and Manufacturer instead of 0,-10, and -20, or for there to listings include major products manufactured or sold, and service and be a separate pre -amp switch so that it repair policies, where applicable, with 475 dealers and manufactur- called attention to what was happening, ers listed. These listings alone are worth their weight in gold. but knowing how it works :s certainly an acceptable solution. If you've been looking at the high end The CQ Amateur Radio Equipment Buyer's Guide is jam-packed of the wide -band receiver market, you've with solid information and great reading. In addition to being an no doubt run across the AR -5000 and the incredible source of insight into the current state of Ham Radio tech- Plus 3 in your travels. You certainly owe nology, it will continue to be a reliable Ham equipment reference it to yourself to check out th,s receiver, particularly if you have more than a pass- source for many years to come. ing interest in the shortwave portion of the bands. I'll be adding one to my shack For Fastest Service call 1-800-853-9797 soon, and I think you might find a place for it in yours also. Further information or FAX 516-681-2926 can be obtained from your radio dealer, or directly from AOR's websiteat CO Communications, Inc. www.aorusa.com. 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 PCC Actions Affecting Communications Big Changes In Amateur Service Rules It was a busy winter for the fine folks at the FCC, after all. Last December, 700 MHz Band Phu& the Commission put the finishing touches onitsBiennial Regulatory 764776 794 Review of the Amateur Service Rules. 10 2 10 2 The biggest collective changes brought I 777 782 forth were the long anticipated major 762ublic Safety PublicSafety changes to the Amateur Radio Service Mad Bead Guard Band Guard Band Guard Band license class structure. The 70 -some page document, Report and Order (R&O) TvCharmelizatim FCC 99-412, finalizes changes proposed roughly two years ago in WT Docket 98- TV Ch. 60 TV Ch. 61 TV Ch. 62 TV Ch. 65 TV Ch. 66 TV Ch. 67 143. The R&O contains much discussion 746 752 738 764 776 782 788 on the issue, a complete list of all com- menters and reply commenters' names, TV Channels 63 & 64 TV Channels 68 & 69 1941 and some minor wording changes to var- ious sections of Part 97, the Amateur Service rules. The new 700 MHz radio band. The licensing changes are indeed rad- ical. Effective April 15 of this year, only three classes of new amateur operatorbeyond the previous requirements fortheir Certificate of Successful licensewill beissued:Technician, General. And, they had to pass a com- Completion of Exam (CSCE) along with General, and Extra. The examinationmercial speed 20 -WPM code test. But, their license, as documentation of their requirements for these three license class-starting April 15, new Extra class appli-Morse code proficiency. These licensees es have been significantly reduced. cants will need to meet the new Generalhad to do this in the early days of no -code Previously, Technicians needed to passclass exam requirements, and simply pass Technicians, before the FCC started issu- two written exam elements with a total of an additional 50 question written examing distinct "Plus" licenses. Those hold- 65questions.StartingApril 15, Element 4. That's right, Extra licensesing or considering applying for commer- Technician class applicants will onlyused to face a total of 185 written ques-cial class licenses should be aware that need to pass a revised written examtions, and 20 -WPM code. This is chang- some of the revised amateur exam ele- Element 2, comprised of only 35 ques- ing to a maximum of 120 written ques- ment numbers are now the same as some tions. General class applicants previ-tions, and only 5 words -per -minutecommercial exam element numbers. This ously needed to pass a 13 word -per- Morse code, from the perspective of new,had been the situation some years ago, minute (WPM) Morse code examinationunlicensedapplicants. Already awas subsequently corrected, but will and a written exam element of 30 ques- General? Becoming a General after Aprilagain be a problem. In their infinite wis- tions,inadditiontotheprevious 15? Simply pass new 50 questiondom, our friends at the Commission have Technician exam requirements, men-Element 4, and you will be an Amateurassigned two new Amateur exam ele- tioned above. On the above date, newExtra. Passing scores of 75% (rounded), ments, the numbers 1 and 3, already used Generals will only need to pass the newremain in effect for the written ham testto describe commercial elements used in Technician Element 2,a 5 -WPMelements. Operating privileges remainMaritime Basic Radio Law and the Morse code exam Element 1, and a new unchanged for all license classes. General Radiotelephone Operator General exam Element 3, consisting of What about existing Novice,exams, respectively. Be aware that ham only 35 questions. In other words, start-Technician Plus, and Advanced classand commercial exam elements bearing ing from scratch, General applicants once licensees? Not to worry. These threethe same element number are not the had to pass written exam elements total-classes will be able to renew indefinite- same, and are not interchangeable. ing 95 questions, plus 13 WPM code.ly, and upgrade to any appropriate new Very soon, applicants for this class faceclass at any time. Renewing Technician Radio Amateur Civil a maximum of only 70 written questions,Plus licensees will see their license class Emergency Service News and 5 WPM code for full general privi-listed as only Technician, but will retain leges! Becoming an Amateur Extratheprevious"Plus" HF privileges. Also in FCC 99-412, the FCC states that required an additional 90 questions in two Regrettably, this may necessitate these Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service written exam elements, above andlicensees to once again carry a copy of(RACES) station licenses will not be NDIXON, N3HOE 66 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site ( 33 Simple Weekend Amateur Radio Equipment Building and Using The Vertical Antenna Projects Buyer's Guide Baluns and Ununs Handbook t Stasi...Ma by Dave Ingram, This 144 -page book is your single by Jerry Sevick, W2FMI by Paul Lee, N6PL UtUltlx 1111111111 41141111145 K4TWJ source for detailed information on This volume is the source for Learn basic Co -it -yourself practically every the latest information and designs theory and practice electronics projects piece of Amateur on transmission of the vertical awry an doing from the most basic to Radio equipment line transformer antenna. Discover the fairly sophisticat- and accessory theory. Discover easy -to -build con- edYou'll find: station item currently new applications struction projects. -.0 accessories for VHF FMing, working offered for sale in for dipoles, yagis, Order No. VAH OSCAR satellites, fun on HF, trying the USA complete log periodics, $9.95 CV building with specs and beverages, simple antennas, even a complete prices. Also includes the most com- antenna tuners, McCoy on Antennas by Lew McCoy, W1ICP wcrking HF station you can build prehensive directory of Ham prod- and countless Unlike many for$100. Also includes practical tips uct manufacturers and dealers in other examples. technical publica- Lew McCoy and techniques on how to create the USA. On Antenna* Order No. BALUN tions, Lew prsents yo.ir own electronic projects. .$19.95 Order No. EBG $15.95 his invaluable Order No. 33PROJ....$/5.95 antenna informa- tion in a casual, Keys, Keys, Keys non -intimidating The NEW Shortwave The Quad Antenna by Dave Ingram, K4TWJ way for anyone! P-opagation Handbook by Bob Haviland, W4MB Order No. You'll enjoy by W3ASK, N4XX & K6GKU Second Printing MCCOY $15.95 nostalgia with oss., A comprehensive source of An authoritative Koss this visual _ Hr -7 propagation The NEW book on the design, W6SAI HF Antenna principles, Shortwave construction, celebration 4- Propagation of amateur sLnspots, ionos- Handbook characteristics and Handbook xr by Bill Orr, W6SAI pheric predictions, applications of radio's favorite (Vail HA=. Inexpensive, w th photography, quad antennas. accessory. This practical antenna charts and tables book is full of pic- galore! Order No. QUAD tures and histori- projects that work! eA cal insight. Guides you 40, Crder No. SWP $ 15.95 $9.95 through the $19.95 Order No. KEYS building of wire, loop, Yagi and vertical antennas. Getting Started Videos - "How -To," Tips, Techniques & (Sorci $19.95 ham Radio Horizons: The Video .. Order No. VHOR Getting Started in VHF .. Order No VVHF Getting Started in Ham Radio .. Order No VHR Only $19.95 each -- Getting Started in DXing .. Order No VDX Buy more and save! Getting Started in Packet Radio .. Order No VPAC Buy 2 or 3 for $17.95; Buy 4 to 6 for $15.95 Getting Started in Amateur Satellites.. Order No. VSAT Getting Started in Contesting .. Order No VCON Buy all 7 for your Club for only $99.95 2000 Calendars .,,\.r7,4/ CO Award Pins If you've earned any of Ploylng Ccrdo CO's Awards, you can Top quality, plastic Fifteen month calendars also display the corre- coated playing sponding CQ Award pin. Available for cards. January 2000 through WAZ, 5 Band WAZ. 160 Meter WAZ, March 2001 CO DX. CO DX Honor Roll, WPX, ONLY $9.95 per deck Please specify WPX Honor Roll, and USA -CA Amateur Radio or awards. ONLY $5.00 EACH. Classic Radio Calendar Name Callsign Strreet Address City State Zip T Qty Item 4 Description Price Total Price U.S. and possessions - add $4 shipping/handling. .7.St S/H on orders $50 and over. Foreign - shipping/handling charges are Shipping; Handling calculated by order weight & destination. 'A $4 credit will be applied for Foreign orders over $50. Total Method of payment Check Money Order Ei VisaEMasterCard11 Discover [7] Amer'can Express Credit Card No. Expiration date 48): VISAt21 CQ Communications, Inc., 25 NewbrIdge Rd., Hicksvfliz, In/ 11801/516-681-2922; Fo 516-681-2926 Focus On Free Radio Broadcasting Captain Ron's Idea Of A Great Top -Ten List Off we go to Pirate Land! We've got lots of great loggings, so fire up the radio and let's begin. Radio Metallica Worldwide, 6955 at 0125 with Led Zeppelin, Dr. Tornado, and someone named "Boo Hoo" who ID's as "You are listening to 2000 pow- erful watts of Radio Metallica Worldwide - you're on Liberty1999." (Pete Nelson, MI) 6956 from 1115 to 0142 close, with various rock and heavy metal and mention of Blue Ridge Summit address. (Robert Gregory, NV) KIPM, 6955 USB at 0600 with dis- cussion about problem solving and linear solution, "Max and Shadow" story hour. P.O. Box 24, Lulu, GA 30554 and off at 1616. Also heard at 0730 with various segments including listener letters, win- ning a Tom Thumb radio. Off at 0822. (Tim Taylor, PA) Radio Toronto, 6955 USB at 2331 with ID, mail to P.O. Box 293, Merlin, Ah! Intrigue! A "Pirate's Den" reader, visiting Houston, Texas, managed to "DF" local FM pirate Montrose Radio to this house. He says the windows are heavily tinted (almost black) ON NOP IWO. Gave location as the 15th and there's an eight -foot chain link fence surrounding the house. About 25 feet behind the floor of Pittman Hall. Also at 1401 with house is a small metal building with antenna lines feeding a ".1 -pole" antenna on top and a test broadcast, mentioning that the sta- audio and power cables running from the back of the house to the "shack." tion had a 1,000 mile range. Also at 2205 with Bob Seger numbers, mentioned that it was their 14th broadcast and that they were in Nova Scotia, transmitting fromOntario, address and went off at 2147. Bob. (Finn, PA) 2233 "Soul' Man" song the university. Off at 2222. (Taylor, PA)Also at 2150 with more Kiss selections, and Radio Bob song. Said was brought to 2203 with test broadcast. Sponsored by talk about the ACE, address, QSL infor-you by the "up to no good production someone in Canada? (Bill Finn, PA) mation. Off at 2206. (Taylor, PA) 2142team." (Blaser, MA) 1158-1159 with possible test. (Silvi, OH) with ID and E-mail address, Kiss, and WRAY - Ray Radio, 6955 at 0036 WFMQ, 6955 USB at 0118 with Boy Erythmics. Off at 2205. (Skip Blaser, MA) with ID, blues -type music, ID. Partially George tune. Off at 0125. (Taylor, PA) WHYP, 6955 USB at 2236 with what copiedaddressof P.O.Box 452, 1357 to 1428 with the usual stuff. Also at sounded like church singers. WeatherWellsville, New York, 14895 and to 0104. And at 0059. And another day at report, Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy, E-include postage. Mentioned "the way of 0100. (Lee Silvi, OH) mail address (not copied), Devil Went to the ray." Off at 0051. (Taylor, PA) RBCN, tentative, 6955 USB at 0014Georgia parody. Signed off at 2251. Also Voice of Captain Ron Shortwave, with Jimmy the Weasel and various tunes.at 2300 with blues -type songs and paro-6955 USB at 2259. Various songs, men- Did "The Devil Went to Georgia" withdies, possible mention of an E-mailtion of their E-mail address. Off at 2258. Radio Bob's name used instead of Theaddress. (Taylor, PA) 2208 with Ravi fill- (Taylor, PA) 2312 with Captain Ron Devil. Off at 0027. (Taylor, PA) ing in for his cousin James Brownyard. "freezing his #$#$ off to play 007 theme Blind Faith Radio, 6955 USB at 2129 Usual James -isms, Jimmy the Weasel songs and top -ten list of things you'llnever with ID, request for a song by Kiss.sings. Also 0100, including E-mail hear Bond say." 2229 with "It's all part of Program was entitled "The Kiss Collage."addresses:addy's-whyp1530 @yahoo. my rock and roll fantasy."(Finn, PA) Dr. Napalm extended good wishes and com;[email protected],and Radio Free Speech, 6950 at 0203 with mentioned Steve Mann's name, [email protected]. Also at 0043. music parody to sign -off at 0205. Also at about acquiring a 1 kW amp. Gave Merlin, And at 2310 with WHYP salute to Radio 1636. (Taylor, PA) NIMIIIM1111111116.__ BY EDWARD TEACH lowill1111111111111111111M 68 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site KMUD, 6950 from 0130 to 0240 with Radio Free Speech, 6955 at 0152 with Tubes LITERATURE Parts Supplies a variety of music. Claimed to be broad- host Bill 0. Rights with commentary, www.tubesandmore.com casting from the Mojave Desert nearJimmy Stewart excerpt. Carrier from Death Valley, California. (Gregory, NV) another pirate station on at the same time. Antique Voice of Shortwave Radio, 6955 at (Finn, PA) ELECTRONIC 2115 with ID and QSL info (Blue Ridge Voice of Prozac, 6955 heard at 2045 Supply Summit) and [email protected] music and IDs. Pittsburgh drop. Howard Stern segments, jingles, new OJ(Silvi, OH) song. (Finn, PA) 2100 with IDs and men- Jolly Green Radio, tentative, 6955 at tion of Blue Ridge Summit drop. (Lee 0134. (Silvi, OH) Silvi, OH) Radio Three, 6955 at 2210 with three [41 Voice of Anarchy, 6955 at 1748 with songs, congratulations to the lucky 20 411111111 Call for ourFREE Ifill 111C 76 page catalog! replay of July 4th program. (Finn, PA) people with real QSLs, truck driver's UM?' WHYT, 6955 USB heard at 0050 with song, Andy Rooney Car Alarm. Hosted Phone Today' (480)820.5411 Fax(480)820-4643 or (480)706-6789 music and a sports report by a guy sound-by Sal Amoniac. (Blaser, MA) 6221 S Maple Ave Tempe. AZ 85283 ing like Apu on "The Simpsons." (Neil Magic 105, 6955 at 0035. Tape or relay CIRCLE 63 ON READER SERVICE CARD Serafin, CO) of a Cleveland area FM station which uses Radio Garbanzo, 6950 at 2138 men-the "Magic 105" slogan. (Silvi, OH) tioning the Belfast drop. Described the Jolly Green Radio Resting, 6955 at kilowatt cost for one of their relays. "Turn 0131 to 0134. (Silvi, OH) off your computers - this isn't a 'net - Radio Cobaine (?) 6955 at 0139-0146 cast,' but a pirate shortwave broadcast."close. Music, but the announcer's audio FREE Also at 2319 with phonetic ID, soundwas too weak. (Silvi, OH) FREQUENCY LIST... effects. Also with repeat of earlier show WBIG, 6955 at 1817 with music and ...with your catalog request! at 0116 (Finn, PA) many IDs. (Silvi, OH) (PLEASE enclose a self-addressed business Radio Aesop, 6955 USB at 0000. size envelope with 55e postage.) Fable about earthenware, and host told And that's a wrap for this time. Thanks DWM Communications what the moral was. [email protected] all who sent logs. Keep 'em coming! P.O. Box 87 -PC, Hanover, MI 49241 corn. Also from 2304-2345.(Finn, PA)This column wouldn't happen without 0258 to 0301 off. (Silvi, OH) you! Catch you again next month! !GETON THEMT EXPRESS Monitoring Times is Now On Line! Now -Receive your subscription to Monitoring Times with no delays due to mailing, no lost or torn copies. Be the first to receive breaking news from the frontier of communications! For less than the cost of a subscription in the U.S., you can be reading the entire Monitoring Times magazine anywhere in the world before U.S. subscribers receive their printed copies! Active utilities loggings, world hotbed frequencies, international broadcasting schedule changes, new product announcements! This is the exact same magazine that has gained a worldwide reputation for reliable radio information that's easy to understand, and products and projects of proven value. To find out if this new subscription is the delivery solution for you, For a mere $19.95 U.S., MT Express gives you Monitoring you may download the August 1999 issue for free! Just go to Times magazine http://www.grove-ent.com to find out how. in PDF format viewable with free software delivered by FTP (10 MB file) One year subscription to MT Empress-only $19.95 U.S., or for viewable in brilliant color on your computer screen even greater savings, $11 in addition to your printed subscription easily navigated by clicking on the Table of Contents of $24.95 in the U.S. Mastercard, Visa and DiscoverCard accepted. printable using your own computer printer All payments must be in US funds drawn on a US bank. searchable to find every mention of a topic or station schedule compatible with software to convert text to audio for sight ORDER NOW BY CALLING TOLL -FREE (800) 438-8155, impaired listeners OR E-MAIL order*grove-ent.com www.popular-communications.corn April 2000 / POP'COMM / 69 Jour Guide To Shortwave "Utility" Stations A New Frontier - Copying Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) Signals Is Easy! As mentioned in last month's col- umn, CharlesBrain from England has developed a pro- gram (PC -ALE Controller) which allows UTE monitors around the world to decode the ever-present Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) signals. This is a great entry point for new UTE digital monitors as the entry cost is something most of us already have overcome: a com- puter and an SSB-capable radio. Other than the time required to download the software from the Internet, the invest- ment to get involved in this area of UTE digital monitoring is virtually nil. In this month's column, we are going to take a look at the wonderful PC -ALE Controller program and ALE in general, and discuss the new "rave" in low-cost digital UTE monitoring. So, let's begin Longtime reader Bill Farley (New Mexico) sent a picture of his shack which includes several with a discussion about ALE, what it is, scanners (RadioShack, Uniden, etc.) and an ICOM VHF/UHF transceiver, and a Yaesu 757GX how it is used, and who uses it. transceiver attached to a HAL CT -2100 CW, R7TY terminal. Automatic Link Establishment is a generic term used to describe a family of signals used for, as its name implies, the ALE is typically used on a scanningthe Link Quality and Bit -Error Rate look- automatic establishment of communica-transceiver, which will step through aing for the best possible frequency on tion connections. ALE signals have been series of pre-programmed frequencies which to establish communications. This developed by a wide variety of compa-looking for other ALE stations from the information is automatically stored with- nies and are often incorporated as part ofsame network. Once a signal is detected,in the ALE system for use when needed. an entire digital signal package. Differentthe ALE system determines if the station Most networks have a set sounding sched- ALE variants include Arcotel ALE by sending the signal is calling the receivingule where all of the stations will transmit Daimler Chrysler, a CIS variant runningstation. Next, it will look to see if theon all of the assigned frequencies - usu- at 150bd, a Spanish Navy variant, and the sending station is within the same net-ally at least once each hour. most common, the Mil -Std 188-141A. It work. If so, the receiving station will then Before we go looking for ALE net- is this last variant in which we are inter- transmit and establish a link. Once theworks, we need to take into account a few ested. The Mil -Std 188-141A signal is an link is established, the users will typical- small "guidelines" for ALE monitoring. eight -tone FSK system runningat ly switch to another form of transmission For starters, most, but by no means all, 125bps. The 8 tones run from 750hz to(voice or data), although short "order -ALE transmissions occur in USB mode. 2500hz, with 250hz separation betweenwire" transmission can be sent usingNext, most (but again not all} ALE fre- each tone. These tones combine to form ALE. Once the communications are over,quencies are on the whole or half kilo- "words," which are used to represent the the receiver returns to scanning while ithertz (ending in .0 or .5 . . .example: eight basic functions of ALE: "TO," awaits the next call. 5710.5 kHz or 18003.0 kHz). Lastly, we "FROM," "THIS IS," "THIS WAS," Another function of ALE, and onemust take into account whether we desire "THRU," "COMMAND," "DATA," andwhich is conducted with little or no user to scan the frequencies within the net- "REPEAT." It is these "words," alongintervention, is known as "sounding." By work, or simply sit on one and wait for with the user identification (from 1 to 15 sending a series of "sounding" calls fromtraffic. Neither option holds any serious characters), that enable the ALE systemeach station, all of the stations within thedrawbacks. The option to scan or sit on a to determine who was talking to whom, network can determine the best frequency single frequency will be partially deter- and what instructions, if any, need to beon which to call each particular station. mined by your receiver, as the PC -ALE carried out. With every ALE call, the stations measureprogram can control the scan for certain .11=111111111110)" BAKER 72 / POP'COMM /April 2000 Scan Our Web Site though it might be cold and wet outside. copied a METAR report for the ICAO The towers sit on large insulators and the identifier "FMMI." Wanting to find out Abbreviations Used For Intercepts stays are broken up with insulators to pre- the location for this identifier, Ray dis- AM Amplitude Modulation mode vent resonance on freq. or on the secondcoveredtheNOAA/NWSsiteat BC Broadcast harmonics, etc." Link -11 net). (RP -MD) All in USB. Rocket Booster Recovery Vessel) clg Cape Grace. 6033 adv cannot do hoist of injured 2670: NMG2, USCG Group New Orleans at Radioat1518,tradessignalchecks person due to sea state and are exploring other 1236inUSB w/MarineInformation w/Freedom Star (other SRB Recovery Vessel) options. CAMSPAC Point Reyes at 0235 Broadcast in progress. (RB-OH) and Cape Radio. (ALS-FL) Booster Recovery w/Point Brower (WPB -82338, Marina Del 2789: French Navy, Brest, F w/RTTY 75/850 Vessel Liberty Star wkg BRD (Booster Rey CA) w/posn report 3342N/12442W. (RP - at 0215. (RP2-TX) Recovery Director) re locations of booster #1 MD) CAMSLANT clg RESCUE 2125 at 3167.4: 7DC at 0141 wkg 73R, WB and oth- and #2. Is enrt to splash -down location at this 0229, req11) of ELT and whether there are any ers. JTFEX-related (MADX-MD) Multiple time at 0057. Comms in support of STS -103. OSB in the vicinity. 2125 is unable to deter- tri-graph callsigns with discussions in USB Both in USB. (RB-OH) mine either. At 0243, 2125 is to drop a DMB reference flight ops and being anchored at a 5202: A9A and 1261 at 1629 w/voice and (Dye Marker Buoy) at the position, then RTB location for several days. Possible link coor- ALE. BULLDOG MAJOR and others at 1423, "at the beach," refuel, and return to the scene dination net. (RMC-GA) Both in USB. possible AL NG. (JLM-KY) All in USB. to cover a helicopter enrt from Texas. (MR - 4024: 5L groups in CW stopped transmitting 5313.5: WPEH727, AT&T, Bedminster, NJ MN) All in USB. at 0335, ended w/"VA" dit dit dit da dit da the and WPEH728, AT&T, Conyers, GA at 0351 5841: CG33C (H-60, 6033 CGAS standard ending for a CW QSO. (BF -NM) in USB. (JLM-KY) Clearwater) w/PANTHER (DEA, Bahamas) 4237: FUO, French Navy, Toulon, F w/RTTY 5315: Unid, presumed Tokyo in RTTY posn 60 nms bearing 310 degrees from Zulu 75/850 Testing/RY at 0145 (RP2-TX) 75/400 w/synoptic weather, all messages from at 0202. (RP -MD) 32C clg flt-ops normal to 4240:ARMY GUARD COLUMBIA, RJTD (Tokyo) at 2135. Unid RTTY 75/400 PANTHER at 0120. 32C rep they are landing CHARLESTON and SPARTANBURG at 8 -bit Baudot synoptic weather msgs from at 17 will adv PANTHER when airborne at 2130 in USB moved here from 6910.0, where RJTD (Tokyo) and BCHK (is that a new ICAO 2124. 32C clg PANTHER, due to interference KY NG stations are still active. Called 4240.0 ID for Hong Kong?) and others; every evening switched to CAMSLANT. 10C clg flt-ops to channel 1. (JLM-KY) recently between 1800 and 2200. (JD -UK) PANTHER at 0127, again at 0157. All in USB. 4426: CAMSLANT wkg USCGC Vigorous 5320: USCG Group Detroit clg GRP Buffalo, (MF-OH) at 0117, medical call consult to Cape MayGRP Buffalo then clg GRP Milwaukee at5842: CIP 77 (Net Control) w/CIP 76, CIP regarding a fractured arm. (MF-OH) 0205. CG GRP Detroit clg CG Grand Haven 76A, CIP 65, CIP 69, and CHH 770 in voice 4440: D3I (ncs) and other stations at 2330 in at 0206. CG Grand Haven clg GRP Buffalo at and RTTY tests. CIP 77 authorizes the use of USB. (JLM-KY) 0209. GRP Buffalo clg CG ST Marie at 0209. abbreviated callsigns on this net. Canadian 4483: Yacht Bright Morning Star at 0248 in CG GRP Detroit clg Cutter Neah Bay Y2K testing net at 0047 in USB. (RP -MD) USB clg Penta Comstat, VZX, for r/c to ful- (WTGB-105 NRUU, Cleveland) at 0210. CG 5845: 77 ALPHA and 76, probably CIP calls fill requirements of Sydney to Hobart YachtGrand Haven clg Cutter Neah Bay at 0211. at 1558 in USB and RTTY. Canadian mil Race entry and advised to QSY to race fre- CG GRP Milwaukee clg GRP Detroit at 0211. (JLM-KY) quency 4603.6. (SD -AU) GRP Buffalo clg Cutter Neah Bay at 0212. 5855: UNID: poss Colombian Navy 0406 4585: CAP Net, Civil Air Patrol Net, NCS had Grand Haven clg GRP Milwaukee at 0213. CLOVER -2000 BPSM mode. (MADX-MD) callsign of what sounded like "Middle EastAnother few minutes passed with the same 5860: FAAZLA, FAA ARTCC Los Angeles ###." Virginia had some check -ins using the typetfc.(MF-OH) NRQW, USCGC at 0105 w/sounding call. At 0112, FAAZBW: Callsign "Jefferson ###." Also heard SouthSweetgum (WLB-309) at 0417 wkg NMG2, FAA ARTCC Boston w/sounding call. At Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and WestGroup New Orleans re Op's normal msg, is0124, FAAZMP: FAA ARTCC Minneapolis Virginia were some of the stations heardanchored four miles north of Southeast w/sounding call. All in ALE. (MADX-MD) checking in at 0209 in USB. (SI-VA) (4585 Passage.At 0427,gives posnas28- 6227: Yacht Bright Morning Star at 0248 in kHz is the CAP Mid -East Region primary fre- 55.6N/089 -21.8W. (RB-OH) All in USB. USB clg Penta Comstat, VZX, for r/c on quency -Ed) 5500: 260, unid Colombian Navy at 0112 in Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race secondary race 4739: CARDFILE 66 (P -3c, Jacksonville) ALE clg TURBO: Colombian Coast Guard frequency (SD -AU) w/FIDDLE (TSCC NAS Jacksonville) report- Base Turbo and AOM: Unid Colombian Navy. 6577: New York Radio wkg American 688 ing Spare Group 3 and receiving QSL at 0254. At 0115, BRIM1: Colombian Navy 1st Naval w/pos rep at 0050. (MF-OH) (RP -MD) FIGHTING TIGER 755clg Infantry Brigade clg RADGENA: Unid6637: Miami Radio (LDOC) monitored at FIGHTING TIGER 754 at 0225. (MF-OH) Colombian Navy. (MADX-MD) 0511 in USB trying to contact AA 430 w/no All in USB. 5680: Rescue 51 at 1733 w/Tyne Tees Coast response. (RP -MD) 4742: Flight Watch (ARCHITECT) w/Ascot Guard (UK). Tyne Tees Coast Guard at 17366640: New York Radio wkg Delta 106, 116 5052 (RAF C-130) in position report at 0308. w/Rescue 51 re is captain's discretion to (EQAK) Selcal check at 0036. (MF-OH) ARCHITECT w/Ascot 3106 (RAF L-1011) decide if he wants to continue in company with 6683: SAM 206, Special Air Mission C -20B w/posn report and selcal check. at 0503. All sister ship or abandon vessel. SRG 181 at 1803 86-0206 at 1253 in USB wkg Andrews VIP in USB. (RP -MD) in r/c w/Kinloss Rescue, Sea King from St.w/radio check, ETA on ground is 50 mins. 4840: SITE 1, National Guard Relay Station, Mawgan en route to Chivenor to take over (RB-OH) McConnellsburg, PA and WGY923, StateSAR standby. Cross Corsen (F) at 1443 in 6745: CANFORCE 1812 w/Trenton military EOC, Harrisburg, PA at 2019 in USB. H5U r/chk w/Milford Haven Coast Guard (UK). in unsuccessful r/c's at 0252 in USB. (RP -MD) calling D2G at 2302 in LSB. (JLM-KY) Valentia Radio (IRL) at 1529 in test w/Cross 6751: Cape Radio at 0010 clg CG Cutter 5058: VJA219, Australian Outward Bound Corsen (F), adv is strength 4 to 5. Corsen adv "DRUMMOND?" for r/c. DOD Cape clg School has comms w/AC wkg AT regarding is end of the test, will speak to his colleague "DRUMMOND" at 0017 for r/c. K1 Duty clg wx and arrival time of buses at 0635 in USB. by phone. (AG -UK) All in USB. Cape Radio at 0024 to confirm launch is on (SD -AU) 5687: Shadow 92 (C-130 Hurlburt FL) w/Ops schedule for 0050. Cape Radio clg K 1 Duty 5104: 4XZ, somewhere in Israel in CW (in progress) who reports that they are on the at 0045, advising five minutes left, all systems VVVs, heard every evening recently at 2000. ground at Eglin AFB and their status is Alpha go. Cape Radio advises at 0051 "we have (JD -UK) 3 so they will not fly anymore this evening at launch;" at 0100 instructs K1 Duty to RTB, 5140: Illinois State Police, Du Quoin, IL 0312. (RP -MD) WISE 81 clg PLANTATION then thanks Cutter "DRUMMOND" for assis- (District13) and WGY955, State EOC, OPS at 0241. JAWS 51 clg PLANTATION tance. (RM-MN) (Nice catch, this was used as Springfield, IL at 2130. Using 5140, 5192, OPS "in the blind" at 0303. (MF-OH) range safety for launch of the shuttle on STS - 7477, and 7932 in Operation SECURE net. All 5696: CG RESCUE 6033 (H-60, CGAS 103. Drummond would be NHSD, USCGC in USB. (JLM-KY) Clearwater) at 0330 w/CAMSLANT report- Drummond (WPB -1323), an Island -class 5190: Liberty Star (Space Shuttle Soliding posn 2131N/7047W over M/V Amazing patrol boat cutter -Ed) 74 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site 6761: Unid clg DOOM 97 at 0054. RAID 45 Australian Navy Collins -class submarine w/Selcal at 2013. New York Radio wkg clg NODAK CONTROL at 0119. TURBO 33 (SSG -75) at 1140 in USB clg DARWIN CON- IBERIA 6402 at 2030 w/pos-rep and selcal. clg any other TURBO a/c at 0244. (MF-OH) TROL. No joy. (MADX-MD) (MF-OH) All in USB. All in USB. 8125: E5, The Counting Station at 2000 in AM 8894: Algiers (MWARA AFI-2) at 0156 in 6766: KY623 and KY63 at 1429 in USB. YL/EE for id: 428 and 1-10. At 2010, tones USB w/Springbok 220; Virgin 602; and (JLM-KY) and into 211 5FGs (3/2). (MADX-MD) Speedbirds 58 and 075. Niamey Control also 6767.5: H6X and W9J at 1819 in LSB, U.S. 8130: Unid, English Man (E6) numbers stn in active. (RP -MD) military stations w/ALE, and voice checks. progress at 2010 in AM. (SD -AU) 8969: BLUE STAR clg SCORPION 05 in OEM -KY) 8153: Unid, possibly X6 tonal numbers stn at USB with no answer. BLUE STAR off freq. 6786: MKD, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus in Picc-6 2013 in USB w/ continuous best of six tones or new freq? (RMC-GA) (4 channels) working MUH at1700. (JD -UK) and off at 2015. (SD -AU) 8974: SAVAGE 1 (RAAF F111) clg Air 6834: Unid, commercial station Papua New 8156: ARCHITECT monitored at 0037 in Force Sydney for p/p and after several feints Guinea at 0915 in USB w/2 OMs w/chit-chat. USB w/wx information for various locations. became annoyed demanding immediate p/p at Mentioned about Port Moresby, flight skeds (MADX-MD) 0117. (SD -AU) and fuel. (1J -NZ) 8188: Unid, Swedish Rhapsody (E23) num- 8983: CAMSLANT Chesapeake at 0155 in 61345: HSP, Unid at 0152 w/sounding call and bers stn w/call-up at 1157 in AM. (SD -AU) USB wkg 30 CHARLIE, 30C parent com- "thru" msg via OTO. At 0153, 1VV clg XDZ. 8300: V13: New Star Broadcasting at 1116 in mand is Panther, 6 POB, en route to area Both in ALE. (MADX-MD) USB weak -moderate w/QRM fromSS Quebec. (MR -MN) 6865: M8A, monitored at 1210 in CW w/5FGs comms. (MADX-MD) 8992: FAP Lisboa (Hqs Portuguese AF, icut#).Alreadyinprogress. 2nd msg: 8518.4: DZX, Manila Radio, PHL in CW Lisbon) at 0124 w/unid a/c. Navy RO 413 "INGTD," 150gr. 3rd msg: "UIGMD," 150gr. w/wx at 1300. (RP2-TX) (unid) at 1324 w/McClellan in pp w/Task (MADX-MD) 8629: VRX, Hong Kong Radio, CHN in CW Force West (in progress) who reports that his 6879: KUS79, FAA, Florence, SC and w/wx at 1330. (RP2-TX) Satcom is dead so he'll have to relay his traf- KUZ31, FAA, Columbia, SC at 1641 in LSB. 8722: GKT42, Portishead Radio, UK at 1249 fic through CG Group Corpus Christi. RO 413 (JEM-KY) in USB wkg unid S. Korean vsl w/conclusion wants confirmation that there are no Blue 6970: RBT54, Ikurtsk METED Russia at 0910 of radiotelephone call. (RB-OH) Force vessels in their area. (RP -MD) in RTTY 50 Bd/850 w/RYRY, followed by 8743: HAS, Bangkok Radio, Thailand at 1258 9023: BANDSAW WHISKEY and OPS at WX synopsis. (IJ-NZ) in USB w/musical channel marker, at 1300 1902 in USB concerning cancelled fighter 6977: Unid 607 and 622 at 2300 in USB male voice w/ann. For extra bonus points, who activity (JLM-KY) w/strong signals, talking about E-mail pro- can ID this melody? (RB-OH) 9057: REACH 97048 at 0214 in USB wkg grams. (JLM-KY) 8825: New York Radio wkg IBERIA 6625 at ALE -originated phonepatch. Enroute 6980: CIS201 clg VDD at 1832 in USB and 2201 in USB w \pos-rep. (MF-OH) Charleston AFB, eta:0515z, status A2. ALE. ALE addresses CIS201 and VDD. 8846: New York Radio wkg REACH 5411 (MADX-MD) (JLM-KY) 6982.5: KHA915: Unid NASA 1229 LSB wkg KHA920: NASA Pasadena "Will be monitoring this freq and 14 megs (14425 usb) as well." (MADX-MD) 7381: SB7F, Aust. mil net YL operator clg SQMY w/no joy at 0354 in USB. (SD -AU) 7629.1: USCG Group Milwaukee and District 9 at 2023 in USB w/exercise of some sort deal- ing with comms failure. Mentioned State of Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency. Continuing at 2113. (JLM-KY) 7831.5: 5ST, ASECNA Antananarivo, MDG w/ARQE3 48 baud/425 shift sending METAR "33 Simple Weekend Projects for the Ham, th, for `FMMI,' Shipping Bulletin for Student, and the Experimenter" gives only a hint at the METAREA VIII (South). (RP2-TX) fun and satisfaction to be found between the covers 7867: YONHAP Seoul S.Korea at 0855 in of this little book. Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, has pulled RTTY 50 Bd/425 w/NX in EE. (1J -NZ) together a wide ranging collection of do-it-yourself 8037: BRAVO 19 clg BRAVO 20 at 2002, ID as STA and MGE, respectively, in ALE. electronics projects from the most basic to the fairly sophisticated, and even touching on the frivolous. BEIGHTLER and SPRINGFIELD at 2100 in ALE, apparently, OH NG HQ at Beightler You'll find an interesting and very do -able array of Armory in Columbus, OH and a unit at useful devices: station accessories for VHF FMing, Springfield, OH. NYS I 0 and NYS22 call at working OSCAR satellites, joining the fun on HF, 1418. All in USB. (.11_,M -KY) trying CW, building simple antennas, even a complete working 8050: 77 and 205 Canadian military stations HF station you can build for $100. at 1658 in USB. (JEM-KY) Add a measure of practical tips and techniques on how to build electronic projects 8076: Unid, possible PNG missionary net w/ yourself, and you've got an information -packed book that will keep the newcomer or U.S. accented OM discussing evacuations/ the most experienced home -brewer busy for many a pleasant weekend. medical conditions w/ A575. Also discussion Please phone or fax your orders to: of Brisbane then hands to islander accented YL who conducts sked with various stations CQ Communications, Inc. such as A556 at 2112 in USB. (SD -AU) 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 8095: AA7XA, AA7XC, AA7XE, and AA7XG Phone: 516-681-2922/Fax: 516-681-2926 at 2323 in USB, U.S. Army. (JLM-KY) 8122: "Waller,"HMASWaller, a Royal or call ton -free 800-853-9797 www.popular-communications.com April 2000 /POP'COMM / 75 9070.5: SWEET 03, CAJUN 07, DOMESTIC (other SRB recovery vessel). Told to move to heard Offutt and Andrews with EAMs at 09, RHINO 10, UHAUL 10, COBB 05 at 5190. All in USB. (ALS-FL) 2201-2203. (JLM-KY) 1530. Also ROD 07, UHAUL 03 and WILD - 11175: SKIER 93 (LC -130) in USB wkg 13257: Trenton Mil passing wx BC to CAN - WIND 10 in the net (JLM-KY) McClellan re: In-flight emergency. Propeller/ FORCE 4204 for EGWN at 2120. (MF-OH) 9016: WAR 46 req r/c w/OIL CAN at 0054. engine trouble #4, one hour east of Min- 13366: ZKX, RNZAF Auckland in RTTY (MF-OH) neapolis. PP with Minneapolis air reserve base 850/75 7 -bit Baudot w/test tape (QBF, RYs, 9122.5: WUG, USA COE, Vicksburg, MS to see if they could land to have problem fixed. etc.) at 0935. (JD -UK) and WUG336, USA COE at 1757 in USB. Skier 93 diverted to Minneapolis. (DS2-WI) 13907: Omaha 85U (Piper PA -42, Caribbean Moved to Channel 9 (11693.5 USB) and 11184: ASUSHIHA 05 (sounded like) andAOU PR) at1435in USB w/Hammer Channel 10 (12070.0 USB) for signal checks. Presumed JMSDF Atsugi NAS Japan at 0655 (Customs DAICC, Calif) reporting he is on (JLM-KY) in USB w/Atsugi NCC, position report over- the ground at the flight support facility at St. 9130: MGJ: Royal Navy Faslane at 2122 inhead Hashimoto, FL190 Ops normal, ETA Petersburg, Florida. (RP -MD) RTTY 75/340 w/CARB. (MADX-MD) Royal Atsugi 1923 India. (IJ-NZ) 14338.5:Unid, presumed BAA Beijing Navy Faslane, G w/RTTY 75/850 sending 11228: ROMEO BRAVOAdventure w/synoptic weather, all msgs from "BABJ" "two numbers and a letter groups" at 0130. Network International (ANI) Puntas Arenas (Beijing) in RTTY 850/50 at 0945. (JD -UK) (RP2-TX) Chile at 0605 calling Patriot Hills Antarctica. 14396.5: WGY9501, FEMA MERS, Bothell, 9260: NIGHTHAWK 81 and NIGHTHAWK SAFAIR 845 (sounded like) and ANI Puntas WA at 1650. KSZ86, National Telecommuni- 91 at 2053. REACH7616calling Arenas Chile at 0902 w/8 POB, give a call cationCoordinationNetwork,(NTCN) NIGHTHAWK 91 at 2134. Earlier when you have VHF contact w/Patriot Hills. Kansas City, MO at 1708. KHA946, NASA, NIGHTHAWK 81 calling NIGHTHAWK 82. (IJ-NZ) New Orleans, LA at 1814 on SHARES chan- (JLM-KY) All in USB. 11282:San Francisco (MWARA CEP- nel 2. KAF43, DOE, Tonopah, NV at 1820. 9262: Unid, in RTTY 250/50 w/many "i"s sent 1/CEP-2) at 0416 w/unidentified aircraft SITE 1, NG Relay Station, McConnellsburg, as "1;" uses code -32 instead of normal letter - switching to 5547. San Francisco at 2335 PA and AFA3HY, USAF MARS at 2104. shift; one heading included "m 1 n 1 sterstwa w/aircraft. (RP -MD) All in USB. WGY9401, FEMA, OH at 1619. KPS396, oboroni ukra 1 ni. . ." Presumed Ukrainian 11430: HMF55, KCNA Pyongyang at 0957 COTHEN, MS at 1621. KNZ20, NTCN, diplo at 1830. (They were definitely sent that in RTTY 75/210 w/RYs andcalltape. Atlanta, GA at 1621. WGY911, FEMA, way- figure -shift 1 code -32 every time). (JD - (MADX-MD) Maynard, MA at 1622. WGY9410, FEMA, UK) ("ml nlsterstwa oboroni ukral ni" trans- 11455: MARQUEZ: Unid unit Colombian VA at 1623. KNY65, NTCN, MD at 1627. lates as Ukrainian Ministry of Defense - Navy at 1350 in ALE clg RADGENA 1: Unid KLB48. WGY9452, FEMA, NE at 1635. Probably correct in assuming a Diplomatic unit Colombian Navy. (MADX-MD) KOG93, FBI, Salt Lake City, UT at 1639. Net, although you can't rule out the Ukrainian 11460: Executive 1 Foxtrot (C-20, 89th ALW KNY80, NTCN, Ft. Wayne, IN at 1745. MOD - Ed) Andrews w/First family member aboard) at WGY9022, FEMA, US Virgin Islands and 9270: Mossad (E10) numbers stn call-up 1701 in USB w/Andrews in radio check. Had WGY943, State EOC, Charleston, WV at VLB2 at 0546 in AM. (SD -AU) switched here from 11.175. (RP -MD) 1940. AA7XA, U.S. Army, unknown loca- 9320: SAM 206 and Andrews AFB at 1826 in 12057: NGBIO, National Guard Bureau, tion, WGY916 Mobile, FEMA, Denton, TX, USB. (JLM-KY) Montgomery, AL, NGB19, St. Augustine, FL, WGY901, FEMA, Maynard, MA at 2045 10233.5: STA, ANG St. Augustine at 1259 in and NGB54, Nashville, TN at 2210 in USB w/check-ins. All in USB. (JLM) ALE clg FFT: ANG Frankfort (poss). At 1303, and ALE. ALE calls BNA (Nashville), STA 14575: "RFGW," MFA Paris in I92 bd FEC- clg MGM: ANG Montgomery. (MADX-MD) (St. Augustine), and MGM (Montgomery). A w/5L grps addressed to SRZ (Fr Embassy, 10386.5: GYU, RN Gibraltar in Picc-6 single (JLM-KY) Warsaw) at 1005. (JD -UK) channel w/"QBF' tape at 1145. (JD -UK) 12101: S12, Swedish Embassy, Bogota 1248 14968: Unid at 2042 in USB poss lonosonde 10588: WGY916: FEMA Denton, TX at 2038 w/sounding call. Heard at 1245, SO4: Swedish pulses. Never heard this type before .. . six in USB wkg unid FEMA sta. (MARX -MD) MFA (?) clg S51: Swedish Embassy Teheran. buzzer -tones centered on 14968, repeated pat- WGY912, FEMA, Berryville, VA and Never seen SAMO4 before. Anyone have an tern apx 8 times before QRT. (MADX-MD) ARTISTIC STYLE at 1932 in USB w/phone ident? At 1252, S86: Swedish Embassy 15000: Unid, two -channel Piccolo, carrier patch for ARTISTIC STYLE by WGY912 to Mexico City clg S84: Swedish Embassy, 15000.0; Ch 1 15000.51 idling, Ch 2 15000.91 APPALOOSA FARM. H151925 message Washington, D.C. then into QPSK modem. crypto - what was that about a guard -band for passed. Moved here (F27) from 10493.0 All in ALE. (MADX-MD) standard frequency stations at 1415. (JD -UK) (F26). (JLM-KY) 12225: S94: Swedish Embassy Guatemala 15088: 1503: USCG HC -130H at 2115 in 10608: CESYP, Colombian Navy Special City at 1042 w/sounding call. At 1050, S91: USB wkg CAMSLANT. 1503 is going into Command San Andres and Providencia Swedish Embassy Lima w/sounding call. At Borinquen following in-flight trouble. Adv Islands at 0045 clg CARMA: Unid Colombian 1053,S12:SwedishEmbassyBogota three landing gear down and locked, w/4th gear Navy. At 2150 COVENAS: Unid Colombian w/sounding call. At 1054, 1058, and 1102, indicating that it remains up, although visual Navy clg RADGENA: Unid Colombian S84: Swedish Embassy Washington, D.C. clg observation indicates that it is down. At 2126, Navy, then into ANDVT and CLOVER -2000 S91: Swedish Embassy Lima. At 1104, S84: 1503 reports "on deck" at Borinquen, prob- BPSM. Both in ALE. (MADX-MD) Swedish Embassy Washington DC wkg SI2: lem resolved. (MADX-MD) 10643: Unid Counting Station (E5) numbers Swedish Embassy Bogota then into QPSK 15642: KGD34, NCC, Arlington, VA at 1800 stn call-up, 428 count 211 monitored at 2006 modem. At 1108, S93: Swedish Embassy in USB looking for DLA303 and 303A. in AM. (SD -AU) Havana w/soundingcall.AllinALE. Possible Defense Logistics Agency frequen- 10762: Unid, Spanish Lady (V2) numbers stn (MADX-MD) cy. (JLM-KY) in progress at 0606 in AM. (SD -AU) 12581: LSD836, Argentina Radio, ARG in 15851: FAAZLA, ARTCC Los Angeles at 10780: STARGATE (JSTARS E -8C SITOR B w/ tfc list and wx at 0100. (RP2-TX) 1836 w/sounding call. At 1839, FAAMRB: 93ACW/93TS aft -end crew) wkg Cape Radio 13152:Trafficlistforvariousvessels, ARTCC Martinsburg w/sounding call. At at 1543 w/pp to DSN#497-#### Robins AFB announced was standing by for traffic at 0107, 1847, FAAZJX: ARTCC Jacksonville clg 157. Raymond 19 CP. Passes formatted flight began wkg unheard and Unid vessel on chan- At 1851, FAAZMP: ARTCC Minneapolis report. LIBERTY STAR (Space Shuttle Solid nel 1226 at 0109. (SW -IN) (This was proba- w/sounding call. All in ALE. (MADX-MD) Rocket Booster Recovery Vessel) clg Cape bly WLO, Mobile Radio - Ed) 15962: MAMMA BEAR clg OIL CAN on Radio at 1515. Trying to reach BRD (Booster 13155: TRICYCLE w/message of 30 charac- Z250, "req they authenicate" at 0046. (MF-OH) recovery Director) and FREEDOM STAR ters at 2156 in USB. Open microphone also, 16253: Unid, French diplo in 192 bd FEC-A 76 / POP'COMM / April 2000 Scan Our Web Site w/apchat in French "receiving nothing - 19363: NAR, U.S. Navy, Key West, FL, monitored at 1730 in RTTY 75/850 w/test please move to 52 - QAP 52" monitored at w/120/576 wefax from 1200-2300 // 15781. tape. (MADX-MD) 1120. (JD -UK) Around 2300, change to 7870 and 7398, until 22603:PPR, Rio, Brazil w/CW marker from 16808: SPA, Gdynia Radio, POL in SITOR B around 1200. (RP2-TX) 2220-2238. (RMC-CA) witfc list at 1650. (RP2-TX) 19530: Unid, RTTY 75/850 QBF tape w/no 22610:CLA, Habana, Cuba in CW from 2229 16811: CBV, Playa Ancha Radio, CHL in ID at 1000. (JD -UK) Unid 75/850 RTTY-2230. (RMC-CA) SITOR B w/wx at 1900. (RP2-TX) FOXES at 1800. (RP2-TX) 23190: Unid, 192 bd FEC-A w/5L grps, 17138: LYL: Klaipeda Radio at 1605 in 19964: Aruba 291 calling Miami Radio looked like French diplo but no ID or clues RTTY 50/170 w/New Years TGs in Russian. (LDOC) w/no response. Gives position asseen at 1040. (JD -UK) (IklADX-MD) over Illinois at 1824 in USB. (RP -MD) 27647:UNID, prob U.S. military at 1609 in 17214: LOR, Argentine Navy Radio, Puerto 20609: HBD20, MFA Berne Switzerland at USB w/lonosonde pulses. (MADX-MD) ARG w/RTTY 75/170 at 2315 in 0902 in ARQ w/5LGs. (IJ-NZ) Si %%/sports, 5FG at 0045. (RP2-TX) 20958:S93: Swedish Embassy, Havana at 17940: Collins -Cedar Rapids ( LDOC) at 1905 1550 w/sounding call. At 1605, S92: Swedish in USB w/Trans-Meridian 906 in pp w/Trans- Embassy Managua w/sounding call. At 1608, This month's contributors: (ALS) Allen Meridian Op's w/arrangements for pick-up S94: Swedish Embassy, Guatemala City Stern, Florida; (AG) Alan Gale, UK; (BF) and transport of extra flight crew members. w/sounding call.At 1626 S86: Swedish Bill Farley, New Mexico; (DS2) Dwight ( RP -MD) Embassy Mexico City w/sounding call. At Simpson, Wisconsin; (11) Ian Julian, NZ; 18183.8: Presumed MFA Algiers COQ -8 clg 1630,SI2:SwedishEmbassyBogota (JD) John Doe, UK; (JLM) Jack Metcalf, Harare, Lagos, and "Ndjam;"/opchat in FF at w/sounding call. All in ALE. (MADX-MD) Kentucky; (JK) John Kasupski, New 430. (JD -UK) 21985:Aircraft (SS) w/ground station (SS) 04413: Unid, FAPSI station in RTTY 500/75 passing various checkpoints and ETA to York; (MADX) MidAtlanticDXer, Mary- in QSO w/17473. Not heard starting, and link Havana of 2210, Ground station passes wx land; (MF) Mike Fink, Ohio; (MR) Mike number not copied at 0930. (JD -UK) forecast for Havana at 1819 in USB. Rasmussen, Minnesota; (RM) Robert 19131: FLINT 411 (DEA aircraft) at 1348 22377:GKE7, Portishead Radio, UK in Montgomery, Pennsylvania;(RMC) w/Atlas (DEA contract facility, Iowa) report- SITOR Marker w/CW ID from 1535-1945. Roland McCormick, Georgia; (RB) Rick ing airborne from BLUEGILL 200 (San Juan (RMC-CA) Baker, Ohio; (RP) Ron Perron, Maryland; PR) enroute to FANDANG0100 ( unlocated). 22383.5: WLO,Mobile Radio at 1739 inARQ Flight time 1:30. (RP -MD) ATLAS passing wkg KHRC: MV Matsonia (22,224dwt, 713' (RP2) Ron Prestridge, Texas; (SD) Simon tfc to LONGHORN from HARDROCK, con- cargo vsl). (MADX-MD) Denneen, Aus; (SI) Sean Ingram, VI; and cerning test pilot at 1926. (MF-OH) 22537:FUF, French Forces Fort de France (SW) Sue Wilden, Indiana. Getting Started in :.PettingStarted in Ham Radio - Packet -De -mystify am R; How to select equipment. packet. Info on making )i-izor Step- antennas, bands, use contacts, bulletin boards, by-step instructions repeater stations, networks, satellites. for the prospective grounding, basic soldering. ham on how to get Getting Started in Getting Started in involved. Intro to VHF. Amateur Satellites - Repeater usage, packet, How ops set up satellites and more exotic stations. Locate and $19.95 each - track ham satellites. VHF op modes. ion Buy more and save! Getting Started Getting Started in Buy 2 or 3 for $17.95 each DXing- Top DXers Contesti- Advice Buy 4 to 6 for $15.95 each share experiences with and op tipsfrom Ken Buy all 7 for your Club for equipment, antennas, Wolf. K1EA. K1AR and op skills and QSLing. others! only $99.95!! 11 Name Qty Getting Started in Ham Radio Getting Started in Contesting Address Getting Started in VHF Ham Radio Horizons Getting Started in DXing Total Videos X $ City Getting Started in Packet Radio =$ Getting Started in Ham Shipping/ handling $ State Zip Satellites Total Also available in PAL format. U.S. and possessions - add $4 shipping/handling. 'FDrr S/H on orders $50 and over. Foreign - shipping/handling charges are calculated by order weight & destination. 'A $4 credit will be applied for Foreign orders over $50. Credit Card No. Expiration date 40 12 KE2 Method of paymentr] Check EjMoney Order 1jVisa [] MasterCard EDiscover 1 American Express IMERERV 'IMPRIHRTW' CO Communications, Inc., 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY11801/516-681-2922; Fax 516-681-2926 tant to know those basic formulas, but are Tuning In (from page 4) memorized to pass the test. Just like the 5 -wpm code test maximum, we need tothey important enough to be on a test? room at night has become a ritual of work- take a hard look at these questions andPerhaps, we're wrestling with ourselves, ing with Gordon West's book, Amateurmake them more relevant. struggling with the reality that, like it or Radio General Class FCC License I'd say that most hams are pretty goodnot, most hams buy, rather than build, Preparation (41h Edition). Get this book with a soldering iron, but how many hamstheir own antennas. Most hams have never opened that shiny new rig. If we today! do you know that could tell you the for- There are some really good topics andmula - from memory - for figuring the did, we couldn't service it anyway! questions in the pool; lots of things every length of the driven element on a yagi? I'd like to see questions on conducting ham must know. Then there are othersPlease don't get me wrong: I like build-nets - perhaps a round -table test with that, putting it bluntly, will have to being antennas, and obviously it's impor-other hams going for the next higher grade, working with coax, PL -259s, "N" connectors, NiCds, and other hands-on Our Readers Speak Out meaningful topics. Food for thought: A few months ago, I was at a hamfest and (from page 6) this ham (an Extra Class) was selling all Amateur astronomer: Lazy because hereceiver. The only radio receiver theykinds of antenna poles, guy wire, and doesn't work at Mt. Wilson Observatory. may have is a shirt pocket -sized AM/FMshack accessories. We began talking Backyard gardener: Lazy because she radio, and this must be bought in theabout the hobby and the topic of CBers only grows perennials. prison and paid for from their earnings ofcame up. Another ham who was walking Army Two -Star General: Lazy because40 cents per day worked. by stopped and added his two cents worth. he isn't the Chief of Staff. So, being in jail is much harder on"What's interesting about CBers is that General Mobile Radio Service opera-radio people like us than on ordinary they have lots of fun with radio and some- tor: Lazy because he isn't a ham. people. I am not knocking the Oregontimes do more with their equipment and Extra Class Amateur Operator: LazyDepartment of Corrections. I can imag-antennas than some hams." It was quiet because he isn't a broadcast engineer. ine good reasons for this regulation. I canfor a few seconds as we thought about his Get the point, Ray? only suggest we obey the law and keepunexpected comment. out of jail. It's getting late and we're getting our David Crystalfirst taste of winter. Time to go downstairs A Big 10-4! Israeland study Gordon's book. I've still got a year to master the code. Dear Editor: Dear David: I applaud, cheer, and raise my glass to At least keep out of jail in Oregon! Jesse Risley, SSB-103, who wrote an Buzzing Your Mailbox: Plane excellent Letter to the Editor in the Sense Is Coming! November '99 issue concerning his opin- Y2K Compliant! ions on the debates over 11 meter CB. Say that title aloud: You just know our Being involved in CB, SWL, and ham Dear Editor: next topic has nothing whatsoever to do radio monitoring for 32 years and a Your January 2000 "Tuning In" makes with anything going on in Congress! A Pop'Commsubscriber for 13 years, I feelsense to me. . .I made my preparationsspecial welcome to Bill Hoefer who will Jesse's letter is one of the best I have everand have purchased a jug of Bushmillstake the controls of our new "Plane Sense" read concerning 11 meters. good Irish whiskey from County Antrim,column in our next issue of Pop'Comm. His unbiased, no name calling, no fin- Ireland ... and another jug of Jack Daniels Bill is an Air Force veteran, having ger pointing approach to this subject isfor a backup. Happy Y2K. served from 1972-1982 at Patrick Air certainly an example that should be fol- Terry JonesForce Base, Florida; Columbus Air Force lowed by all. Just think: If all the energy Plankinton, SDBase, Mississippi; Tempelhof Flughafen that is spent on writing negative letters with the Berlin Air Route Traffic Control over 11 meters could be channeled into Center; Sembach Air Base, Germany; cleaning up the bands, we would really CB Problems and Hurlburt Field, Florida. (It certainly have something! 73s, is a small world; Bill and I were in Berlin Paul Specht, SSB-62EDear Editor: at the same time in the late '70s). I've been with Popular Communica- He has worked air traffic control in tions since 1987. I always learn a lot. OK,Albany, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; and Out Of The Ordinary this bit about CB trouble - there is too Grand Island, Nebraska. Currently, Bill is Circumstances much crap. I did have a CB license fromat the St. Petersburg Automated Flight 1979 to 1984. People get into high-pow-Service Station, Clearwater, Florida. He's Dear Editor: ered equipment - I am guilty also, butalso a member of the Civil Air Patrol and I have the distinction of being the only am not over 100 watts, plus the argumentsholds a Second Class Radiotelephone person who wrote to the prisoner in start. I always listen and don't get into it.license, as well as his ham call, KBOULJ. Oregon, Randell Alexander, after reading I'm also a scanner freak. Get a life, Like our other columnists, Bill will be his apology in your September issue. Hepeople! counting on YOU for aircraft monitoring informed me that all Oregon prisoners are Chet R. questions, photos, and even QSL cards. not allowed to have any shortwave Canastota, NYJoin him next month for "Plane Sense!" 78 / POP'COMM /April 2000 Scan Our Web Site a vertisers ADI/Premier 23 AOR USA, Inc 29 Am-Com 53 Advertising Rates: Non-commercial ads are 30 cents per word, including abbreviations and addresses; min- imum charge $6.00 per issue. Ads from firms offering commercial products or services are $1.00 per word; Alpha Delta Communications, Inc. 21 minimum charge $20.00 per issue. Boldface words are $1.20 each (specify which words). Leading key words Antique Electronic Supply 69 set in all caps at no additional charge. All ads must be prepaid in full at time of insertion; a 5% discount is offered for prepaid 6 time insertions. All ads must be typewritten double spaced. Antique Radio Classified 20 Approval: All ad copy is subject to Publisher's approval and may be modified to eliminate references to Atomic Time, Inc 33 equipment and practices which are either illegal or otherwise not within the spirit or coverage scope of the magazine. Bill's CB & 2 -Way Radio Ser 35 Closing Date: The 10th day in the third month preceding date of publication. Because the advertisers and C. Crane Company Coy III equipment contained in Readers' Market have not been investigated, the Publisher of Popular Communications cannot vouch for the merchandise listed therein. Direct all correspondence and ad copy C & S Sales, Inc 47 to: Attention: Alycia Nicholsen, PC Readers' Market, 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801. CQ Amateur Radio Calendars 34 CRB Research 15,35 Computer Aided Technologies 43 RADIO STUFF SALE: Books, magazines, club bul- SCANNER CRYSTALS FOR SALE. Send a long DWM Communications 69 letins, radio station items, old time radio & more. SASE for list and price to G.E. Jones, P.O. Box 467, $1 for list. G. Dexter, 213 Forest St., Lake Geneva, Buckeye Lake, OH 43008. Drake, R.L. Company 25 WI 53147. Durham Radio Sales & Ser., Inc 50 Y2K EDITION RCI 2950/2970/2990 SERVICE & Everhardt Antennas 49 CB Tricks Books, Tricks I, II, or III. $19.95 each. MODIFICATION HANDBOOK. 160+pgs Repairs, tune-ups, amplifiers. Send Money Order to: Schematics/MicWiring/Parts/etc.$38, HR2510/ Firestik Antenna Company 59 Medicine Man, POB 37, Clarksville, AR 72830. Lincoln Hdbk $27, Spitfire/AH-100 Hdbk $17, Flightline Engineering, Inc. 35 Galaxy Hdbk $19. Radios & Accessories Catalog $3. MAXTECH, BOX 8086, NY, NY 10150, GRUNDIG 11-14 GROUND IT Ham StationGrounding 718-547-8244. Accessories. J. Martin Systems 35 Hilltop Avenue, Ham Radio Outlet 9 Stamford, CT 06907. Voicemail/Fax 203-461-8768 LEARN CODE BY HYPNOSIS - /n the early days of Citizen's Bandtime using his call sign and calling "base It probably wouldn't have been so bad radio, when hand-held walkie-talkies to unit 2," and knew he was using the big if the provost martial or prepositional were a novelty, my dad thought we guns; four enormous, tube -driven watts,article hadn't been shopping in the next should own a pair. Their $14.95 price out -powering me by more than 15dB andaisle. My cart was whisked away, I was (each) was quite a bargain, consideringoutgunning my antenna by probably sixushered out the automatic door and MPs they were hand -wired on printed circuitmore. I collapsed my antenna and droveconverged on my dad's conspicuous '66 boards with discrete transistor circuitry. home. Dodge Charger with the funny antenna The metal cases with grey -wrinkle finish in the center of the roof. My hair still looked pretty impressive. "I was always a kid who hadn't fully recovered from my boot - I used up the first three or four sets ofdemanded proof, and because camp haircut at the time, but my dad batteries determining how far I could of that stubborn quality, I often handled the situation quite well. "Here's communicate between the two units. Aheard my dad say 'Now do you my station and operator's license. If friend lived two air -miles away, but onbelieve me?"' you have any questions, you can verify the side of a mountain. I could see his thisinformation with the FCC in house from mine, and we were able to Gettysburg," he said. "work" one another pretty well. The spec I was always a kid who demanded Well buckaroos, that provost participle sheet said the walkies would work "up toproof, and because of that stubborn qual- wasn't about to be buffaloed by some two miles," and we had achieved that ity, I often heard my dad say "Now do you slick commie -sympathizing civilian, par- range. Next was a mountain fifteen air -believe me?" Shortly after that, I joined ticularly someone blatantly spying on the miles away. I could see the top and much the Coast Guard, and with that came com- price of goat -innards. After quite a stern of the eastern side of it, and thought it missary privileges; a really great govern-lecture about the base being filled with should work just fine. I should have taken ment deal whereby you sign your lifesecret and top-secret information and a mirror with me. I listened intently, myaway for four years, agree to a complete-equipment (" ... and you keep that in your shiny 54 -inch telescoping antenna erectly different set of laws which include such commissary?" my father interrupted), we like the ears of a wise old hare. Nothing.phrases as " . .. by hanging" and " .. . were escorted off the post by a Jeep with I drove down the mountain to a friend'showever slight, is sufficient to constitutered flashing lights and told never to dark- house, explained myself, called my dadan offense," in exchange for a discount en their post again with our unauthorized on his phone and asked stupid questionson food and toilet articles. When I was radio equipment. ("Are you sure it was turned on?" "Is thehome on leave, I asked my dad to ride I enjoy recalling incidents such as this battery OK?" "Do you have it on chan-with me to a nearby Army base and we'd - it brings back the little, subtle thingsI nel A and not B?") My father patientlyget some bargain groceries while I was remember about my dad, like the look on answered "yes" to all my questions andhome. He wasn't allowed inside, and Ithat Aggravator -General's face when my told me once again that 100mW AM was was a bad shopper, so I ended up runningdad called him a "Pompous Twit," and just not going to cut it over a 15 -mile path. back out to the car asking if eel bladders saluted smartly as we drove off with our Oh, he of little faith. were a good deal at 39 cents a pound, and military escort. Pompous Twit. Yeah, I Back up the hill, I called and calledit took us forever to fill a couple of bagsstill like the sound of that. again. Finally, I heard him, loud and clear, with bargains. just asI knew I would. "Finally," I Next time, we took a walkie talkie. I answered. "That's better. What did youwould take it into the commissary and A personal note this month to "I -know - do? Why wasn't it working before?" Ihe'd wait in the car, using the mobile unit,more -than -you -do: " I was not surprised asked him. but with its power output switched down when you chided me that electricity trav- Nothing. to 100mW. The year was 1966, and you els at the speed of light. I'd always C'mon!," I yelled, "I heard you justmight remember that CB radio was notthought that stuff moved pretty fast. fine. Whatever you did, do it again." well known in those days. At least not by Heavy, brass sounder -arms, however, are Nothing. For a moment, I thought I toothe Army. slowed by inertia and friction, and rarely might have been doing something wrong, By the time I realized I'd set the vol- exceed the speed of sound, let alone that but a quick check (battery, antenna, chan- ume too high, most everyone in the gov-of light. Even these floppy old ears can nel A) told me there weren't many mis- ernment grocery store had heard my dad hear the delay between a relay and the takes to be made. I heard him again, this say, "Naaah, we can do better at Acme." sounder it drives - BP BY BILL PRICE, N3AVY 80 / POP'COMM / April2000 Scan Our Web Site MAKING BROADCAST HISTORY...AGAIN 40 Introducingthe New Sangean ATS505 A Lot More For A Lot Less! 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