Nitorin Cold War Eavésdroppiag: To: Eilroad Monitoring
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
US '3.95 Vol. 16, No. 2 February 1997 Can. '6.25 soy, r. ,41.. t nitorin Cold War Eavésdroppiag: to: eilroad Monitoring - W.:IdBuild a Radio r ;-r, J. `7'114.11!r t., . - ....*".:4!! _ t : :-.....E.,-.1;;.: - :;:..,1:',..:i.11,1,!..17::,';,'""' t, i-.: ; ' . '. '-y"F,,--,li-ify4ri-:41.' ._ ;,....,.:.,::. -='. : 7 ,, 7,1 .?:.^ s'.::' iii .111.:IF '; - s. r.t7 r .I:i;,-;75..P.:f-i! :'.:::. T7,....jil ,, ' - ..* 7:'!-. ' T I .1,. ir r.... .... ..1.: , -.,..., 4,,. -...:::. .;r xxxxxxxx3::txxxxxxxxx3-DIGIT 341 06/01/99 S280/868 H E MILLER U2 APARTMENT- 4C 250 S 900 E SALT LAKE CITY UT 84102-2341 0 I I, litt i t i i (lilt lilt I t 111111 t i it t t i t i t t ill o 33932 7465 .3 www.americanradiohistory.com ,.r - 1. %l t1}hrll t .' r -. -- ,. It's . counter, a recorder, a decoder.. Two -Line LCD displays fregue., switches between either DCS, DTMF, Signal Stren Numerical Deviation. (GPS and Mapping Software not included) The New Xplorer Test Receiver. Ideal for any two -way communications testing or monitoring. The Xplorer is a value packed performer integrating the functions of a 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 fre- monitoring -the Xplorer captures nearfield quencies received are frequencies off the air from 30MHz - 2GHz demodulated for instant 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 Inge ;ngtrurrpnt will ever NEED. & Specifications) -Easy touch control pad. FI & F2 (Features keys control all Xplorer Auc- 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 NMEA -0183 GPS Interface provides tagging data with location for mapping applications requency Recording Memory Register logs 500 frequencies with Time, Date, Number of Hits and titude/Longitude. (Latitude & Longitude coordinates are only displayed in memory when used with GPS) Time 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 lescoping Whip full range Antenna included CTORY DIRECT ORDER LINE 8003275912 Ih/ , vai.1615.%. \VI r 1\..1. nue Ft Lauderdale, FL 33334 Tel: 954 -771 -2050 Fax: 954 -771 -2052 Visa MasterCard C.O.D. Check Out Our pecifications are subject to change without notice or obligation Web Site: tact Optoelectronics for mapping software available op om www.americanradiohistory.com C O N T E N TS nitoring ()M® Times Vol. 16, No. 2 February 1997 There's Something About a Train 10 By Laura Ouarantiello Amtrak' s Flexliner train has been traveling around North America demonstrating its innovative features to the public. When it came through California last summer, our author found it a golden opportunity to get up to speed on monitoring the rails. The Flexliner wintered in Canada, but it returns to the U.S. in March. If you're new to railroad scanning, get a head start with Laura's list of frequencies. Menwith Hill Station 16 By Kenneth Bird Signal intelligence gathering took on a new intensity during the cold war. Demand for information created agencies such as the National Security Agency and the U.S. Army Security Agency. These two departments were the prime agencies behind the construction and Cover Story operation of Menwith Hill in Harrogate, England-one of several "listening stations" around the world. Although this is a retrospective into past history, Menwith Hill is still an operational An Ear to Indonesia site, though its listening targets have increasingly shifted from HF to satellite transmissions. By Arthur Cushen Signals from the Island of the Mutineers 20 Radio has been crucial in ham- By Leon Fletcher mering a nation out of the scattered islands of Indonesia. Most of Indo- Pitcairn Island -a small, stoney outcropping in the nesia is either water or mountains: midst of the vast Pacific -has earned its notoriety as the thus the importance of radio. Our refuge chosen by the mutineers from the HMS Bounty. Many cover photo (taken by Fred Moore; of their descendants still live there, and can occasionally be graphic treatment by John Bailey) heard via amateur radio. depicts a typical, remote, mountainside farm. Arthur Cushen has been listen- ing to Indonesia over its 60 year broadcasting history. This is his ac- How to Build a Radio from a Kit 24 count of monitoring both shortwave By Jeffrey Poulin and mediumwave stations from his location in New Zealand. For moni- With his sub -title "A Guide for the Complete Idiot," Poulin tors in North America, however, uses himself as the guinea pig as he sets out to prove that anyone Indonesia poses a difficult challenge, can construct a shortwave radio. We changed it to "A Guide for only surmountable during the win- the Complete Beginner " -he didn't give himself enough credit - ter months. It's not too late: why not but he did prove his point. try your luck with some frequencies that have already been logged this winter? www.americanradiohistory.com Reviews: DEPARTMENTS Letters 4 Federal File 78 Communications 6 Natl forests and parks; WHCA PCS Front Line 28 Satellite TV 80 Digital Modes State of TVRO Scanning Report 30 Experimenters Workshop 82 Weighing in with typical German Trunking Scanners Debut Tools for the Info Age excellence is the new Becker car radio Utility World 34 Computers & Radio 84 model, the Mexico 2340. See Magne's Airline Company HF Freqs DXtreme's SWL Log review of this shortwave radio that can Global Forum 38 Special Events turn your domestic travel into a global /Club Circuit 86 RCI Not Dead ... Again adventure (p. 92). MT Review 88 Report "We tested a PRO -2036 and its QSL 42 Magnavox Web-TV BC890XLT twin in June '95 and found English Lang SW Guide 43 What's New 89 their performance disappointing. It is Propagation Conditions 63 Magne Tests 92 with relief that we report this month on Beginner's Corner 64 Becker Mexico 2340 an improved replacement -the new Bells & Whistles Scanning Equipment 94 PRO -2045." So begins Bob Parnass' Below 500 kHz 66 Radio Shack PRO -2045 review of the new scanner from Radio Resources for Natural Radio Antenna Topics 96 Shack on page 94. American Bandscan 68 Is the Sky an Antenna? If you've been curious about surfing The New EAS Radio Reflections 98 the net via your TV screen, here's a Outer Limits 70 Trends in QSLing look at one of the first available units - On the Ham Bands 72 Ask Bob 100 Magnavox's Web TV. John Catalano DX for No Code Techs Improving Audio has been using it for the past few DeMaw's Workbench 74 Stock Exchange 102 months and shares his assessment of Home -Brewed PC Boards Closing Comments 104 this latest technology on page 88. Plane Talk 76 Will Scanner Listening Take an Upturn? Collision Avoidance 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 © 1997. 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. r Address: P.O. Box 98, 7540 Highway 64 West, 1 Brasstown, NC 28902 -0098 Disclaimer: While Monitoring Times Telephone: (7041837 -9200 makes an effort to ensure the information it publishes is accurate, it cannot be held liable for the contents. The reader Fax: (7041837-2216 (24 hours) assumes any risk for performing modification or construction projects Internet Address: www.grove.net (web) or [email protected] (e -mail) published in Monitoring Times. Opinion or conclusions expressed are not Editorial e -mail: [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 Publisher Frequency Manager . .. Gayle Van Horn Communications .. Larry Miller Bob Grove, WA4PYQ Frequency Monitors . .. David Datko, Loyd Van Horn What's New? .. .. Larry Miller Editor Program Manager . .. Jim Frimmel Scanning Equipment .. .. Bob Parnass, AJ9S Beginner's Corner . T.J. Arey, WB2GHA Satellite TV .. .. Ken Reitz, KS4ZR Rachel Baughn, KE4OPD K.I.S. Radio . .. Richard Arland, K7YHA Antenna Topics .. .. W. Clem Small, KR6A Assistant Editor Plane Talk . .. Jean Baker, KIN9DD American Bandscan .. .. Doug Smith, W9WI Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Scanning Report .. Richard Barnett SW Broadcast Logs .. .. Gayle Van Horn Computers and Radio .. John Catalano Art Director QSL Corner .. .. Gayle Van Horn Below 500 kHz .. Kevin Carey, WB2QMY Utility World .. .. Larry Van Horn, N5FPW John Bailey Experimenter's Wkshp .. Bill Cheek PCS Front Line .. .. Dan Veeneman Design Assistant Propagation .. Jacques d'Avignon Outer Limits .. .. George Zeller Belinda McDonald DeMaw's Workbench .