O, Nitoring a Publication of Game Enee + Rises
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 15, No. 8 August 1996 Your Personal Communications Source ) . o, nitoring A Publication of Game Enee + rises, ing ómß Thl o hone I We Eher 08 MT Reviews Drake SW -1 Air Force Goes to Zulu Plan o 33932 74654 s z Giant List of Fast Food Freqs www.americanradiohistory.com The offers All Mode Communications Decoding. 46L72. 11Hz UCH: 103.5 Hz CTCSS Mode 461.725 MHz )C,:. E4i' DCS Mode 461 . ''ç, MHz Nearfield Receiver _ High Speed FM Communications )TMF: 8003279912 sweeps range of 30MHz to 2GHz in less than one DTMF Mode second Two line character LCD displays Frequency and either. Additional Display Modes: All Mode Decoding (CTCSS, DCS, DTMF), LTR-Trunk- Latitude/Longitude Mode ing. Relative Signal Strength, Latitude and Longitude, or Signal Strength Mode FM Deviation with automatic backlight Deviation Mode NMEA -0183 GPS Interface provides tagging data with LTR -Trunking Mode location for mapping applications* CI -v compliant Serial Data Interface with both TTL and RS232C levels Frequency Recording Memory Register logs 500 frequencies with Time, Date, Latitude, and Longitude information Real -Time Clock/Calander with battery back -up Frequency Lock Out, Manual Skip, and Auto or Manual Ho capability Tape Control Output with Tape Recorder Pause control relay and DTMF Encoder for audio data recording INNOVATIVE PRODUCT Rotary Encoder for easy selection of menus for setup Internal Speaker, Audio earphone/headphone jack FOR A MODERN Miniature 8 -pin DIN Serial Interface port for PC connection PLANET Relative ten segment Signal Strength Bargraph Mode Numerical Deviation Mode with 1 -10kHz and 10- 100kHz ranges - - ODUCTORY PRICE Includes Built -in Rapid Charge NiCad Batteries with 8 hour.dischargë: time and a Universal Power Supply *Software for mapping applications is planned by third party Software Design Companies. Inquire about the availability and specific Companies to ortaet. '9 fE 800.327.5912 Ml 1 1lI !°40 1119 t I/0!ß iron . 116016.1- ll6Abs 111,i60I 11Pi I%as 5821 NE 14th Avenue Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 33334 Visa, MasterCard, C.O.D z'rices. and Specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. Tel: 9547712050 Fax: 9547712052 Internet: http:l/www.optoelectronics.com www.americanradiohistory.com C O N T E N T S nitoring PM Times- WI. 15, No.8 August 1996 HF Fax on a Shoestring 13 By Brian Webb If you already have a computer and a shortwave receiver with single M nitoring Times- sideband reception, the acquisition of JV -FAX software and construc- tion of a simple $7 circuit is all you need to view stunning weather fac- simile transmissions. If you like the idea of the shoestring investment, but are deterred by the do -it -your- self approach, Webb walks you through it. :: ü...h,il,, Scanning Galveston Island 20 By John Frazier Cover Story This city on an island is a popular vacation and retirement community, Wireless Weather providing plenty of activity for an avid scanner listener. Frazier gives good advice for any visitor to a new location on how to get up and scanning in the Information Network shortest possible time. By Ken Reitz one dramatic way to import Fast Food Smorgasbord 22 high -technology into your home By Bob Grove computer is to access the same datastream used by the National If you're DXing these frequencies, a good catch is Weather Service. The Emer- measured in feet rather than miles! Bob Grove, together gency Managers Weather In- with Bob Eisner and several others, has put together the formation Network (EM WIN) largest list we've seen of frequencies used for two -way is available by several different communications by the nation's fast food chains. means, depending upon your location and type of equip- Broadcasting Bedfellows ment. Once you're connected, 25 though, the sky's the limit! The By Richard A. Seifert story begins on page 9. Drake has been in the forefront more Cover photo copyright 1993 than once when it comes to designing a non - Warren Faidley /Weatherstock. intimidating shortwave receiver for the be- ginner. Their first effort was the SW -4A, custom -designed to be marketed to the au- dience of Radio New York Worldwide. That's what this tale is about. For a more modern story, turn the page. www.americanradiohistory.com Reviews: DEPARTMENTS Letters 4 Federal File 82 Communications 6 What Towers? Grove Expo Update 18 Satellite TV 84 Beginner's Corner 28 Repairing TVRO Gear "How can an everyday guy justify $100 Ham Station Experimenters Workshop 86 spending a thousand bucks on a radio ?" Scanning Report 30 LED Voltmeter asks sales. "How about offering an Bunking with Trunking Skylink 88 alternative ?...a receiver that offers Utility World 34 Wireless Web allocations & news worthy performance at a competitive It's Zulu Time Computers & Radio 90 price." Shortwave Broadcasting 38 AEA Pakratt and Log Windows "You mean kind of a `voiksradio'? A QSL Report 42 What's New 93 good basic circuit in a decent cabinet, English Lang SW Guide 43 Review: GAP Titan DX antenna with none of the frills ?" says engineer- 67 Club Circuit Magne Tests 98 ing. And so they did, and you can read Propagation Conditions 68 Drake SW1 the rest of the story on the Drake SW I in Below 500 kHz 70 Scanning Equipment 100 Magne Tests. Is it Sound or Radio? Scanner / Tape Recorder Control In other reviews this month, Scanning American Bandscan 72 Antenna Topics 102 Equipment's Bob Parnass talks about DX Hints & Tidbits EME: Ultimate Weak Signal DX audio recording for unattended monitor- Outer Limits 74 Radio Reflections 106 ing, featuring a look under the hood of Pirates Heard in Eur & Asia SWLing in the Early 40s BMI's Nitelogger. Meanwhile, Bob On the Ham Bands 76 Ask Bob 108 Grove struggles with assembly of the Building QRP MHz vertical Solar Batteries GAP "Titan DX," a 3.5 -30 Special Events Calendar 77 Stock Exchange 110 with no radials, grounds, or guy wires. DeMaw's Workbench 78 Closing Comments 112 He pronounces the effort worth it, on One Feedline Three Antennas - Random Reflections page 97. Plane Talk 80 Airport Ground Control MONITORING TIMES (ISSN: 0889 -5341) is published monthly Subscription Rates: $23.95 in US; $48.50 Canada air; and by Grove Enterprises, Inc., Brasstown, North Carolina, USA. $85.95 foreign air elsewhere, US funds. Label indicates last Copyright © 1996. Periodicals postage pending at Brasstown, NC, issue of subscription. See page 99 for additional information. and additional mailing offices. Short excerpts may be reprinted with appropriate credit. Complete articles may not be reproduced without Postmaster: permission. Send address changes to Monitoring Times, P.O. Box 98, Brasstown, NC 28902 -0098. Address: P.O. Box 98, 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown, NC 28902 -0098 Disclaimer: Telephone: (7041837 -9200 While Monitoring Times makes an effort to ensure the information it is it be held liable for the contents. The reader Fax: 17041 837 -2216 124 hours) publishes accurate, cannot for performing modification or construction projects Internet Address: www.grove.net or mt @grove.net; assumes any risk in Monitoring Times. Opinion or conclusions expressed are not Editorial: [email protected] published necessarily the view of Monitoring Times or Grove Enterprises. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted. SASE if material is to be returned. Owners Editorial Staff Bob and Judy Grove Frequency Manager .. Gayle Van Horn What's New? .. .. Larry Miller Publisher Frequency Monitors .. David Datko, Loyd Van Horn Skylink ...Wayne Mishler, KG5BI .. Bob Parnass, AJ9S Bob Grove, WA4PYQ Program Manager .. Jim Frimmel Scanning Equipment.. Beginner's Corner .. T.J. Arey, WB2GHA Satellite TV .. .. Ken Reitz, KS4ZR .. .. KR6A Editor Plane Talk .. Jean Baker, KIN9DD Antenna Topics W. Clem Small, . .. .. W9WI Rachel Baughn, KE4OPD Scanning Report .. Richard Barnett American Bandscan Doug Smith, Computers and Radio .. John Catalano SW Broadcast logs .. .. Gayle Van Horn Art Director Below 500 kHz .. Kevin Carey, WB2QMY QSL Corner .. .. Gayle Van Horn . Utility World .. .. Larry Van Horn, N5FPW John Bailey Experimenter's Wkshp .. Bill Cheek .. Propagation .. Jacques d'Avignon Outer Limits .. George Zeller Advertising Svcs. DeMaw's Workbench .. Doug DeMaw, W 1 FB Digital Digest .. Bob Evans Beth Leinbach Federal File .. John Fulford, WA4VPY should be (704) 389 -4007 Correspondence to columnists SW Broadcasting .. Glenn Hauser mailed c/o Monitoring Times via e-mail On the Ham Bands .. Ike Kerschner, N3IK Business Manager ([email protected]) or via post office. Any Magne Tests .. Lawrence Magne request for a personal reply should be KE4TAM Davis, . Kelly Communications .. Larry Miller accompanied by an SASE. www.americanradiohistory.com Scanners /CB/Weather Stations El COMMUNICATIONS Bearcat Scanners Monitor police, fire, weather, marine, medical, aircraft ELECTRONICS INC. and other transmissions with your Bearcat scanner. Bearcat 9000XLT-Z base /mobile $357.95 NewPr+odueLsAvailabie Bearcat -Z handheld Bearcat® 9000XLT -Z Radio Scanner 3000XLT $333.95 Now, purchase your police radio scanners, digital Bearcat 890XLT-Z base /weather alert $222.95 Mfg. suggested list price $769.95 /Special $357.95 voice loggers, CB /GMRS radios, VHF transceivers, 500 Channels 20 banks Alpha numeric display Bearcat 860XLT-Z 100 channel base $141.95 weather forecasting equipment and more directly Turbo Scan VFO Control 10 Priority channels Bearcat 76OXLT-Z base /mobile $182.95 from Communications Electronics Inc. Your free Auto Store Auto Recording Reception counter Bearcat 560XLA-Z base /mobile $72.95 Frequency step resolution 5, 12.5 & 25 KHz. fax -on-demand catalog is instantly available by Bearcat 220XLT-Z handheld /SPECIAL S199.95 Size: 10-1/2" Wide x 7-1/2" Deep x 3 -3/8" High calling 313- 663 -8888 from your fax machine. Frequency Coverage: Bearcat 178XLT -Z base with weather alert$119.95 25.000 -549.995 MHz., 760.000.