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Vol. 15, No. 11 November 1996 U.S. $3.95 Can. 56.25 Your Personal ('ouuaunications Source Printed in the United States 11 i 3932 74654 8 PER I O D I C A_ www.americanradiohistory.com tel It's a counter, a recorder, a "Two -Line I NMEA-0183 GPS displays fregae+ Interface, -Connect your GPS to the switches between Xplorer for Mapping DCS, DTMF, Signal Streit applications. Numerical Deviation. The New Xplorer Test Receiver. Ide for any two-way communications testing or monitoring. The Xplorer is a value packed performer integrating the functions of a e CTCSS, DCS, and DTMF Decoder, Frequency Recorder, Nearfield Receiver and more into one hand-held unit. No more guessing when programming a frequency for Built-in Speaker. All fit monitoring -the Xplorer captures nearfield quencies received ar frequencies off the air from 30MHz - 2GHz demodulated for instar monitoring. in less than 1 second. The New Xplorer; pro- viding the power of handheld portability with state of the art functionality and performance. _and the list iríctrurmnt you will ever NE1-D. & Specifications) "Easy touch control pad. Fl & I'. (Features keys control all Xplorer lino -Frequency Lock Out, Manual Skip, and Auto or Manual Hold tions. Hold, Skip, Store Internal Speaker, Audio Earphone/Headphone Jack and Lockout all enabled Built-in PC Interface, PC Connection Cable and Download Software included through the keypad. Relative ten segment Signal Strength Bargraph Optimum Maximized Sensitivity for increased nearfield distance reception Tape Control Output with Tape Recorder Pause control relay and DTMF Encoder for audio data recording High speed FM Communications Nearfield Receiver, sweeps 30MHz - 2GHz in less than 1 second Two line LCD displays Frequency and either CTCSS, DCS, DTMF, Deviation or Signal Strength EA-0183 GPS Interface provides tagging data with location for mapping applications quency Recording Memory Register logs 500 frequencies with Time, Date, Number of Hits and *tude/Longitude. (Latitude & Longitude coordinates are only displayed in memory when used with GPS) ime Clock/Calendar with lithium battery back-up in Rapid Charge NiCad Batteries with 5 hour discharge time and Power Supply included erical Deviation Display with 1-10kHz and 10-100kHz ranges scoping Whip full range Antenna included CTORY DIRECT ORDER LINE 800.327.5912 imerruirmiumm r/ -r' a ammi!.® v&.. %o i i`vri mr I_- 1 NE 14 enue Ft Lauderdale, FL 33334 Tel: 954-771-2050 Fax: 954-771-2052 Visa MasterCard C.O.D. Check Out pecifications are subject to change without notice or obligation Web Sit act Optoelectronics for mapping software available opWW10 www.americanradiohistory.com CONTENTS )M® nitoring Times Vol. 15, No. 11 November 1996 New Olympic Technology 12 By Bennett Liles In the year of the Olympics, we just had to wrap up with one more look back at the Games. After all the hype about SlMppi-g wIM Vour Soesmor new technology, what solutions worked -f A.nerioé s McgeMolMs and which need more work? Which new technologies will become a part of the Games and/or a part of our lives for years to come? Some of the answers may sur- prise you. Insomniac's Guide to Broadcasters on the Net 18 Cover Story, By Gayle Van Horn Scanning the MT' s Frequency Manager takes advantage of a sleepless night to "surf' the net for international broadcaster's web MegaMall sites. Our readers are the beneficiary as she provides a short By Chuck Penson description and rates each site on its value and attractiveness. One of the main attractions inside Minnesota's Mall of America is LEGO's Imagination Center, brim- Get in the Mediumwave Loop 22 ming with color and incredible LEGO By Philip Gebhardt block creations. It also houses "Camp Snoopy"-a full-size amusement The next few months offer the best conditions of the year for broadcast park with roller coaster and seven - band listening. story Ferris wheel. The sheer size of Anyone who gets hooked on seeking out and logging these this mega -mall is mind -boggling, re- stations will eventually want to buy or build a loop antenna. Gebhardt quiring the coordination and services addresses what makes the loop such an effective solution, and how you can of a small city. try out a loop without investing a fortune. Like all cities, it provides its share of scanning opportunities. Thanks to a group effort, our author sleuthed out the frequencies to plug into your Face -Off: ICOM's R-8500 vs. AOR's AR -5000 26 scanner in advance of your visit. Story begins on page 8. By Bob Grove Not interested in mingling with the mega -crowds November 29th? These two long-awaited, top -of -the -line, wide -frequency -coverage re- Any mall anywhere can provide ceivers finally arrived at MT headquarters within days of each other, so Bob plenty of entertainment-see the Grove took the opportunity to pit them against each other, head -to -head. Scanning Report on page 30 for more Later, we'll look at each one in its turn, but here are his personal first on mall scanning. impressions. Cover photo courtesy LEGO Sys- tems, Inc. www.americanradiohistory.com Reviews: DEPARTMENTS Perhaps the surprise of the season is Drake's SW8, which has experienced Letters 4 Plane Talk 76 so many enhancements it deserves to be Communications 6 VHF/UHF NAVAIDS called an "SW8A" (even though such a PCS Front Line 28 Federal File 78 model doesn't exist). If you haven't Crossing the Cellular Divide Who's Who without a Program given a serious look at this Scanning Report 30 Satellite TV 80 portatop, Magne Mall Call The SBCA Show: Futurewatch says it deserves a Utility World 34 Experimenters Workshop 82 second look. See Marine HF Radio Scaling Down ProbeScope from Radio Shack page 92. Global Forum 38 Computers & Radio 84 If you always wanted an oscillo- Report 42 News Bytes; ACT -1 ACARS decoder scope on your bench, but could never QSL 43 afford one, let Bill Cheek introduce you English Lang SW Guide Special Events/Club Circuit 86 to ProbeScope-a small, computer - Propagation Conditions 63 What's New 88 interfaced, probe -type scope from Beginner's Corner 64 Magne Tests 92 Radio Shack (p. 82). Beyond the Fringe Drake's Secret "SW8A" ACARS decoder? Yet another Below 500 kHz 66 Scanning Equipment 94 Universal Radio has introduced the Portable Pick-ups Build a Mobile Radio Mount ACT -I, and John Catalano finds it yet American Bandscan 68 another-and a very valid-approach Antenna Topics 96 to decoding these aircraft communica- What's in a Name? Is That Really an Antenna? tions addressing and reporting Outer Limits 70 Radio Reflections 98 messages. See p. 84. New Name for Nigerian Clandestine Real Radios Glow in the Dark On the Ham Bands 72 Ask Bob 100 The Heath HW-9 Opto Xplorer Cellular Restoration DeMaw's Workbench 74 Stock Exchange 102 Working with Toroids Closing Comments 104 Reporting what you overheard 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 paid at Brasstown, NC, and issue of subscription. See page 103 for more information. 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: makes an effort to ensure the information it Telephone: (704)837-9200 While Monitoring Times publishes is accurate, it cannot be held liable for the contents. The reader Fax: (704) 837-2216 (24 hours) assumes any risk for performing modification or construction projects Internet Address: www.grove.net or [email protected]; published in Monitoring Times. Opinion or conclusions expressed ore not Editorial: [email protected] 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 ... Larry Miller Frequency Manager .. Gayle Van Horn Communications Publisher Frequency Monitors .. David Datko, Loyd Van Horn What's New? . ... Larry Miller Parnass, AJ9S Bob Grove, WA4PYQ Program Manager .. Jim Frimmel Scanning Equipment. ... Bob . Ken KS4ZR .. T.J. Arey, WB2GHA Satellite TV ... Reitz, Editor Beginner's Corner . ... Small, KR6A K.I.S. Radio .. Richard Arland, K7YHA Antenna Topics W. Clem Rachel Baughn, KE4OPD . ... Smith, W9WI Plane Talk .. Jean Baker, KIN9DD American Bandscan Doug Broadcast Logs .... Gayle Van Horn Editor Scanning Report .. Richard Barnett SW Assistant Corner .... Gayle Van Horn Computers and Radio .. John Catalano QSL Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Below 500 kHz .. Kevin Carey, WB2QMY Utility World .... PCS Front Line .... Dan Veeneman Art Director Experimenter's Wkshp .. Bill Cheek Limits .... George Zeller Propagation .. Jacques d'Avignon Outer John Bailey DeMaw's Workbench .. Doug DeMaw, WI FB Advertising Svcs. Digital Digest .. Bob Evans Correspondence to columnists should be Federal File . .. John Fulford, WA4VPY via Beth Leinbach mailed c/o Monitoring Times e-mail SW Broadcasting . .. Glenn Hauser ([email protected]) or via post office. Any (704) 389-4007 On the Ham Bands . .. Ike Kerschner, N3IK request for a personal reply should be . .. Magne Business Manager Magne Tests Lawrence accompanied by an SASE. Kelly Davis, KE4TAM www.americanradiohistory.com Save big on monitoring radios Shortwave Radio Bearcat Scanners) al COMMUNICATIONS Monitor fire, police, weather, marine, medical, aircraft ELECTRONICS INC. and other transmissions with your Bearcat scanner. Bearcat 9000XLT-Z base/mobile $357.95 New...radios available from CEI Bearcat 3000XLT-Z handheld $333.95 For over 27 years, thousands of radio monitoring Bearcat 89OXLT-Z base/weather alert $222.95 users have depended on communications gear Bearcat 860XLT-Z 100 channel base $141.95 from Communications Electronics.