Need Two -Way Radio Communications? See Page 26!
45635
JANUARY 2001
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- ,E2-4:RazeMast System RangeesRCI-24741DX4r
U.S. $4.99 / Canada $6.99
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The compact desk -top VR-5000 is Yaesu's mostversatile PRESET SHORTWAVE BROADCAST STATIONMEMORY BANK! Communications Receiver ever! With ultra -wide frequency Featuring a handy world map showing station locations. the specialShortwave Broadcast Station Memory Bank includes several different operatingfrequencies coverage and a host of operating features,you'll be on top for a number of popular shortwave stations. including Voice of America.the of the monitoring action with the VR-5000! BBC. Radio Japan. and the Voice of Russia. The operating frequencies may be changed by the owner. to keep up with changing station schedules! 0 CONTINUOUS FREQUENCY COVERAGE: 100kHz - 2.6 GHz! The VR-5000 provides continuous coverage from 100 kHz to2599.99998 MHz EXTENSIVE SCANNING CAPABILITY! (cellular frequencies are blocked) on all popular operating modes:LSB. USB. Scan the band. the memories. or a band segment with theVR-5000's versatile CW. AM -Narrow. AM. Wide AM. FM -Narrow. and Wide FM. The "AutoMode" scanning system. And Yaesu's exclusive Smart Search°" system will scan feature automatically presets the operating mode and frequency stepsfor the the band. looking for activity, and will automatically load active channelsinto frequency range you have chosen! a special Smart Search"' memory bank! 2000 MEMORY CHANNELS! AND MUCH. MUCH MORE... The extensive memory capability of the VR-5000 includes 100 MemoryGroups. -RF Tune" Front-end Preselector (1.89-1000 MHz). 20dB Attenuator for allowing you to partition the Memories for easy recall. And you can add an strong signal environments. IF Noise Blanker. DVS -4 DigitalVoice Recorder Alpha -Numeric label to both Memories and Memory Groups, to makechannel (option) with two memories of up to 8 seconds each. FVS-1R VoiceSynthesizer identification easy and quick! (option) for audible announcement of the operating frequency. 10.7MHz IF Output Jack. Field Strength Meter. Audio Tone Control. re All -ModeSquelch DUAL RECEIVE! "Lock" When monitoring on the"Main- displayed frequency, you can simultaneously Control for silent monitoring. Password -protected Panel and Dial listen to a second station (on the AM and FM modes) operating within 20MHz feature. Display Dimmer/Contrast Control. Clone Capability for copying of the Main frequency. This can be especially helpful while monitoringpublic memory information from one VR-5000 to another.Personal Computer safety communications. Interface Port (4800/9600/57600 bps). Two Antenna Pors. Audio Wave Meter provides display of incoming signal's wave characteristics. DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (OPTION)! The optional DSP-1Digital Signal Processing Unit provides leading -edge selectivity. and it includes (1) a Bandpass Filter for razor sharp selectivity on SSB/AM/FM. (2) a Noise Reduction Filter, (3) a seeking Automatic NotchFilter COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVER weak signal 0.1-2599 99998MHZ" to eliminate heterodynes. and (4) a narrow CW Peaking Filter, for LSB/USB/CW/AM-N/A1V1/ reception of Morse Code signals. WAM/FM-N/WFM L'ellular blocked REAL-TIME SPECTRUM SCOPE! will To aid in finding band activity. the VR-5000's Real -Time Spectrum Scope Enjoy the wide world of communications monitoring with the action -packed sweep the band inuser -defined steps, displaying the received signals VR-5000, available from your Yaesu Dealer today! graphically according to frequency and signal strength. WORLD CLOCK WITH UTC/LOCAL SETTINGS! The World Clock feature of the VR-5000 includes an atlas with 66 geographical references. and it also provides a Program Timer (with automatic switching to a designated frequency). an Alarm Timer (wake up to a Shortwave Broadcast). and a Sleep Timer (drift off listening to your favorite FM station).
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Vertex Standard Specifications subject to change without notice. Sonic accessories and'or options may he US Headquarters For the latest Yaesu news. visit us on the Internet: standard in certain areas. Frequency coverage may deter in some countries. Cneck with 17210 Edwards Road, your local Yaesu Dealer for specific details, http://www.vxstd.com S 2000 Vertex Standard USA, Inc. Cerritos, CA90703 (562)404-2700 -1,,,gD111111 rrci,01 tt rtyr,.)&jj.)
J J!.P.ii!)!J!".1.9L2J11 0 PCR1000 1C -R10 1C -R8500ICOM 1C -R2 1C -R75 Wideband, All Ultra Compact, Super Wide Band Special Mode Receive The New Mini -Sized Scanner From ICOM $679.95 Sale price Capability $189.94 UPS Inc. w/ICOM From 100 kHz is Now Available. w/ICOM UT-104OSP coupon UPS Inc. 500kHz-1.3GHz (Less to 1300 MHz. Unit Free Coupon Cellular) AM/FM/WFM. 1000 Memory Communications Communications Loud And Crisp Audio, Backlit LCD. Chan. With NEW IC -R75 HF Receiver Receiver For Computer Receiver Triple Conversion, Built -In Attenuator. Receives .03-60MHz, 8 -Character Covers .01-1300MHz. Wideband, All Mode 400 Memories, 8 Banks of 50 Chan. AM/FM/SSB/CW/RTTY All Mode WFM, FM, AM, SSB, CW. Alphanumeric Receive From 0.1 CTCSS Tone Squelch and Triple Conversion Receiver Employs Band -Tracking RF Filters. Names. to 2000 MHz. Tone Search. Synchronous AM detection Connects to Your PC Exter. Many Other Many Features Includes 2 AA Size Ni-Cd Twin Passband Tuning PCR100, Similar to Features! Batteries and Charger. Automatic Notch Filter Similar to IC -R10 PCR1000 Less SSB S299.95 Special Sale PC Programmable (Software Front Mounted Speaker and Connection Cable Optional). Optional Digital Signal Processing $199.95 SALE price w/ICOM couponCALL FOR PRICING! UPS Included UPS Included More! Up to Two Optional Filters O ICOM SANGEAN AORUSA, Inc ALSO ATS50 ATS909 AR8200 MARK 1111 AVAILABLE AR3000 ATS505 NEW! New TCXO For Greater Display, & Keypad Wide Band RX $499 AR7000 5 Stability. Backlight. (.5-2450MHz) $129.95 UPS Incl. AR5000-1-3 2 Inch TFT Display New Low Priced Shortwave Increased Dynamic Range .5-2040MHz. AR7030 Plus Lithium Ion Battery Receiver with SSB Capability! New Telescopic Antenna AM, NFM, WFM SDU5500 PL Decode/Scan Included For Better SSB, CW. ARD-2 Computer Reception. FULL LINE OF AOR Programmable Alpha -Numeric. A TS909 Now Includes 1000 mAH ACCESSORIES 450 Mem., 6 Char. $259.95 UPS Incl. High Capacity Ni-Cd Computer Control CALL FOR MORE Alpha -Numeric INFO A PRICING Deluxe Shortwave Receiver Batteries. and Programming. Unblocked versions BNC Connector available to More!' AM/FM/USB/LSB $559,95. New Black Case, Brighter Much More! qualified agencies YAE SU uniden VX-5R VR-500 VR-5000 BC895XLTBC245XLT Yaesu VX-5R Tri Band Handheld Transceiver Handheld High Performance Miniature All -Mode Wideband Receiver "Trunk Tracker" Wide Band Receive Communications Receiver "TrunkTracker 1!" RX: 0.5 - 15.995 MHz, 48-728.990 MHz, Freq Range: 100khz to 1300 MHz NEW! 800-998.990 MHz 11 (Cellular Blocked) All -Mode! AM/WFM/NFM/ ICI TX: 50-54 MHz, LSB/USB/CW 144-148 MHz. 430-450 MHz 1000 Memory Channels $889.95 cce:31 5W Power Output8 Character 100kHz-2599.99 MHz 8 Character Alpha Numeric S219.95 220 Memories Alpha Display. (less cellular). UPS Included Display. AM/NFM/WFM ADMS-1E CW, LSB, USB, AM, FM, WFM. CTCSS Windows.' Direct Keypad Freq. Entry 1 2000 Memory Channels. Encode/Decode, PC Programmable Dual Watch/Band Scope SC180 S174.95 Digital Coded (Optional) Real -Time Band Scope. SC200 S199.95 Much More! More! $219.95 Squelch (DCS) Much, Much More UPSincluded UPS Included CALL FOR PRICING! Call For Availability and Pricing! Pending FCC Type Acceptance. GRUNDIG Shortwave ALINCO Drake Shortwave Radios RANGER COMMUNICATIONS NEW! ROB (new) 51159 95 + S14 UpsRCI-2950 10 Meter Mobile 5269.00 Grundig Satellit 800 DJ-X2T DJ -X10 SW1 $199.95 + S7 UPSRCI-2970 10 Meter Mobile, 100W $399.00 RCI-2950DX 10/12 Meter Mobile $279.00 $499.95 Mini Size Multi - Wide Range Receiver RCI-2970DX 10/12 Meter Mobile $419.00 SONY 515 UPS Mode Wide Band Multi -Mode Reception RCI-2980 10 Meter Base $429.00 Call for Availability From .1 to 2000MHz. ICF-2010 CALMRCI-2990 10 Meter Base, 100W $599.00 Comm Receiver ICF-7600G CALLSSRCI-6300 FTB 10 Meter Mobile $419.00 Yacht Boy 400PE AM/FM/WFM Channel Scope. ICF-SW07 CALLSSRCI-6900 FTB 10 Meter Mobile, SSB $449.00 700 Memories AM/WFM/FM/SSB/CW. ICF-SW77 CALMTR-296 FOX CB Mobile, AM/SSB, $199.00 1200 Memories. UPS Included Freq Coverage MAGNUM 5 -Digit Counter, All Chrome 5209.95 .5-1000MHz Superb Sensitivity, MAGNUM 257 30W 10 Meter Mobile $199.95 Yacht Boy 205 Clear Sound. Analog Shortwave Less Cellular SALE S49.95 Call For SS Call For SS HOURS: M -F10am - 6pmSAT 10am-4pm (June -August -Saturday 10am-1pm) UPS Ground (48 states) IFL9,ijr,)
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6 Monitoring The Black Gold Countries Get The "Official" Story On Shortwave by Gerry L. Dexter
23 Inside The Civil Air Patrol by Bill Hoefer
Product Spotlight
36 Alinco's DJ -X2 Receiver by Ken Reiss 52 EZ-Raze Mast System by Harold OH 30 Ranger's RCI-2970DX Transceiver by Gordon West
12 Alaska Is Radio Active! Radio Resouces
20John's Oatmeal Box Crystal Set Radio Connection
26 2001: A Radio Odessey CB Scene
30 Tips Before You Buy That Handheld ScanTech
40 Navigating International SW Bands The Easy Way World Band Tuning Tips
44 New Phone Tap Legislation, And Keeping Tabs On Your Boss Washington Beat
46 WPAQ Archives Bluegrass Music Broadcast DXing
56 Angle Of Radiation And Relative Antenna Height Antennas & Things
58 Welcome To The Longwave Monitoring Theme Column Utility Radio Review
64 Chasing Paper: Awards! The Ham Column
68 Stations On The Internet Radio & The Internet
72 UN Radio Returns To Shortwave The Listening Post
78 One Pirate Says: "Ain't Payin' No $5 For Gas!" Pirate's Den
80 Bill & Dave's Free (and worth every cent) Antenna Design Course The Loose Connection
Veftaltsteotta ON 7e eaves Catrina Cletta, air traffic control specialist at the 4 Tuning In - An Editorial Key West International Airport, Florida talks with aircraft. Every month, Bill Hoefer's "Plane 29 Howl Got Started Sense" column covers a multiple of aircraft 38 Pop'Comm P.O.- Letters communications topics. This month Bill's topic is the Civil Air Patrol. Check out "Plane Sense" on 42Product Parade page 23. (Photo by Larry Mulvehill). 77Readers' Market
/Ndit 44 aft de We6.'www.popular-communications.com Universal Radio-Quality equipment since 1942. SAN GEAN IFREE FREE COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVERS Sangean SR -1 BC YAE SU 11011 ATS-909 AM/FM Mini Radio I 5 I The ATS-909 is the flagship of the Sangean DRAKE line, covering all LW, AM and shortwave fre- quencies plus FM.Features include:wide - JRC narrow, single side band, 5 tuning methods, 307 alphanumeric presets, 3 event clock timer O and illuminated LCD. Requires four AA cells (not supplied). Includes: AC adapter, case and ICOM roll -up antenna plus a free SR-1BC AM/FM Universal Radio carries an excellent selecion of new and Free SR -1 BC requires purchase of ATS-99 mini radio (a $29.95 value!). #1909 $239.95 used communications receivers. JRC NFD-545 shown. GRUnDIG YB-300PE & YB-400PE RADIO BOOKS Shortwave Receivers Past & Present Third Ed. This huge 473 page guide covers over 770 receivers from 98 manufacturers, made from 1942-1997. Entry information includes: re- ceiver type, date sold, photo- The Grundig YB-30C3E provides af-The deluxe Grundig YB-400PE cov-graph, size & weight, fea- fordable AM, FM and sicrtwave recep-ers all LW, AM, FM and SW frequen-tures, reviews, specifica- tion (2.3-7.3 and 9.5-26.1 MHz). Enjoycies.It features two bandwidths, SSB,tions, new & used values, keypad entry, 24 memories, backlit40 memories, clock and keypad. Withvariants, value rating & avail- digital display, clock. win AC adapter,AC adapter, stereo earphones, wind-ability. 120 new pages. Be- stereo earphones arc case. New withup antenna and case. New with onecome an instant receiver ex- one year warranty. #0300 '99.95year warranty. #0400 $199.95 pert! #0003 $24.95 Reconditioned. Save '30 #2300 '69.95Reconditioned. Save $60 #4073 $139.95 Passport To World Band Radio 2001New Edition Reconditioned radios '-are the same warranty and supplied accessories as new. Graphic presentation of all shortwave brcadcast stations. WIDEBAND RECEIVERS & SCANNERS Equipment reviews, too. 592 Pages! #- 000 $19.95 World Radio TV Handbook 2001New Edition YAEsu All shortwave broadcast stations organized by country with 11011 schedules, addresses, power etc. #2000 $24.95 AUNCO Pirate Radio By A. Yoder With audio CO.' SONY. Here is the incredible saga of America's urclercround illegal Universal carries an e:.tensive line of scanners unklen broadcasters (with audio CD). 326 pages cods $24.95 and wideband receire-rs from all major manu- pion ant Discover DX'ing! By J. Zondlo Second Edition facturers including AOR Alinco, ICOM, Sony, O Hear distant AM, FM and TV stations. 10019 $5.95 Yaesu and Uniden-Bearcat. The AOR AR8200 Shortwave Listening Guide By Helms Second Ed. is shown. All major ham lines are also stocked. ICOM Here is understandable information on selecting and operating a shortwave receiver, simple antennas, time COMMERCIAL RECEIVERS stations, pirates and much more.323 r gs. *2984 '19.95 TOT Communications Receivers - The Vacuum Tube Era ,S11 TEN-TEC By R.S. Moore Fourth Edition C7 t7 The Ten-Tec RX-340 Key facts, figures and photos for shortwaue receivers of the a isthe ultimate re- Golden Era 1932-1981. 141 'ages. 12945 $19.95 ,0 ceiver! Advanced Comprehensive Guide To Military Monitoring D.S.P. at under $4000. Learn how to monitor all kinds of mi itary comms on shortwave, VHF and UHF. 280 pgs. #3-t Sale $11.90 A Family Affair By J. Loughmiller B -and New! UNIVERSAL M -450v1.5 The history of the R.L. Drake Company. #1487 $29.95 The Universal M-45Cv1.5 reader displays: Grundig Satellit - RTTY, SITOR, FEC-A, ASCII, SWED- All Models in Word & Picture ARQ and Weather FAX (to the printer port) By Thomas Baier Brand New! plus the ACARS aviation teletype mode. Here are the full details for each DTMF, CTCSS and DDS are also supported.Features a big two-line, 20 model of the famous Grundig Sat- character LCD and parallel port. Operates from 12 VDC or with the supplied AC ellitline. Tons of photos, facts, $399.95 adapter. No comp.r_ar or monitor is required. Made in U.S.A. #0459 commentary and specificaticns on Please visit our weaJte for other specialized amateur and shortwave products. this venerable line. Includes: Satel- lit 205, 208, 210, 1000, 2000, 2100, Universal Radio, Inc. 3000, 3400, 1400 2400, 4000, 600, 6830 Americana Pkwy. 650, 300, 400, 500, 700, 9C0 and 800 models. 126 pages with 120 Reynoldsburg, Ohio photos. #2416 $19.95 43068-4113 U.S.A. U.S. orders under $100 ship br $4.95, under $500 for 59.95. 800 431-3939 Orders & Prices www.universal-radio.com s\al $t 614 866-4267 Information Visa Prices and specs. are subject to change. 2614 866-2339 FAX Line MasterCard Returns suoject to a 15% restocking fee. inc. [email protected] Discover Free 100 page catalog on request. POPULAR TUNING IN COMMUNICATIONS EDITORIAL STAFF An Editorial Harold Ort, N2RLL, SSB-596,Editor (Internet e-mail: [email protected]) Tom Kneitel, K2AES/SSB-13, Senior Editor Instead Of Enforcement We Get MURS (Internet e-mail: K2AES4juno.com) Alycia Nicholsen, Assistant Editor Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Online Coordinator Talk about sweeping some dirt (Internet e-mail: [email protected]) under the carpet. With less fanfare "Some days I wonder if CONTRIBUTING EDITORS than radio enthusiasts celebratinganyone is awake in D.C. Is Richard "RD" Baker, Utility Communications Tom Wheeler's or Billy Tauzin's birth- there something in the water or Ed Barnat, TCA-44, CB SSB day, the FCC, in perhaps one of their Peter J. Bertini, K1ZJH, Restoration/Electronics Joe Carr, K4IPV, Antennas strangest moments, has given the greena giant extraterrestrial force controlling those inside the Bruce Conti, AM/FM Broadcasts light to the Multi -Use Radio Service, bet- Joseph Cooper, Projects and Broadcast Band ter known as MURS. In subsequent pub-Beltway?" Gerry L. Dexter, Shortwave Broadcast lication in the Federal Register dated Laura Quarantiello, Legislative Affairs October 13, 2000, Volume 65, Number Jock Elliott, SSB-734,CitizensBand and FRS Eric Force, Radio and the Internet 199, pages 60869 to 60879 - it's buriedbosses - double -speaking about cellular Bill Hoefer, KBOULJ, Aviation Communications deep within the 1998 Biennial Regulatory phone privacy, Billy Tauzin himself Kirk Kleinschmidt, NTOZ, Amateur Radio Review, Private Land Mobile Radio. In sponsoring anti -monitoring legislation Bill Price, N3AVY, Humor/Communications the section titled Part 95 (sound familiar?)that most grade -school kids would toss Ken Reiss, Technical/Scanning - Personal Radio Services, the FCCout, and the FCC creating 27 MHz CB Edward Teach, Pirate and Alternative Radio amended the rules at 95.401 (CB Rule 1) J.T. Ward, Scanning from a chunk of long distance HF ama- Gordon West, WB6NOA, Radio Resources to add (f) "The Multi -Use Radio Service teur radio territory in the late '50s then (MURS) -a private, two-way, short -dis-telling users they can't shoot skip. There BUSINESS STAFF tance voice, data, or image communica- is more odd wheeling and dealing than at Richard A. Ross, K2MGA, Publisher tions service for personal or business Donald R. Allen, W9CW, AdvertisingMgr. an average hamfest: a First Lady speak- Emily Leary, Sales Assistant activities of the general public." ing with the late Eleanor Roosevelt, oth- Sal Del Grosso, Accounting Manager Power in this new unlicensed service isers "seeing" Abe Lincoln's ghost in the Ann Marie DeMeo, Accounting Department not to exceed 2 -watts effective radiated White House, Ted Kennedy (enough said Catherine Ross, Circulation Manager power and can transmit voice, data, orthere!), hearings held and committees Melissa Gilligan, Operations Manager image signals and can even be used forestablished (at your expense, of course) Denise Kells, Data Processing remote control (except on 154.600 MHz). to do what you and I could do in 10 min- PRODUCTION STAFF Channels, the FCC says are "available on utes at a backyard barbecue, break-ins, Elizabeth Ryan, Art Director a shared basis. . . those using MURSdenials about break-ins, and the list is Barbara McGowan, Associate Art Director transmitters must cooperate in the selec-practically endless. Do you want any of Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Manager tion and use of channels in order to reduce Emily Leary, Assistant Production Manager these clowns on your team? Well, sorry Hal Keith, Technical Illustrator interference and make the most effectivefolks, we've still got them! Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI, Photographer use of authorized facilities." Frequencies Now it's the FCC's turn again. (Don't A publication of include151.820,151.880,151.940,worry, Tauzin will be back!) This time it's 154.570, 154.600 with an authorized MURS: Maybe Uncle Is Really Sleeping. CQ Communications, Inc. bandwidth of 11.25 kHz on 151.820,They must be. Do you know anyone that 25 Newbridge Road 151.880, and 151.940 MHz. Authorized owns a scanner that would put hundreds Hicksville, NY 11801-2953 USA bandwidth is 12.5 kHz on 154.570 and of thousands of potential radio users on Offices: 25 Newbridge Road. Hicksville, NY 11801. Telephone: 154.600. five frequencies - frequencies currently 516-681-2922.FAX: 516-681-2926. Web Site:
4 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site The IC -R3. Just in 0.5-2450time forMHz", the 450 holidays. Memory Names, CTCSS w 4 Level Attenuator, Tele" PO \NEB ----- 1 r Antenna with BNC Connector, , COMMUNIC'''''''' . AT IONS ., ` -,' - PECEIVERIC . ---P3- - , ,..../ , ,.., ., . , . \ ...., 1 Four Way Action Joystick, .., , -,, \ _,,t . , _ .., Audio Output. Visit our -edesigned website at the'Laub heqUellOES k.ked Latiocked *eons ovckrde to FCC waved loqo is a leosiefed nademaik d KOM, IlL Pk W400115 wwwicomamerica.com Monitoring The Black Gold Countries Get The "Official" Story On Shortwave By Gerry L. Dexter
Oil, not computers, is what runs the NAME. world. "Black gold," they used to
call it. The experts, who are sup- ADDRESS: posed to know about such things, say there is a big time oil/energy crisis in our future. They believe prices will continue to rise, putting larger and larger dents in our credit cards and checkbooks as the years go by. Some experts believe that 90% of the oil the planet has to give us has already been found. And, worse, that we've a already used half of it! An estimate from A the Institute on Energy and Man predicts T L that a mere four years from now, world A! P. O. SOX 3939 DOHA -QATAR oil production will peak and then begin R to drop, drop, drop - falling by some Look for the Qatar Broadcasting Service on 9570. 50% by the year 2040. Saudi Arabia is expected to be the last nation still pro- ducing oil and the reserves there may be demands of our high-tech world and gov-different story for our grandchildren if exhausted by around 2110. These esti- ernments that aren't energized into actionnew oil fields aren't found, alternatives mates may actually be too conservative. by mere doom and gloom predictions. aren't discovered, and we aren't able to The world is using energy at an ever - Of course few of us will be worrying make light-year leaps in the efficient use faster rate (20 million barrels a day in the about oil supplies a hundred or so yearsof energy. In the meantime, our only U.S. alone) thanks to the increasing from now. But, by then it may be a very immediate worry will be prices (and what RADIO BRAZZAVILLE
AFRIQUE EQUAIORIALE FR AN( AISE
FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA
P. O. Box 108 BRAZZAVILLE
A classic card from Radio Congo's ancestor, Radio Brazzaville, in then French Equatorial Africa (1955).
You can hear Radio Damascus, Syria in the afternoons on 12085.
6 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site TM The State of the Art Introduces Just Took a the AR 8600 AOR has just raised you- expectations of what a wide -range receiver should do. From the ultra -stable TCXO to the availability of Collins Mechanica! giant Step Filters and three optional card slots, the AR 8600 blends precision, performance and techrical achievement in an att-active, functional package. Tie AR 8600 Is Forward so revolutionary, its design has been awarded US Patent No. 6,002,924!
Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) stable frequency reference Covers 530 KHz - 2040 MHz* Receive Modes: WFM, NFM, SFM, Mit III WAM, NAM, USB, LSB, CW PPR. VOL AT T NL STEP MODE New front end and RF stages for 0 superior sensitivity rau PRIO S SCAM S PROD
20Fn ttiniE00 0 0 2 VFOs (A/B) CIF; 2A4 CONF EDIT DEL 0 SUL. 1000 memory channels 530.0 k OFFSET AFC T SFICH (20 banks X 50 memories/bank) 1111 40 search banks SLEEP COPY Min PHONES ),II Up to 37 channels/second search rate MEMO P4.0 SsEr OPTION Add up to 3 optional slot cards. C3 C23 CC3 C23 313 MI Mil Available cards include: Tone Eliminator, CTCSS, Voice Inversion, Recording, External Memory AR EEO° Accommodation for Collins Mechanical Filters RS -232C port
10.7 MHz IF output (V/FM mode only) can be used with SDU 5500 Spectrum From monitoring aircraft to public safety, Display Unit
12 VDC operation broadcast, shortwave and beyond, the BNC antenna connection AR 8600 sets new standards in performance. It's no wonder that many AOR monitoring professionals, including AOR U.S.A., Inc, 20655 S. Western Ave. government, newsrooms, laboratories, Suite 112 Torrance, CA 90501 310-787-8615 Phone 310-787-8619 Fax military users and more rely upon AOR. www.aorLsa.com
*Cellular blocked Unblocked version availatietc authorized users, documentation. required. Specifications subject to change without notice or obligation.Alltrademarks remain the properly or" their respecwe owners. UltrE 'ine-tuning of 50Hz cn LSE/USB, rMrj BATT AGC 1E4 AM SYNC USB FM N 1COHz in SW, AM and ER nrf AIR 7ri1-1 Akcr-.:-.ft Band and 20 scAn LI1-1 W OFF S SV/ in0METER KHz r FM. L lri rrri rt ri KHz For Fixed -step Tuninc: Big, resoon- sive Up/Down tuning buttcrs. The LCD Fcr direct frequency entry: a responsive, Big! Bold! Brightly Illumina-ed 6" ID/ 31/2". intuitive numeric keypad. Liquid Crystal Display scows all important data: Frequency, Meter nand, Memory position, Time, LSB/USB. Synchronous Detector and more.
The Signal Strength Meter 1 35 7 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 Elegant in its traditional ...... Analog design, ike the gauges in the world's CO 7C1 1 17 11rin finest sports cars. _arr. l L.1L.1 I 111111 Well _asy tc read.
The Frequency Coverage Longwave, AM anc shcrtwave: cont nuous 100-30,000 KHz. FM: 87-103 MHz VHF Aircraft MILLCIr Band: 118-137 MHz.
The Tuning Controls For the traditionalist: a smooth, precise tuning knob, produces no audio muting dur ng use.
GRUrIDIG THESE ARE THE SATELL1T 80(1 VILLENINIUM'S MAJOR FEATURES. FOF A DETAILED SPECIFICATION SHEET, CON -ACT GRUNDIG. Digital 'Technology
The Sound Legendary Grundig Audio Fide ity with separate bass and treble controls, big sound from its powerful speaker and FM -stereo with Tne Operational Controls the included high quality headphones. Knobs where you want them: Buttons where they make sense. The bes: combination of traditional The Technology and high-tech controls. Today's latest engineering: Dual conversion superheterodyne circuitry. PLL synthesized tuner.
The Many Features 70 user -programmable memor es. Two, 24 hour forrniat clocks. Two ON/OFF sleep timers. Massive, built-in telescopic antenna Connectors for external antennas. - SA, AM, FM
E T AGC gm AM SING JS and VHF Aircraft Band. TIMER =II inn Line-out, headphone and external NoFFEMILi sgiv /LIDMETER speaker jacks.
4. 5-11-117 -1 !..-.)1-1 LI Li .0 L1MHz 777,71 The Power Supply
MR., M.... 114/11.1.4:11.114,1 A 110V AC adapter is included for North America (a 220V AC adapter is available upon request). Also operates on 6 size D batteries. (not included)
f1.41.10WINH 3.313 IBAND VW: 1.591
byGRUIT11 IG
Lextron:x / Grurdi:g, P.O. Box 2307, Menlo Park, CA 94026 Tel: 650-361-1611 Fax: 650-361-1724
lines: (US) 1-800-872-2228(..2N) 1-800-637-1648 Web::www.grundtgradio.com Email:grundigajx.netccm.com COUNTRY STATION UTC FREQ. LANG NOTES ALGERIA Radio Algiers Intl. 1900 15160 SS/EE //11715 ALGIERA Radio Algiers Int'l. 1500 15205 AA ANGOLA Radio Nacional 24hr. 11955v PP best 04- 05,//4955v ARGENTINA General Pacheco Radio any 15820usb SS irr., various local relays ARGENTINA Rdf. Argentina al Exterior 0200 11710 EE AZERBAIJAN Radio Baku 0215 6110 Az. X BANGLADESH Radio Bangladesh 1200 15520 EE X BENIN La Voix de la Revolution 0500 5025 FF /17210 BRAZIL Radio Bandeirantes 24h 11915 PP BRAZIL Radio Brazil Central 0100 4985 PP CAMEROON Radio Garoua, Garoua 0430 5010 FF CAMEROON RTV Cameroon, Yaounde 0430 4850 EE, oth. in., various local relays CANADA CBC No. Quebec Service 1200 9625 EE CANADA CFRX, Toronto, relay CFRB 24hr 6070 EE CHINA China Radio Int'l 1400 9700 EE CHINA Yunan Peoples Bc Svc 1200 6927 CC Kunming COLOMBIA Ecos del Atrato 0300 5020v SS Quibdo COLOMBIA Radio Nacional 0100 9635 SS CONGO Radio Congo 2200 5985 FF Brazzaville CONGO R. Nac. Congolaise 24h 15244v FF in. DENMARK Radio Denmark 2230 15735 DD follows R. Norway ECUADOR HCJB 0000 9745 EE ECUADOR Radio Quito 0000 4919 SS EGYPT Radio Cairo 0200 9475 EE EGYPT V of the Arabs service 0300 9850 AA EQUATORIAL Radio Africa/E. Africa 1630 15185v EE commercial GUINEA religion EQUATORIAL Radio Nacional 0500 6250v SS GUINEA GABON Africa No. One 1600 15475 FF GABON RTV Gabonaise 0500 4777 FF or 7270 GREAT BRITAIN BBC 2100 12095 EE 22 hrs/day INDIA All India Radio 0030 10330 Hindi INDIA All India Radio 1330 11620 EE INDONESIA Voice of Indonesia 1200 9525 II s/on 0900 INDONESIA Voice of Indonesia 1730 11150 various to 2100 IRAN V. of Islamic Rep. of Iran 0030 9022 EE 0835, 11970 IRAN V. of Islamic Rep. of Iran 24hr. 15084 various near 24hrs IRAQ Radio Baghdad 0200 11787 AA/EE irregular ITALY RAI International 0050 11800 EE KAZAKHSTAN Kazakh Radio 0000 4545 Ka, RR X KAZAKHSTAN Kazakh Radio 1400 12115 Ka, RR X KUWAIT Radio Kuwait afts 15505 AA //15495 KUWAIT Radio Kuwait eves 11675 AA LIBYA Radio Jamahiriya 2000 17725 AA MALAYSIA Radio Malaysia 1200 7295 EE 24h MALAYSIA Radio Malaysia 1200 15295 CC MEXICO Radio Educacion 0000 6185 SS/EE to 1200 MEXICO Radio Mexico Intl 0000 9705 SS NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Intl 1100 6100 EE irregular NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Intl 1845 17675 EE to 1015 NIGERIA Voice of Nigeria 0500 7255 EE s/on 0900 NORWAY Radio Norway In'l 2200 15735 NN 1/2 hr; 23, 00, others OMAN Radio Sutanate of Oman 0300 15355 EE to 0400 OMAN Radio Sutanate of Oman 0400 9515 AA //17590 PAKISTAN Radio Pakistan 1600 11570 EE PAKISTAN Radio Pakistan 1600 17510 EE PAPU, NEW GUINEA Port Moresby 1100 4890 EE PERU Radio Andina, Huancayo 0400 4996 SS PERU Radio Union, Lima 0500 6115 SS QATAR Qatar Bdcastg. Service 0245 9570 AA /17205
10 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site QATAR Qatar Bdcastg. Service 1300 11655 AA alt 11820 ROMANIA Radio Romania Int'l 0100 11940 EE //5990, 9510, 9570 RUSSIA Voice of Russia 0100 11815 EE RUSSIA Voice of Russia 0200 9865 EE SAUDI ARABIA BSKSA 0300 15270 AA Holy Koran pgm SAUDI ARABIA BSKSA 1800 9870 AA //9555 SUDAN Re. of Sudan Radio 0300 9200 AA /17200 SUDAN V. of Sudan 0400 8000 AA clandestine SYRIA Radio Damascus 1800 12085 various EE at 2000 TURKMENISTAN Turkmen Radio 1200 5015 RR X; 23h U. ARAB EMIRATES UAE Radio, Abu Dhabi 2200 9695 AA to 0200 U. ARAB EMIRATES UAE Radio, Dubai 0330 13675 EE 1112005,15400 UNITED STATES Voice of America 0000 11695 EE UZBEKISTAN Radio Tashkent 1200 15295 EE UZBEKISTAN Radio Tashkent 1200 9715 EE VENEZUELA Ecos del Torbes eve 4980 SS/EE //9660 VENEZUELA Radio Nacional 0000 9540 SS/EE irr., also 03,11,18,21 VIETNAM Voice of Vietnam 1230 9840 EE //12020 VIETNAM Voice of Vietnam 2330 12020 EE YEMEN Rep. of Yemen Radio 0300 9780v AA any price increases might do to your In the "Notes" column, "II" indicates aon/sign-off times may vary a bit, particu- 401K). And maybe an occasional back - parallel frequency which should also belarly with the smaller broadcasters. of -brain niggling that we ought to doin use. "X" indicates that the station is So have a go at it! And if you want to something about conservation. extremely difficult to hear. Of course, do it in an environmentally correct, ener- The 11nations making up OPECtimes and frequencies are subject to gy -saving way, turn off all the lights and (Organization of Petroleum Exportingchange (it wouldn't be shortwave, other- use a flashlight and a battery -operated
Countries) are actually a minority among wise!). Some frequencies and sign- portable receiver! the countries which produce oil. OPEC nations, however, are the big guns, pro- ducing about 60% of the world's output. They're the group that gets the media's attention when prices take a jump. And, afterlastyear's bumpy experiences, You love our ouches in www.powerportsto.e.com leather, rowtry them in there's still a media -generated feeling of waterproof neoprene that unease in the air, as though we haven't POWERSAFE will cushon and protect seen the last of these oily troubles. LOTS of AC/DC your radio in rugged Whileindividually we can do little portable power environments. about such matters, we can have some DX Available in Red or Black starting at entertainment in trying to hear the coun- $65.95 Hold -it NE0 tries that have the oil. And that's our lis- starting at$14.49 tening game today. There are almost 50 nations on the tar- get list. You'll note that, in most cases, we've provided two targets or an alterna- tive. And, yes, you can probably hear WORLDPACK some of these countries more easily at Fits the FT -100 & IC -706 times or on frequencies other than those $57.95 listed here. But those are likely to be relays and we've tried to avoid pointing you at those since they aren't direct from the country in question. Times are in UTC. Sometimes listings don't show a specific hour if the broad- cast runs over several hours and can be TRANSPORTER heard during much or all of the period. In Fits the FT -90 & FT -1500 the case of Argentina's single sideband ORDERS 800: 206-0115 relays "any" indicates that these broad- $87.95 CUTTING EDGE ENTERPRISES casts may be on at any time, or not! (Not 1803 MISSION #PMB 546 SANTA CRUZ CA 95060 only are they irregular, they are inconsis- Intoat- 831:429-5384 [email protected] tently irregular!) www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 11 RADIO RESOURCES Interesting Thoughts And Ideas For enjoying The Hobby Alaska Is Radio Active!
you MUST take your radio equip- ment next time you visit Alaska! Whether you arrive by cruise ship, or fly the convenient Seattle -to- Anchorage route, or do your own driving up the Alcan Highway, you will be greet- ed with more radio action than you ever imagined possible. The amateur and scanner radio indus- try is always invited to show and sell their radio equipment at the Anchorage two- day hamfest, followed by the next week- end'sFairbanks Ham Convention. Neither Anchorage nor Fairbanks have amateur radio dealers in town, so there is plenty of radio excitement when com- panies like Seattle's Radio Depot and Ham Radio Outlet bring in equipment to sell without the sting of steep shipping charges. Mike Romanello, KLOKB, in Wasilla, Alaska, loads up his 18 -wheel- er in Washington with refrigerated gro- ceries for Anchorage, and graciously Jerry. KK5YY, demos portable satellite FM calls on VO-14 and AO -27. makes room for ham radio dealer equip- ment to tag along in the back of his refrig- erated trailer. 145.010 MHz and 147.960 MHz," com- to-date on the latest restructuring rules and "Scanner listeners and CBers might be ments Rick. Most of the Alaska 2 -meter regulations,plus an up-to-the-minute surprised to find that most 18 -wheelersand 440 MHz repeaters take a 100 or review on what the American Radio Relay heading from Washington to Alaska oper- 103.5 subaudible tone, along with theLeague is continuing to do for amateur ate on 155 MHz VHF high -band chan-customary minus or plus offset on 2radio, and accepting suggestions from nels, rather than CB Channel 19," com-meters. Most Anchorage 440 MHztheir further north constituents. ments Romanello, showing off the cab ofrepeaters output below 445 MHz, taking "Some of the ham operators I met in his truck with twice as many radios and a +5 MHz transmit split, and usually the both Anchorage and Fairbanks tell me the scanners than what you might expect to 100 or 103.5 Hz PL. amateur radio service is their virtual life- see down in the lower 48! "I run the "Fairbanks and Anchorage have some line for survival when heavy weather hits Outbacker Perth off my left mirror mount, evening nets on high frequency that... some amateur operators live in remote and I can hear stations all over North everyone MUST check in to get the lat-areas with no commercial power, no tele- America coming in via ham skywaves, est info, and to double-check that every-phone lines, no cellular, and rely exclu- and the Outbacker Perth antenna contin- one is OK during severe snows," adds Lil,sively on VHF and high -frequency ama- ues to work great even with a solid ice a popular code and theory instructor. teur radio frequencies to stay in contact," build-up around the shaft in the winter," Alaska Pacific traffic net - 0900 local adds Milnes. adds KLOKB. He always makes his hamtime, 14.292 MHz Both ham conventions were also treat- equipment delivery right on time, hours Alaska Sniper's net - 1800 local time, ed to the country's Number One, walking - before the Anchorage show opens. 3920 kHz talking,portablesatelliteguy,Jerry Rick and Lil Marvin, KL7YF and Alaska Bush net - 2000 local time,Schmitt, KK5YY. It was Jerry who first NL6DL run the Anchorage Hamfest,7087 kHz introduced Alaskans to polar -orbiting FM along with their two Scottish terriers, Alaska Motley net - 2100 local time, satellites AO -27 and U0-14, and the capa- Farley and Maxwell. 3933 kHz bilities of these satellites to work as FM "Anchorage and surrounding commu- The Anchorage Amateur Radio Clubcross -band repeaters through a simple nities out 50 miles are covered with 2 -convention committee also brings in thedual -band handheld and the Arrow 2- meter and 440 MHz open repeaters, along ARRL Northwest Division Director, Greg meter/440 handheld Yagi antenna. He with the KL7AA-7 packet BBS, on W7OZ, to ensure everyone is up- would uplink to the satellites on 145.975 1111111MINIF BY GORDON WEST, WB6NOA 12 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site one interested in learning more about how to procure and work the Arrow antenna on your present dual -band handheld can call me at 505-672-3717, or E-mail me at [email protected]," adds Schmitt. I traveled with him on the Alaska interior for a week, and we gave out some mighty rare grid squares to stations all over the lower 48 states on the two polar -orbiting, FM repeaters in the sky. Passes would last only about seven minutes, but this gave Jerry plenty of time to hand out as many as 25 different contacts! Incidentally, the AO -27 satellite had a hiccup just before the Alaska Hamfest, but ground con- troller Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, indicat- ed after several attempts they have suc- cessful reloaded the software and had the satellite up and running again. Satellite tracking software is a must for the FM "birds." A Look At HAARP
1.11111111111M. 41911111111111111111111111O for U0-14, and 145.850 for AO -27. Hena becauseituseshisexclusively The trip to Fairbanks from Anchorage would show everyone gathered arounddesigned duplexer that keeps your 2 - in a rented van with many antennas on it him how they could use their own littlemeter transmit from desensitizing your took a big detour to visit the famed, high handheld to easily tune into the satellite simultaneous 70 cm receive. Jerry insistsfrequency, active auroral, research pro- downlink on 435.070 for U0-14, andthat working either of these satellitesgram site in Gakona, Alaska. Advanced 436.800 for A0-27, shifting 5 kHz downshould only be accomplished through a PowerTechnologies,Inc.,outof to optimize reception to compensate fordirectional 70 cm Yagi antenna that mayAlexandria, Virginia operate the facility. Doppler shift. be manually rotated to compensate forWe took an almost -unmarked dirt road to "It's easy to uplink to the satellite withpolarization shifts, and hearing the satel-get to HAARP, (HF Active Auroral a simple handheld 2 -meter radio, evenlite downlink of your voice is far moreResearch Program) and were warmly with a simple rubber duckie, but receiv- important than the easy job of getting areceived by Michelle Engebretson, the ing the 70 cm downlink of your voicecouple of handheld watts up to the satel- HAARP site coordinator. requires the Yagi antenna along with con-lite on the 2 -meter uplink channel. "Welcome to HAARP - want to see stant aiming and shifting of polarization," some antennas?" asks Engebretson. I adds Schmitt. He recommends the Arrow Reaching Jerry thought we would need some sort of top- brand of handheld dual -band Yagi anten- secret clearance just to be able to look at na for U0-14 and AO -27 satellite excite- "I love training new and old-time hams them from a mile away, but APTI tech- ment, and says to get the 137 model anten-on using these two FM satellites, and any -nicaltypesEd BishopandJohn Chiochetti undid the padlock and let us stand beneath the ground curtain high above our heads to reflect the high -fre- quency imaging signals skyward from 6 x 8 cross -dipoles above the ground cur- tain, driven by 48 10,000 watt transmit- ters. They explained that HAARP oper- ates a wide array of operating frequencies in the high -frequency band, from 2.8 MHz to a high of 10 MHz. They scan a +30 degree cone in just 10 milliseconds, and polarization and beam shaping of the radiated pattern are controlled at a block- house about a half -mile away. Fiber optics allows for high-speed FO phase control at 144 MB/s, and high-speed FO data communication. All sorts of com- puters inside the blockhouse could show ground and underground imaging results, ionospheric research, auroral oval inter- action of the solar wind and the earth's magnetic field, and observations of the Gordo talks to the lower 48 on 20 meters. radiated energy that is re -radiated as opti- www.popular-communications.com January2001 / POP'COMM / 13 Yacht Boy 400 Professional Edition (Y3 400PE) Therzached 3ig'The Breakthrcagh! most Bestnew heign:s!compact powerful Power, The shortwave Grundig performance, 400 portable Professiorcompact and we design 31kave Ecition have tested" Radio with Lawren:eits Magne.-Editor in Chief, Passport to World Band Rad o earphon:s,!lever ownes manual, external antenna and a 9 volt Grundic fore VELle! 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Alaska soil, we are told, isgrid square satellite contacts on AO -27 sity of the atmosphere in the energy depo- a lousy ground current conductor. and U0-14. With the Arrow handheld sition layer. The monochromatic heater antenna to his little dual -band Yaesu and signal can also be converted into a broad The Denali Highway Kenwood HT's, the FM connection was radio spectrum impacting communica- "full quieting" as he swung the beam back tions and providing diagnostic utility. We next traveled a very rugged, cou- and forth and regularly rotated it to com- The HAARP system can also be usedple -hundred -mile dirt road called the pensate for ionospheric polarization shift. as a low -frequency radar transmitter orDenali Highway between Paxson and High -frequency contacts were plenti- radio system that is tunable ful on 15 and 20 meters continuously over the during the day, and 40 range of .001 Hertz to 40 and 75 meters at night. kHz.Thisfunctionis We ran an Outbacker achievedbyamplitude Perth for 75 meters, and modulation of the transmit- theYaesuATAS-100 ter signal at the desired low automatic, mini -screw- frequencies. The lower fre- driver, motorized anten- quenciescanpropagate na on 15 and 20, or for with low attenuation over that matter, 40 meters up thousands of kilometers through 440 MHz. We using the waveguide are told the ATAS-100 formed between the ground antennafromYaesu, and the ionosphere. The working with the Yaesu signals are useful for com- FT -100, works well, even municationswithland when operatedinthe forcesoversubmarines dead of an Alaska winter and, because they have where temperatures can great penetration range, for sometimes get down to the investigation of subter- minus 40 degrees. They ranean formations, caves. say you sometimes have tunnels, or structures. Big moonhounce station in Alaska. to chip the ice off of the Yaesu antenna bellows, but after you do, it goes up and Problems With HAARP? down remotely a little slow, but will even- Cantwell. All Alaskans told us this wastually lock into tune. Although there have been books writ- the road with no VHF/UHF radio contact. We also tested the GlobalStar satellite, ten about HAARP claiming the radio sig-They are correct - except for a couple ofportable, full -duplex telephone. We need- nals are invading our bedroom or our warm spots (maybe created by HAARP?) ed to get to an area where there was no brains, or are capable of snooping around- good repeater coverage was absent. local cellular coverage to see how well the to see what might be buried in our back- But every hour or so, Jerry's little portable unit would first search for cellular, and yard, I doubt that this facility is beaminglaptop would beep, he would slam on the then flip over to the satellite phone mode. out an almost 1 million watts of effective radiated power for this purpose. But I was fascinated to ask the question on whether or not they could actually make the ionos- phere glow like an aurora, and the answer was no, or at least not yet. And could you watch an aurora and see when the trans- mitter was kicked on and see a change - again, they say their transmissions to an aurora would be much like poking a straw to the side of an elephant. And when I asked whether or not the local hams around Alaska were ever interfered with by HAARP on the 40 -meter and 75 -meter ham bands, the answer was HAARP is a great next door neighbor, and either avoids the ham bands or uses some sort of sequencing transmit technology that can't be heard by the common shortwave receiver or ham set. We were told that they were soon to start an experiment. and we should not stand The entrance to11.1.1R/'. 16 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site World's #1 selling shortwave publication Unparalleled news and perspectives, plus every sort of music and diversion. That's world band radio, from as many as 165 countries.The New York Times calls Passport to World Band Radio the "TV Guide for world band radios," and no wonder. Passport is jammed with just what you need to eavesdrop on our world: Best and worst radios. What shows are on. Tips from the world's leading experts. With Passport, you'll have the world at your fingertips. 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On the first try, it took only about 10my own fault when I was yakking on the Radieworld seconds for the GlobalStar equipment tophone and stepped behind a big tree. Phone: realize it was truly out in the bush, and We met Doug, KL7IKZ, with the 416-667-1000 quickly locked onto a series of GlobalStar Bureau of Land Management, and he says FAX :(416) 667-9995 Website Address: [email protected] http://www.radioworld.ca satellites that had a mutual view of the that he is also testing the GlobalStar sys- 4335 Steeles Ave W Toronto. ON Canada M3N 1V7 Canadian downlink earth station in Hightem with much more success than what River, Alberta. We would be one of the they had achieved with Iridium that went very first radio operators to try out the sys- off the air for them on September 1. It's NEW! tem after the Canadian ground station So if you're going to Alaska and going It's UNIQUE! "touched up" its antenna system to extendto the wilderness outside of cellular cov- The TRI-DI-POLE Shortwave Antenna a mutual view of the low -earth -orbit satel-erage, but you still need to contact your Antenna & Ground...All-In-One!! lites in northern Alaska. home or office phone, I can tell you first Only $29.95 plus $6.95 S&H I can tell you first hand the GlobalStarhand after almost two weeks in the sr 1-517-563-26132z Qualcomm phoneworked EVERYrugged areas of Alaska, globalstar real- DWM Communications TIME, as far north as near the Arctic ly works! P.O. Box 87, Hanover, MI 49241, http://qth.com/dwm Circle. Unlike the off -the -air Motorola Iridium phone service, GlobalStar was Finally, Fairbanks! just like talking digital cellular with Since 1967, CRB Research absolutely no hint of echoes, no hint of you has been the world's Bring your note pad. Fairbanks hams leading publisher and the rolling or tunnel effect, and a positive have lots to tell you, and show you. And AIN'T supplier of unique hobby feedback of hearing your own voice with- be prepared to be surprised! HEARD and professional books out any delay from the combination of "Want to see our RadioShack store?" and information including: two or three low -earth -orbit GlobalStarasks Rex, KL7BJ. When he took us into NOTHIN' Scanner Frequency Guides satellites processing the call. I was eventhe probably most north RadioShack Shortwave Freq. Guides Military/ Federal Comm. surprised to find that we could make store in the world, I couldn't believe how 4 4 4 YET Broadcast Station Registries phone calls from the GlobalStar satellites big the store was, and the amount of stock Undercover Communications with snow capped mountains looming Survival Comm. they carried with multiple back-ups. Electronic Espionage several thousand feet above us in theFairbanks RadioShack carried the latest & Other Related Topics! direction of the satellites. When we were in scanners, shortwave receivers, com- 3 New titles are constantly surrounded by mountains, we found thatputers and phones, and thousands of those being added to our exciting catalog. If it's interesting the antenna position for best reception littlereplacementpartsthatonly Ask for our and unusual, we've got it. might not be necessarily straight up, and RadioShack stores seem to carry. It was latest FREE catalog. YOU'LL SEE- we would move around just a little bit in also the only RadioShack store I have ever order to find a hot spot that would remain gone into where a clerk came out from CRB RESEARCH hot for at least 2 or 3 minutes before new behind the counter and walked up to Jerry P.O. Box 56, Commack, NY 11725 satellites would take over the relay. Only and me and said, "Welcome to our store, Ph: (631) 543-9169 FAX: (631) 543-7486 once did a call get dropped, and that wasmay I help you find something you are e-mail:salesgcrbbooks.com www.crbbooks.com 18 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site looking for?" We went inside to doubleauroras are the best, and they will pile found all over the place; car dealerships, checkthattheyhadplentyof theyou in their snowmobiles or 4 -wheel - country stores, and all over the universi- Technician, General, and Extra class the-drive vehicles, and take you to the top ofty. "Wireless" is one of the things that ory books to go along with the classes I the hill to see the sights. Alaska is all about, so next time you want was teaching in Fairbanks, and they indeed Alaska hams put radio as one of theirto take some radio equipment somewhere had a good stock on hand. Jerry picked up most important assets throughout the year, you've never been before, indeed consid- a sub -miniature plug to go along with his regularly checking into the evening high -er the Land of the Midnight Sun and all Kenwood D-7 and APRS demo. frequency nets and 2 -meter repeaters to let of the Alaskans who just can't wait to Fairbanks,Alaska,hasalinkedeveryone know their status. show you what it's like up in their part of repeater system that goes just about any- Scanners and shortwave radios are the wireless wilderness. where you might drive or snowmobile, too. "Benny," NL7XH, adds to the system solar -powered cross -band links, utilizing Kenwood TH-79 portable transceivers. He is always on the lookout for more 79's because this is the radio of choice due to its extremely low power consumption and capability to work when literally frozen. Accessorize Your Portable! If you have an old Kenwood in need of repair and want to send it to a worthy Whatever your interest in hobby radio, PRYME Radio Products has cause, get it up to Benny in Alaska minus anaccessory item foryou! We manufacture a full line of aftermarket the battery pack and his public service products for all types of portable radios, from microminiature Family communicators will be forever grateful. Radios, to scanning receivers, to amateur or commercial handheld Jim Movius, KL7JM, is the Fairbanks radios. Our accessories are reliable, innovative, and affordably priced. Hamfest Coordinator, and he arranged We provide accessories for all major brands of radio including several days of tours for locals and us vis- Motorola, Kenwood, Icom, Vertex, Uniden, and many, many more! itors. We couldn't believe what we saw: Bill Beam's, NL7F, microwave moon - Audio Accessories bounce station; the Alaska synthetic aper- Our innovative audio products have ture radar facility at the Geophysical made us famous. From the comfort Institute; Jack Mercer's, AL7KF, tour of of our SPM-400 mini -boom micro- the Fairbanks National Weather Service phone to the low -profile of our EH -1 and all of their satellite imagery equip- "invisible" ear phone and SPM-700 ment; a tour of the International Arctic surveillance mic, we have the right Research Center at the University of accessory forthejob! Alaska Fairbanks; the Gilmore Creek Geophysical Observatory with its 26 - Antennas for Handhelds meter dish; and Rich Strand's, KL7RA, Most stock antennas for scanners or portable computerized remote amateur contest radios are extremely poor. Upgrading to a station with eight operating positions all better antenna can make a huge difference in computer -interfaced, 26 antennas on 7 performance. Our antenna products are towers varying in height from 100 to 190 specifically designed for maximum perfor- feet, situated in a remote area where man- mance and durability. made electrical noise is totally absent. He knows when you are driving up the rut- ted dirt road over a mile away, because he Batteries / Portable Power can hear the sound of your spark plugs We offer many models of and alternator coming over any one of his rechargeable battery pack for contest station sets! today's most popular handheld The Fairbanks Hamfest, along with a radios, as well as a number of web schedule of events authored by Fred portable "power stations" for I Brown, KL7CUS, really points out how those who need "power to go." eager Alaskan amateur operators and shortwave listeners are to fill you in with Order on-line from our entire line of high quality, the local sites. More than once I over- accessories. Visit our on-line store on the web at: heard Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, http://www.prymebattery.com operators saying that any ham coming into the area must absolutely announce themselves on the local repeater for by PREMIER Communications Corp. things to swing into action - anytime PRYME 480 Apollo St. #E Brea, CA 92821 - even during the 24 -hour dark winter Phone:714-257-0300 Fax:714-257-0600 months, too. This is when they say the Rvkiffek- Web:http://www adt-radio com www.popular-communications.com January2001 / POP'COMM / 19 THE RADIO CONNECTION A Look Behind The Dials John's Oatmeal Box Crystal Set Hello and welcome to the column making their own version of the venera- that almost wasn't. Folks, It's ble Quaker Oats set. I've heard that the been a bad few weeks, and I must familiar round boxes may be becoming a apologize for notfinishing up our rarity in the near future, so aspiring Mystery Crystal Set project this month as builders shouldn't delay finding the req- I had wanted to. During the four weeks uisite box ASAP! John's Quaker Oats set between column deadlines all three fam- is a fine example of a crystal set design ily cars ended up in the repair shop, the that goes back almost 80 years! pump that supplies our household water also gave up the ghost, the washer died A Future Radio Project: The - but not until after it had flooded the Night Hawk kitchen; and the final insult was my com- puter fatally upchucking on an attempted John also sent along several photos of Internet Explorer 5.5 upgrade attempt his latest accomplishment: a very nicely made last Friday, which was coinciden- constructed one -tube receiver! Here, in tally October the 13th! John's own words, are his comments Let's bring our new readers up to speed. regarding the project: We started discussing our latest project. the 1932 Mystery Crystal Set, in the "Hi Peter, November 2000 issue. At that time we re- I recently completed the one -tube ran most of the original material regard- (using a 12AT7 dual triode) radio that was ing the Mystery Crystal Set, which had featured in the Electronics Illustrated first appeared in the Our Wireless Circle PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS, book column in the July 3, 1932 issue of John Ilaught S homehrew Quaker Oafs -style #641, copyrighted in 1966 and 1967, by Brisbane's Sunday Mail newspaper. In crystal set is reminiscent of the sets offered Facett Publications, Inc. I approached the our December 2000 column, I showed by the QuakerOatsCompanyof Louisiana in 1921. chassis layout quite differently than what how to make a very nice replica of a vin- was shown in the publication; I mounted tage fixed -detector using the body of the 12AT7 horizontally on a vertical renewable link 20 -amp fuse cartridge for panel close to the front panel. The front the Mystery Set's detector. Hopefully, if a dollar plus two labels from Quaker Oatspanel layout is my own design. I also used my little world holds together longcontainers. Few of the original factory a variable capacitor instead of a trimmer enough,we'llbe wrapping up the sets have survived, and as you can imag- for the antenna coupling - this gives Mystery Set in our next issue and mov- ine the remaining examples are highly smoother control and a means to indicate ing on with more restoration topics andcoveted by collectors. One way to tell athe position so repeatable performance construction projects! factory set from a home brew copy is can be expected. Our column regulars will rememberwhether the tuning coil is wound beneath John Haught, KA3BRK, the gentlemanor atop the Quaker Oats label. The label who holds the current record by winning is over the coil windings in the factory "The radio was easy to build. The coils two one-year subscriptions for his prize- versions. The sets are tuned using a slid- were simply scramble -wound on octal winning photos and descriptions of hiser across the windings where they are tube bases, and the radio and power sup- versions of the Boy's First Receiver andexposed by a strip in the label running ply is self-contained. The only component the Lyonodyne Crystal set projects. Well, parallel to the windings. that might be difficult to find is the power John has sent in some more photos of his John's version differs from the factory transformer. A hint: look for old tube latest homebrew efforts, and as usual, he set in several ways; he used a fancy wood- instruments like vacuum tube voltmeters, has outdone himself! en base, and he also used fixed coil taps etc., as most have small transformers sim- Back in the 1920s, many an enterpris- selected with an alligator clip for tuning. ilar to the one I used for this radio. I've ing lad used a Quaker Oats box as a handyJohn's coil is also wound on top of the only wound two coils; one for the broad- coil form for a crystal set. Occasionallylabel. His set closely resembles the cast band and one for the 40 -meter ama- you'll see examples being offered at radioRadioGem Corp. of New York crystal set teur band. Both give good results when meets. In 1921, Quaker Oats began offer- that was also sold for a dollar back inused with an outside antenna. As the pic- ing promotional Quaker Oat sets, made1922. Nonetheless, I hope some othertures indicate, I use an insulated shaft - by the Marquette Radio Corporation, forreaders are inspired to try their hand atcoupler between the tuning capacitor and .111111111 BY PETER J. BERTINI the front panel -this also permits mount-you for running Mr. Miller's story about ing the capacitor closer to the coil. (This his old radio. I though it was wonderful minimizes lead lengths-Ed.) and hope he can get the parts he needs! Wireless Internet & TV WIRELESS CABLE - IFTS - MMDS Thanks again, Adam" ATV - INTERNATIONAL - DIGITAL "This has been another fun project from Amplifiers Antennas Books Components RF Frequency 2100-2700 MHz the tube era of our hobby; I hope others WellAdam,asyou'veprobably SASE For "FREE" Catalog or Send St find it interesting as well! Look for the PHILLIPS -TECH ELECTRONICS learned, Ronnie's problem was solved P -O. Box 737. 607 Parker St.. Trinidad. CA 95E70 components at electronic or amateur flea CATALOG/INFO: 707-677-0159 before his letter was even published in the ORDER LINE: 800-880-MMDS markets; they are still available!" CHALLENGER SYSTEM FAX LINE: 707-677-0934 column. I do want to thank you for writ- 31 Channel Complete SPOS WEBSITE: Other Systems Available www.phIllips-tech.ccm 73, John 5 Year Warmly E-MAIL: productephillIps.tech.com ing us, since I rely on comments like yours FREE SHIPPING v,sa r., c AmEx Dmoaye y COO, Pnr ig Well, thank you again, John! I neededto determine what sort of material people some column material for this issue, and enjoy reading in our column. you are a lifesaver! Seriously, I have been Reader Tony Kriwokulski has raised looking for another simple two -stageseveral questions about protecting tube filaments in the Zenith Transoceanic bat- receiver project, and I think I will use this FACTORY RECONDITIONED one for an upcoming "Radio Connection" tery set portables in a recent E-mail he in the immediate future. I am also tempt-sent to our attention: GRUNDIG RECEIVERS ed to add one more optional audio stage for loudspeaker operation; perhaps a "Peter, I really enjoy your column. I Satellit 800 YB400 Classic 960 6AQ5 pentode. I like the idea of recycling have been repairing old radios for 21 The Shortwave Store years since I was in the 7th grade and the Whitby, Ontario Li N 2C3 old octal tube bases for coil forms; that 1-888-1.26-1688 sure beats spending several dollars forold Elementary Electronics Magazine www.usa.shortwavestore.com new ones. I think the thing I liked best was was still being published. I read one of the "Night Hawk" moniker you've givenyour previous articles which stated how the receiver! When you view the photos to protect the old 1.5 -volt tubes (1L6, of John's Night Hawk I'm sure you'll 1 U4, etc., from inrush current when oper- ating the radio on AC. This would be of agree that his workmanship is suburb! FREE Note how the flat -head screws on the frontgreat help when I finish revamping my panel are properly counter -sunk, and the Zenith Transoceanic radios this winter. SAMPLE a neat dial plates for the volume and regen "I have a story to share that I think is COPY! oG controls. John must be a very active radiovery funny today, but it sure scared me flea market attendee, or has a bottomlesswhen I was 10 years old and very inex- ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED junk box at his disposal! perienced. I decided to build a one tube Antique Radio's Largest -Circulation AC powered regenerative radio for my Monthly Magazine More Comments On Ronnie school's science fair. A magazine article Articles - Classifieds - Ads for Parts & Services showed the schematic and parts list. I Also: Early TV, Ham Equip., Books, Miller's Story Telegraph, 40's & 50's Radios & more... went to the local electronics parts store Free 20 -word ad each month. Don't miss out! Adam Smith was kind enough to pass with my list and obtained everything 'mi..)1 -Year: $39.49 ($57.95 by 1st Class) dmii this short message via E-mail: except a diode for the power supply, 6 -Month Trial - $19.95. Foreign - Write. W. which had no part number. I decided that A.R.C., P.O. Box 802-714, Carlisle, MA 01741 "I just wanted to drop a line and thank Phone: (978) 371-0512; Fax: (978) 371-7129 if there was no part number it couldn't Web: www.antiqueradio.com www.popular-communications.com January 2001/ POP'COMM / 21 The rear of the Night Hawk. The tuning coils are wound on recy- Rather than use a ceramic trimmer ,.I ohn uses a small variable capac- cled octal tube bases. The power supply components are mounted itor for adjusting the antenna coupling. Note this capacitor is set by below the chassis. the small knob visible on the side apron of the chassis. be a very important part - boy, was Iand the sets either used a fixed -valueresistor should be more than ample. wrong! dropping resistor or ballast -type tube Selenium rectifiers have been covered in "Once the radio was built I double- such as the 50A1 to regulate the filament great detail in past issues of the Antique checked the wiring and went for a test run. current. It is not inconceivable that theRadio Classified magazine. You might After waiting a few minutes nothing hap- fragile filament in the 50A Icould fail,contact them to see what issues the arti- pened, so I unplugged the set and told my and in doing so fall across the internalcles, written by Dan Schoo, appeared in. dad I had failed. He said keep trying; atconnections of the device causing a large One other caveat: always leave the old this point I thought that perhaps I neededvoltage spike on the tube filament voltage selenium in place, but disconnected from to wait longer for it to warm up, so I supply line! the circuit. This will preserve the origi- plugged it again. The rest is history. The The seleniumrectifiershould benal under chassis appearance, and you two electrolytics exploded all over my replaced, regardless of the set's presentmight also be able to hide the newer sil- mom's kitchen! There is a lot to be saidoperating condition. They will developicon rectifier diode beneath it, out of about experience and asking for qualifiedhigh leakage currents with age, and alsosight! Some Zenith Trans -Oceanic own- help! The next weekend I went back toa high internal resistance that allow theers are fanatical about the originality of the supplier, and with help found the right output voltage to drop lower that mighttheir radios. Many insist on all original diode to use and some replacement caps. be desirable. This often results in low-parts, and also that only factory stock The radio then worked OK. ered filament voltage and may cause a set material be used to repair an ailing radio. "Thank you for a great column whichto appear to be dead or to operate inter-Just remember what may be a proper I am sure has helped many people, andmittently; all too often inexperienced restoration to many of us may be totally hopefully it will spark interest in the restorers needlessly replace tubes to tem- unacceptable to others. younger generation." porarily mask this condition - unknow- As for protecting the tubes from over ingly relying on the higher emission of avoltages, this could be accomplished by Tony, thanks for the kind words. I amfactory fresh tube to effect a Band-Aid placing a high -wattage zener diode across afraid I don't recall discussing the Zenith cure. Replace the selenium with a mod-the filament supply. For example, if the orHallicrafterssuitcase -styledbat- ern silicon rectifier diode - something filament supply is 9 volts, installing a 10 - tery/AC sets; although I believe we didwith a one or two amp rating and sever- volt, 50 -watt power zener across the fila- review the book The Zenith Trans - al hundred volts PIV will do fine. Do not ments would clamp the voltage to a safe Oceanic by John H. Bryant and Harolduse a new old stock replacement seleni- level; excess current would be dissipated Cones, Ph.D. The book was published by um. They deteriorate with age, not usage! as heat by the ballast tube or dropping Schiffer Publishing, and the ISBN is 0- The eventual failure mechanism for theseresistor. 1L6s seem to get scarce as the 88740-708-0. Chapter 10 covers physical rectifiers is total breakdown, and they supply and market wan and ebb, and they and electronic restoration of tube models; will release a very noxious rotten egg often command prices in the $30 region, and I would suggest obtaining a copy for odor when do they eventually fail. You so it pays to provide some protection for your library. Here are a few general notes might also want to experiment with athese tubes. off the top of my head. Many of these sets small value power resistor in series with That's it for this month. Next month eventually used selenium rectifier stacksthe silicon diode to adjust its output to will be the final construction notes for the to rectify the AC for both the filamentmatch the old selenium - something in Mystery Crystal Set, and I will have a few string and DC operating voltages. The the order of 15 -ohms or so would be my photos from reader George Hawkins to tube filaments were operated in series, best guess as a starting point. A five -wattshare with you. 22 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site PLANE SENSE your Link To Aviation Communications Inside The Civil Air Patrol Welcome to the first issue of On July 1, 1946, President Harry S. Pop' Comm for the 21st centu- Truman signed Public Law 476 that ry. Sorry you had to use all your incorporated CAP as a benevolent, non- fireworks a year ago, but the 21st century profit organization. And on May 26, and the3rdmillennium started the first of 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557 January of 2001; you wasted your money which permanently established CAP as a year early. (Hint: the first millennium the non-combatant Auxiliary of the new was from 1 AD to 1000AD and the sec- U.S. Air Force. This law also gave the ond started 1001AD.) Secretary of the Air Force the authority I hope you had a great Christmas, to provide financial and material assis- Hanukkah, Kwanza, etc.Itrust you tance to the organization. received all the new radios you wanted. Today the Civil Air Patrol has more Since I'm writing this before Halloween than 60,000 members in all 50 states, I hope I'll be seeing a newIC -R3under PuertoRico,andtheDistrictof my Christmas tree. Columbia. They come from a variety of Eleven months from now (December backgrounds from police chiefs to air 1, 2001) will mark the 60th anniversary of traffic controllers to schoolteachers to a rather quiet organization that saves over housewives to retirees, and from big cities 100 people a year - the Civil Air Patrol. The Communications patch is worn on our and small towns. These differences mat- The Civil Air Patrol, or CAP began its BDUs and blue jump suits (also know as ter little. What does matter is that all of career less than one week before the "Smurf Suits" by those who have gone these people want to be involved in their bombing of Pearl Harbor. Though the through the communications course). community - they want to help others U.S. desired to remain clear of WW2, and they share a love of aviation. many people saw the need for an organi- The Civil Air Patrol owns more than zation to harness the civilian aviation formed today), cargo and courier flights to 500 light aircraft, primarily Cessna 172s resources to aid the U.S. in case Americatransfer critical materials and personnel,and 182s and now Maule's. Also, indi- entered the conflict. Writer -aviator Gill and even towing targets so Army Airvidual CAP members own another Robb Wilson, who was supported byCorps personnel could practice air-to-air4,700+ aircraft that can be used to sup- General Henry "Hap" Arnold, led thegunnery techniques -a very risky mission port assigned missions. One third of all effort to start the CAP. with new gunners. It was not uncommon CAP members are FAA -qualified pilots. Originally organized under the Office to have some target towing aircraft to land As a result of the combined assets, the of Civilian Defense, headed by formerwith holes shot in them. CAP operates the world's largest fleet of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, These volunteers amassed a stunningcivil aircraft and flies nearly130,000 CAP members became the "minutemen"record, flying more than half -a -million hours each year. of WW2, volunteeringtheirtime, hours, sinking two enemy submarines, In addition to the 500+ aircraft, the Civil resources, and talents to assist in defend- and saving hundreds of crash victims. Air Patrol owns almost 1,000 ground vehi- ing the nation's borders and fill the gaps cles to support their missions. Many of as men and resources were being mobi- "After the German surrender, one ofthese vehicles are equipped with sophisti- lized to fight abroad. Hitler's high-ranking naval officers was cated communications equipment that The War Department, especially theasked why the Nazi U-boats had beenbecomes invaluable during disasters or Army Air Forces, recognized the impor- withdrawn from U.S. coastal waters early extended search -and -rescue missions. tant roles performed by CAP. In April in1943.The answer was exploded in a In addition to the search -and -rescue 1943,CAP was reassigned from thecurt guttural: 'It was because of thosemissions, the CAP is also involved with Office of Civilian Defense to the Wardamned little red and yellow planes! - customs and the DEA in counter drug Department and placed under the juris- - From Robert E. Neprud's Flying operations and is supported by airborne diction of the Army Air Forces. Minutemen video and thermal imaging equipment. These volunteer flying minutemen per- formed bravely during the war. They per- A grateful nation recognized the vital Huge Comm System formed many missions, including coastalrole CAP played during the war and patrol to search for enemy submarines,understood the organization could con- The CAP operates one of the largest search and rescue missions throughout the tinue to provide invaluable help to bothcommunications systems in the country United States (which is still being per - local and national agencies. with over 6,000 fixed land stations and M111111111111111111r BY BILL HOEFER 24 / POP'COMM / January2001 ScanOurWeb Site provided harmonic radiationissup- pressed and no harmful interference to Wing CAPFlight # Wing CAPFlight # voice transmissions occurs. They are 121.6, 121.65, 121.7, 121.75, 121.775, Alabama 1 Ohio 34 121.8, 121.85, and 121.9 MHz. Alaska 50, 61 Oklahoma 35 VHF voice is normally carried on and Arizona 2 Oregon 36 near 2 -meter ham and aviation frequen- Arkansas 3 Pennsylvania 37 cies: 122.9, 123.1 MHz (AM). Voice California 4, 60 Puerto Rico 52 operation on 143.75, 143.9, 148.15, Colorado 5 Rhode Island 38 148.125, 148.1375, and 149.5375 MHz Connecticut 6 South Carolina 39 (FM) with 143.9 MHz being a repeater Delaware 7 South Dakota 40 input with 148.15 MHz being both a Florida 8 Tennessee 41 repeater output and simplex. Also 143.75 Georgia 9 Texas 42 MHz is a repeater input with 148.125 Hawaii* 51 Utah 43 MHz being both a repeater output and Idaho 10 Vermont 44 Illinois 11 Virginia 45 simplex. Ground tacticalsimplexis 148.1375 MHz, and air to ground and air Indiana 12 Washington 46 Iowa 13 to air simplex is found on 149.5375 MHz. West Virginia 47 Packet frequencies are 149.895 and Kansas 14 Wisconsin 48 149.925 MHz. Kentucky 15 Wyoming 49 HF frequencies utilized are 2371,2374, Louisiana 16 4466,4469,4506,4509,4582,4585, Maine 17 Region CAPFlight # 4601,4604,4627,4630,7635,7920, Maryland 18 Massachusetts 19 Northeast 91 14902,18205, 20873, and 26617 kHz. Both voice (USB) and packet can be Michigan 20 Middle East 92 found here, but not all frequencies are Minnesota 21 Great Lakes 93 available U.S. wide. Packet and AM voice Mississippi 22 Southeast 94 are heard on 26620 kHz with packet only Missouri 23 North Central 95 on 7341 kHz. Montana 24 Southwest 96 National Capital 25 Rocky Mountain 97 Nebraska 26 Pacific 98 Call Signs Nevada 27 New Hampshire 28 Other CAPFlight # A short time ago, tactical call signs New Jersey 29 were the rule throughout CAP. It was not New Mexico 30 National Commander's SQ 99 uncommon tohearcallsignslike New York 31 Congressional Squadron 99 Mockingbird, Redbird, and Magnolia. North Carolina 32 Each wing had its own distinct call sign. North Dakota 33 * Hawaii Wing is assigned a different Call signs are still utilized but are more block of call signs per FAA request. in line with duties. During SAR missions and special events, temporary functional call signs may be used without a locationtions course and owns a radio that hasfor reports from you. And should you prefix, i.e. Air Ops, Command 1, Flightbeen certified to operate on CAP fre- decide to join the CAP (you don't have to 2, etc. Those who operate HF must use aquencies, he is given a specific call sign fly) please tell them that I recruited you geographical name, such as MacDill CAPfor the wing he is in. In my case, it is so I can get my recruiter ribbon. Mission Base. All CAP -owned aircraftFloridaCap388. Next month we'll have Canadian fre- use the call sign "CAPFlight" followed Hope you hear us. I'm always lookingquencies. See you then! by the number. (The three -letter identifi- er used by air traffic control is CPF). Each SEE US ON THE WEB! state, or wing, region has specific call sign Rave Review www.vikingint.com numbers. For example, CAP flights out Pop Comm April '96 ofMississippiwillstartwith22, /Pfojessional RECORDE Nebraska with 26. The chart gives each HOUR"BUILT LIKE R BRITLE5HIP" of the numbers. Heavy duty commercial recorder - In case of an actual search -and -rescue NOT improvised from consumer models mission, one word is added to the call 12, 14, and 16 hour models also available sign: Rescue. For example Air Force 4ty,+-Ari: BUILT-IN voice activation (add $30) Rescue 6899 or CAPFlight Rescue 1234. Applications information included If you hear the word Rescue in the call Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.0 x 2.75" sign, be assured the mission is real with CODS OK. Calil resraents add taxSorry. no credit cards. Free catalog USA only. oilier couniries $5 Free Shipping to 08 Gentle d° lives on the line. S ates on Prepaid Orders One other call sign is used. When a Viking Systems International 100 North Hill Drive #42, Brisbane, CA 94005 CAP member completes his communica- Factory Direct Phone: (415) 467-1220 Fax: (415) 467-1221 "Since 1971" www.popular-communications.com January 2001 /POP'COMM / 25 CB SCENE 27 MHz Communications Activities 2001: A Radio Odyssey Happy New Year! Welcome to 2001 -a year that's very name conjures images of high-tech adventure and sur- "The surprise is that we have a new radio prises. Anxious to promote that vision, 2001 has alreadyservice called MURS and with it a lot of new delivered its first surprise, and it is a doozy. It is a surprise that hints at a promise of being the beginning of a very high-techoperators who can now call themselves CBers." adventure for the members of a growing CB community. What is the surprise? The surprise is that we have a new radio service called MURS and with it a lot of new operators who can now call themselves CBers. Officially launched onthese with the FCC. Of course most people just don't do that November 12, 2000, MURS - the Multi -Use Radio Serviceso we said basically we are just going to take these out of Part - reassigns five frequencies from the Private Land Mobile90, where you have to have a license, and put them in CB where, Radio Service (Part 90 of FCC rules) to the Citizen Band Radioahhh, there are, ahhh, no licensing requirements. So, then as Service (Part 95 of FCC rules) and eliminates the licensing long as the radios meet the requirements, anyone can go in and requirement for these frequencies. It gives unlicensed access to buy one, just like a CB. You can go out and get one of those five channels in the VHF radio band at 151.820 MHz, 151.880and just start using it. We did not mean to increase or decrease MHz, 151.940 MHz, 154.570 MHz, and 154.600 MHz withtheir use when we moved them into part 95. The whole reason up to 2 watts of ERP (effective radiated power). The promisewe are doing this is that people were just going in and buying of high-tech adventure begins with the fact that, not only arethem and never bothering to register." we allowed to talk on these frequencies, but to transmit data I asked him if, in other words, their intention was simply to and images as well. Yes, that is right, we can now do, amongput these radio scofflaws down with the rest of us renegades other things, CB TV. on the CB Band, he just chuckled knowingly. Nice to see at least some folks at the Commission occasionally see the light. A Frightening Thought I also spoke to Ghassan Khalek, the FCC technical expert on the project. He did not think that the use of repeaters, Internet It's especially frightening when you consider how many CBgateways, or packet was out of the question. He was not sure operators make their mark on the radio world by sticking theirthat they were allowed, but could not think of anything that mic down their shorts. Frightening, but not surprising, though,would automatically preclude their use. Admittedly, these ques- when you consider how many internetizens already shove cam-tions had never been considered, so he honestly did not know eras there. So let us keep in mind, as we enter this brave newbut promised to look into it. If allowed, the use of repeaters and world, that voyeurs and exhibitionists exist in all walks of life the like could very well mean that we have at our disposal a and consider the possibilities that lie beyond. Think 2 -metervery Amateur -like service. It could be unlike the Amateur 2 - amateur band. Can you say "Rival?" meter band only because of power restrictions and limited chan- nel space, of which there could be at least four more available How Did We Get Here From There? in the future. -UMMII11111111111111110 Now before you go thinking that we have some mysterious MURS Surprised Many benefactor at the FCC who went out of their way to do us a favor, forget it. Let me tell you how it really happened. It was It appears that MU RS has come as such a surprise to so many an accident -well at least it was unintentional. That is to say people that, so far, nobody really knows what to make of it. The that the UHF CB service just happened to be a convenient place FCC still doesn't fully understand what it has done. The rules to stick a problem that the Commission did not know how tohave not been fully formed and so solid guidelines do not yet solve. That problem was a growing number of illegal operatorsexist. The few radio manufactures I have been able to talk to on what, in the past, had been referred to as the Color Dot(Cobra, RadioShack, and Motorola) seem honestly confused. Frequencies. In short, they had a growing number of illegalNone will admit to having any new products in the works to operators, realized they could not control them and so they service the band, but admit the potential is there. Even the ama- "LEGALIZED" their activity. Wow, what a novel idea! teurs seem to have been blindsided on this one. They apparently I talked to Guy Benson, the FCC's legal mind behind thedid not see it coming and so were not able to comment on it or reforms. When I asked him why they assigned these new fre-derail it the way they did our recent effort to get the 155 -mile quencies to the CB service he said, "Our intention was not to limit on 27 MHz CB communications repealed. So, for the change the rules, it was to put these frequencies... (pause) ... moment, they seem to have resigned themselves to live with it You see these are the 'Color Dot' frequencies and basically whatand hope that it will not "rival" their service and draw poten- you had happening was companies like RadioShack selling thesetial members, but serve as a "sample" to entice more operators radios with a little thing inside saying that you have to registerto become amateurs. Gee, more original thinking. BY ED BARNA1 Junghans since 1861 & day and date,wall Readers Write temperature,day. date, LCD over 100 different Atomic Time or desk 8.5"x8.5"x1" 39.95 watches & clocks for home and Stanley Bock of Mesa, Arizona, writes office & weather stations to ask if there might be a way to find out 20% off second item what his forgotten 1980s vintage SSB call call for our free brochure sign was. Well, Stanley, from what you or go to www.atomictime.com tell me it sounds like you might have been credit card orders call toll free a member of the SSB Network. If so you 1-800-985-8463 NEW might want to check with the SSB send checks/money orders for the total amount incl. s&h $6.95 to Network, P.O. Box 908, Smithtown, NY Junghans atomic black arabic 17 wall carbon, stainless bezel clock for home or In sapphire lens LCD day. ATOMIC TIME, INC. 11787 or CRB Research at Box 56, 1010 JORIE BLVD. office $59.95 date - carbon/leather (wood $69.95) Commack, NY 11725. Stanley would band $279.00 OAK BROOK, IL 60523 www.popular-communications.corn January 2001 / POP'COMM / 27 SIGNAL also like to see more about SSB in thisall totry this hobby on for size as it has S ENGINEERING'S column. Me too. Tell me more! proven to be a lot of enjoyment. See you High Performance CB & Glenn Daniels, of Marlboro, Newall at the CB mixers!" 10 Meter Antennas York, is a true Citizen of Radio. Known Thanks for the encouraging words SUPERHAWK as KB2GQZ, Killercat, and Unit 521Glenn. IfIever find myself in the Goldenrod Glenn is an Amateur (for over 10 years)Marlboro area, I will be sure to check in 45 Spyder A+ and still a diehard CBer who enjoys col- on channel 20.1 hope other readers of this AL Broadband Hi lecting and restoring vintage CB radios.column will do the same. And speaking powered MOBILE Located in the Hudson Valley Region,of the mixers, our January and February dead smack in the middle of apple coun- WHITE LIGHTNING THUNDER 8 mixers are just around the corner. If you THE Four Element Hi Gain try about 75 miles northwest of NYC he are looking for a little chatter on the CB Antenna Bi-Directional writes to say that, "I have noticed here in be sure to make plans to attend the next, OMNI New York that there seems to be a hugeregularly scheduled, on -air CB mixer. Electronically comeback for CB radio. I have seen moreThey are held, wherever your are, on the Steerable and more cars here with CB antennas on last Saturday of the month. The next two And, also, them. It is good to see that there are sowill be on the January 27 and February NEW QUAD many people still interested in the hobby. 24 from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. local time. LIGHTNING 6 LIGHTNING 8 We all know that CB has its fair share of SSB operators work channel 36 LSB. AM THE most knuckleheads on the other end, howeveroperators work channel 23. POWERFUL it is a fun hobby for all to enjoy. We have Well, that's it for now. Thanks for writ- CB base in the a great bunch of locals who get togethering me here at the magazine or via the world today! to talk in the evening hours on AM chan-Internet where my address ed@barnat. nel 20. I always park the base on the local ALL SE PATENTED rotary beams are true quads and com. And as always, if you can (espe- OUTPERFORM their counterparts (quad/yagl types). channel at night to talk to the other finecially on January 27 and February 24), SE's patented SFS matching system makes SE people that CB has to offer. I encouragecatch me on the radio! 73 QUADS the most technologically advanced antennas in the world today. If your dealer doesn't have SIGNAL ENGINEERING, write or call for full specs. DEALER inquiries invited. MasterCard, VISA, AMEX, Discover SIGNAL ENGINEERING ation like CB'? Perhaps all of the above (from page 4) 1172 Aster Avenue, #E, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Tuning In MURS was slipped through with no offi- Phone: (408) 247-2300 Website: www.signalengineering.com more expensive, radio system. They real- youtell?), mention on their Website, or ly don't need to butmustif they want toanywhere else for that matter. Whatever Lee Electronics communicate. One wonders if that wasthe reason, it's a done deal, and once the Scanners, SW, FRS and More: part of Uncle's intent, bossed around bygeneral public gets hooked on MURS, Bearcat Bo/Gen RadioShack and Motorola bigs intent on just like CB, the demand for more chan- selling radios. nels will likely increase. There's already SANGEAN ?COM LIFIllien The FCC has beenthinkingfor yearstalk about snagging some business band 1-800-578-4006 about these Color Dot frequencies. TheyUHF frequencies. 7,5-5822 also thought for years about CB radio. And what about the impact on ham www.Lees lect.com Users simply go into the store, plunk radio? Perhaps we'll lose a few folks from down the cash or order them by mail and the "2 -meter only" crowd, but here comes fill out the required licensing form andanother golden opportunity for the ama- Bill's 2 Way send it to the FCC, right? Believe that and teur radio community;puton that big ham D you'll also believe 11 -meters will be smile and welcome these new folks to the CB Radio Equipment given back to amateur radio next month. radio hobby. Talk with them - yes, on Hardly. Same thing was true during the the air on your own MURS radio! You can uniden KENWOOD MIDLAND CB craze, and we all know how out ofuse this as another chance to bash unli- 0 control that became. Now, I'm not sayingcensed radio users or show them what can CHEROKEE"ICOM 'CS) 1111/1-a° there'll be chaos everywhere (rememberbe done on ham frequencies. It costs noth- N. TEXAS RANGER,. maxonGalaxy how the PRSG went bananas when FRS ing, just your time and maturity. was approved, and the perceived wide - For the record,I think it's the water. FREE CATALOG! scale interference never happened?) I do "We are the DISCOUNT LEADER believe there's a lot to be ironed out. Happy Holidays! in sales of scanners, FRS, CB, Things that should have been fixedbefore GMRS radios and accessories." the FCC gave MURS the final rubber The entire Pop'Commstaff thanks you stamp. Stay tuned - MURS promises to for being part of our family as we move -I -al 313-7-J be one hot potato. into the new Millennium, and wishes you Bill's CB & 2 -Way Radio Service I wonder if someone at the FCC envi-all the best in the coming year! Please PO Box 306, Morgan Hill, CA 95038.0306 sioned this as a higher powered FRS, newremember that your ideas and suggestions Tech Line: (408) 782.0064 FAX: (408) 782-2985 CB or just an admission of their inabili-for improving your magazine are always e-mail:[email protected] ty to control another out -of -control situ- welcome. Happy Holidays! Website: http://www.bills2way.com 28 /POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site How I GOT STARTED Congratulations to Eric R. Lindquist of Connecticut! popular Communications invitesknow if you're sending photos. If you're youto submit, in about 150 words, E -mailing photos, please send them ina how you got started in the com- separate E-mail with your name in the munications hobby. Entries should be"subject" line. typewritten, or otherwise easily readable. If possible, your photo (no Polaroids, Our January Winner please) should be included. Each month, we'll select one entry and Pop'Comm reader, Eric Lindquist of publish it here. Submit your entry only Higganum, Connecticut, says, "My ear- once; we'll keep it on file. All submis- liest encounters with the world of com- sions become the property of Popularmunications was the business radio in Communications, and nonewillbemy father's car when I was ten or 11. I acknowledged or returned. Entries will be was always curious how these radios selected taking into consideration the worked and never forgot this. At 13 or story they relate, and if it is especially 14 years old, I came across the 1978 edi- interesting, unusual, or even humorous. tion of the Radio Amateur's Handbook January's "How 1 Got Started" winner, We reserve the right to edit all submitted published by the ARRL. This caused me Eric Lindquist of Connecticut. Eric asked material for length, grammar, and style. to remember my father's radio, so I us to include his address so he might hear The person whose entry is selected will investigated further and began tinkering from radio enthusiasts. He's at 8 Skunk receive a one-year gift subscription (orwith yard sale radios. I recently got a Misery Road, Higganum, CT 06441. one-yearsubscriptionextension)to Uniden BC235XLT scanner and listen to Popular Communications. Address allthe many interesting conversations on entries to: "How I Got Started," Popular the ham bands. I hope to get into short-monitored. Thank you very much. You Communications, 25 Newbridge Road, wave soon, but being 16, I can't afford ahave a wonderful and informative mag- Hicksville, NY 11801 or E-mail yourgood radio. I also hope to get my ama- azine that I'm sure has helped out many entry to [email protected]. letting us teurlicense so I can be the one being radio listeners." The "Smokin' Gunn II" If you enjoy radio communications mai to two element directional beam. Ilr.9'e POPULAR ,911311,1,11 etien COMMUNICATIONS SAVE UP TO 58% Get fast home delivery of Ask about Popular Communications and "Fall Specials" save $30.93 a year over the newsstand price. Save even more on 2 or 3 year subs. For information and pricing, contact The World's largest, most authoritative any of the following Dealers: Barker Electronics Big Buffalo's Hide C & S Radio monthly magazine for Shortwave Listening Lawrenceville, IL Norwich, CT Owings, MD and Scanner Monitoring. Read by more 618-943-4236 800-455-1557 410-257-9481 Pat's Antenna Sales Hess Electronics Fry Enterprises active listeners than all other listening Hibbing, MN Doran, VA Nashville, TN publications combined! 877-267-2863 540-963-3557 615-262-1862 Hi Tech Repair R & R Communications L&M Electronics Montgomery, NY Wilmington, DE Elkin, NC 1 year - 12 issues $28.95 845-457-3317 302-475-1351 336-957-4933 (Save$30.93) TC Radio Walt's CB & Scanner In Canada, Contact: El 2years -24 issues $51.95 SUBSCRIBE Watha, NC Asheville, NC Durham Radio (Save $67.81) 910-285-5841 828-254-3048 Whitby, Ontario 905-665-5466 3 years - 36 issues $74.95 TODAY! (Save $104.69) CALL FOR A "FREE" CATALOG ON ANTENNAS Canada/Mexico-One year $38.95, two years $71.95, three years $104.95; JO GUNN Enterprises, L.L.0 Foreign Air Post -one year $48.95, two years $91.95, three years $134.95, 3138 County Road 30 Ethelsville, AL 35461 Payable in US dollars onlyNote: Mow 6-8 weeks for delivery of first issue. Aft(205) 658-2229 Fax: (205) 658-2259 Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (CST) Tues - Friday Mail orders to: Popular Communications, JO Answering System After Hours 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 GUNN Check out our web site at www.jogunn.com for "Monthly Specials" FAX 51 6-681 -2926 te nnc15Dealer inquires, please call. SCAN TECH Trunking, Tips, Techniques, And Mods Tips Before You Buy That Handheld Some time back, we addressed thebilities, and if so what kind? Trunkinged if you're in a trunked environment, and issue of buying a new radio with arefers to a particular type of radio system well recommended if you're not. particular focus on base radios. Ithat is very popular around the country The best way to find out if trunking is promised then that we'd get around to with two-way radio users because it offersused in your area is to ask a friend who's doing handhelds, and this month, I'm a lot of convenience without much fuss forinto scanning. Anyone who's been scan- going to keep that promise. I didn't sayusers. Until recently, there was no really ning in a particular area for any length of when, just that I would. And yes, it's good way to follow a trunking system with time will know whether or not the system slow, but I'm still one step ahead ofa scanner, but all that's changed. they're listening to is trunked. Harold! (But Ken's batteries aren't fully If you don't have a friend that can tell charged! - Ed) you, then you may have to do a little more One of the most frequent topics of dis- legwork. The next thing I'd try is to visit cussion amongst scanner enthusiasts is a local scanner store. Often they have a "which radio should I buy?" This question list of frequencies that are available to comes up very frequently on our weekly , - scanner buyers. Sometimes, you'll get conference on AOL, and at other times lucky and find a knowledgeable salesman W,OF R410E RECtiVCR too. Sometimes it almost comes down to that can really fill you in. Count your "tell me which radio to buy." I can cer- blessings if you do, but don't despair if tainly understand the anxiety of commit- you don't get that lucky. ting to a particular radio, especially foi Look over a list of frequencies in the first time buyers, and even for those want- 800 -MHz range in particular. If you find ing to upgrade. There are so many options that the agency you're interested in has a these days, and it seems to be getting bunch (usually in groups of five to 30), worse. My answer to this favorite question there's a good chance that their system is is always - more questions. trunked, and you'll need a trunking-capa- ble scanner. These days, that's a pretty First Radio? reliable indicator, but there are a couple .rararrea. of issues you should also be aware of. if this is your first scanner and you are First, the FCC has approved trunking just beginning, there are a number of systems in other frequency ranges. Some special considerations. The first couple are beginning to show up in the 400- and of questions are pretty critical, and after 900 -MHz ranges, but they are not very that it really comes down to how serious common for public safety operation. This you are. If you're looking for top -of -the -line, many feel will change over time. First-time scanner listeners are often that the AR -8200 from AOR can't he beat. Second, even with a trunking scanner, advised to buy handheld radios because Unfortunately the radio does not feature there are a few trunking systems that can- franking, but does offer almost every other they're portable and you can listen any- not be scanned. Most of them involve dig- imaginable feature. where. This is probably good advice for ital techniques or scrambling of speech most people, but not for everyone. If you deliberately for security purposes, but in know that you're going to put the radio It hasn't been all that long that we can any event those types of systems will not in one spot and not move it again, or ifask about trunking, but it sure can elimi- be scanable with currently available you want the convenience of larger keysnate some of your choices in a hurry. Ifreceivers. Time may change this too, as that many (but not all) base stations offer, you live in an area that uses a trunked sys- it wasn't too long ago that trunking scan- don't let me persuade you otherwise. If tem (Motorola type I, II, or Ili), the trunk - ners didn't exist. you're not sure how you'll be listening,trackers should be at the top of your list. I'd probably recommend a handheld -These radios make excellent regular Second Question: you can always buy a base or upgrade scanners too, as their ability to reject inter- Frequency Coverage? your radio later. ference and unwanted signals is rather high. But if you have a trunking system The second most important question to First Question: Trunking? to listen to, there's no substitute. Right ask before buying a new radio is what fre- now, your only choices are the BC-quencies it covers. In the United States, The absolute first thing we have to get 235XLT handheld, or the BC-895XLTall receivers will have the cellular fre- out of the way is if you need trunking capa- base unit. Both come highly recommend- quencies in the 800 -MHz range blocked, MMNIIMIIMEr BY KEN REISS IA SIN 0/. make a versatile all-around scanner too. Number Of Channels? 1 2 3 We'll have an in-depth review coming soon. P.M 11.100 4 5'5 The next function most people are after 001,stonf,rr 14114111 is large numbers of channels. Somewhere 7 8 9 atT maor0NOM Common bands for "middle of the line" around 1000 seems to be about the right . O E number for folks to ask for, but 500 or so type scanners include the VHF -Lo band, 14/ OM, NOtO VHF -Highband(roughly144-174 is also a very comfortable level. In reali- MHz), UHF (roughly 430-512 MHz) and ty, even folks with thousand channel "800." I say "roughly" because someradios don't fill them all up. In fact, I'd manufacturers start and stop at slightly guess there are a lot of 400 -channel units If you need trunking, your choice will he nar- different places, or some of them consid-that aren't full either. Don't get too rowed to only a handful of radios, but your er each little portion of that frequency wrapped up in the number of channels, as options are changing quickly. This is the range a "band" so that they can claim along as it's a big enough increase over Uniden BC245XLT, and excellent choice for 12 or 14 band scanner. what you have to make a difference. both Motorola type I and II as well as EDACS A very good example of this is the ham trunking systems. or amateur radio band between 144 and Number Of Banks? 148 MHz. Then there's some military and Now the good news is that in manygovernment frequencies between 148 and This is probably a inuch more impor- places in the country, VHF/UHF is about 152 MHz before the "real" VHF -Hightant consideration. The whole idea of all that's in use and you can live without band starts and runs from 152 to 162. 162 banks is to be able to organize and switch the 800 bands. You can certainly save ato 174 is another group that's broken up in and out of channels that are of interest lot of money on the radio that way, andwith many users, but primarily federal at the time. By having large numbers of that might be an option for a second radio government users. There are four bandssmall banks, you can divide things up or other application where you don't haveif you choose to count that way! pretty well so that you only have to scan a lot of 800 MHz activity anyway. The civil aviation band of frequencies what's of interest at the time. The best More important are the high and lowis another one that's fairly common on radios in this regard have at least 10, but bands, as well as other gaps that are com-most "mid line" scanners and up. This is 20 banks is nicer. Only a few of the high - mon in scanner models. Many of the moreAM modulation (as opposed to FM usedend Uniden radios have this many banks www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 31 ihoc® RSM5 $156 New Incremental Search Multiple Receivers . Y2K Office Compatible User Inter- . Report Generator face, Standard Toolbar . Import (Klingefuss, ASCII, Intelligent Filter with History BBC, ILG, PeiCon) The new shoe RSM 5 RadioSpectrumManager includes all drivers and the actual professional shoe RadioData data- base with more then 74'000 records (26'000 Utility, 14'000 Broadcast, 34'000 VHF/UHF/SHF). Append/Edit of records, Database -Scanning, Station Identification, Multiple search filters, Channel control and Timer mode.fa95/98/NT.Avail- able version: Economic $156, Standard $280, Professional $2250. shoe can deliver drivers for the following equip- ment: AOR LOWE TELEFUNKEN EKD OPTOELECTRONICS UNIVERSAL ICOM RACAL WATKINS-JOHNSON JRC ROSETTA WAVECOM KENWOOD ROHDE&SCHWARZ MNRADO NEISNER.DOERING TSL YAESU WAVECOM W4OPC 51625 Lmta Decoder rind Analyzer. WAVECOM, theworldwide reference, used If :you're looking for small, these two can't be beat! Either one makes a great addition to you, by most govern- ment bodies. scanner arsenal. The Alinco DJ -X2 (left) is reviewed in this month's "Product Spotlight," and Morethan 100 the ICOM R-2 (right) is also a popular pocket scanner. As long as you're aware of the limi- modes (HFNHF/ UHF/SHF) supported. DSP technology with two 56002-66 tation of the small size (including no keyboard for direct entry of frequencies), you won't go MHz. FFT and code analysis. AF/IF/ Discriminator Input. wrong with either one of these! Updates on Internet. Iti 95/98/NT.Otherversions: W4100DSP, W4050 and W41PC (Up to 8 cards in one Also available from shoe Training, Engineering and Sys- tem Design,SatelliteEquipment,Antennas,RACAL, Rohde&Schwarz, Kneisner+Doering, INMARSAT, JRC... computer control, that the receiver you interested in later. Also, the recently R.Haenggi, dipl. Ing. HTL CH -8499 Stemenberg-Gfell buy has that as an option. You can always introduced BC-895XLT has an interface, Switzerland add it later if they make one, but invent-but very little information is available as ) +41-52-394 12 55 -+41-52-394 12 56 ing one from scratch is a bit inconvenient,of this writing regarding the functions that +41-79-421 50 37 hoc® sales©shoc.ch to say the least. The bottom line is a sys- this interface will provide, or the software www.shoc.ch Ale kactio otti or, ot9' roinpienti tem you're happy with, and a budget youthat may be available soon. can live within. Currently, the number of handhelds Many of the high -end receivers, includ- that support computer control is very lim- that I'm aware of. Computer control can ing those from AOR and ICOM, have ited. The PRO -64 from RadioShack has eliminate both the banks and number ofcomputer interfaces built right in. Severala download capability (i.e. you can use channels barrier, so that's also somethingsoftware packages have been developedthe computer to re -program the radio's to think about. to support these radios and can really memories, but the radio does not talk back overcome some of the built-in limitationsto the computer). The AOR-8000 has a Computer Control? of the radio. A perfect example of this is full computer interface, as does the the high -end ICOM receivers which tend recently introduced ICOM R-10. If you Over the past few years, computer con- to have either no banking capability, or athink about it, download is really what trol has really become a viable option forvery inflexible bank structure (the top -of - you would want in a handheld most of the scanner enthusiasts. Both software and the -line 8500 and 9000 are the exceptions time, as you're not going to be carrying a hardware interfaces have improved con-to this pattern). By using a computer con-computer around with the radio. siderably and can now make the marriage trol system, you can completely over- of the computer and scanner seem almost come this and have as many banks and Alpha Tags? a necessity. If you have any leaning channels as your hard disk will hold. In toward computer control, think carefully addition, the computer allows you to store If you don't want computer control, the about this as a major factor in your deci-information and groups of frequencies next best thing to have is the ability to sion. It's easy to spend lots of money on that are not in use until they are needed. assign each channel an alphanumeric both the receiver and the computer con-Rather than re -program the entire receiv- label. Only a handful of high -end radios trol portion of the system, so watch your er when something happens, you can sim- currently have this feature, but it is very budget carefully. You can have lots of fun ply reload the file and scan away. valuable in larger capacity radios. The BC- with some of the medium range commu- If your budget doesn't allow for a high -9000XLT is the main base station receiv- nications receivers by spending a few end receiver such as this, you may still be er that has this feature (leaving out the extra dollars on better software. in business. There are certain models ofhigh -end ICOMs once again). The AOR It is virtually impossible to gain full radio that are still in production (PRO -AR -8000 handheld seems to have a lock functionality from many receivers that 2042 for instance) that can have comput-on the handheld market, but there may be simply don't have a computer interfaceer interfaces added later. This will allow additional radios on the horizon with this built-in, or an add-on system available foryou to ease in slowly if you think com- feature. The AR -8000 is currently the only them. Make sure, if you're interested in puter control is something you may be handheld that will allow you to have your 32 / POP'COMM / January2001 Scan Our WebSite that frequent the conference. But ulti- The Adventwes of Spiamer wee b Mynew antennaMail order mixup mately, only you will have to live with by H.A.Cotte tower is here ! your final decision. Good luck! In the catalog Package foorr1.. it looked much larger... Scanner Dweeb) Maybe I'm suppose Frequency Of The Month to water it to make Knock-- gum it grow ??? Our frequency this month is 462.250. Knock Plug it in and see what you hear. And see Knock if you can identify what you hear! Let me 93 NE-. know what you found and we'll enter you in the drawing for a one-year subscription iih. ift www.Sconnertiweeko-rii or extension. Make sure you put the fre- quency on the envelope or E-mail subject cake and eat it too. It's a handheld, withfield a bit, start asking around and see ifso it can be correctly entered. You can computer control and alpha tags. you can find folks who have used thesend your entry or any other questions via receivers you're interested in. Check the E-mail to [email protected], or the old CTCSS? Internet and back issues of Pop' Comm.fashion way to Ken Reiss, 9051 Watson Join us on the AOL Radio Listener'sRd. #309, St. Louis, MO 63126. Until ContinuousToneCodeSquelchConference and ask the "panel of experts" next month, Good Listening! System, also known by the Motorola trade name Private Linen' is becoming avail- able on more and more units. If you are in Pop'Comm January 2001 Survey a metropolitan area, this is a worthwhile Circle Reader Service # option. It's discussed at some length in the Dec. '97 "ScanTech" column. 42. I plan on purchasing a communications receiver from a Pop'Comm advertiser within the next six months. S -Meter? Yes 42 No 43 A signal strength meter is something 43. The new MURS, Multi -Use Radio Service interests me because: thatmostshortwavelistenersfind (Mark all that are appropriate) absolutely necessary. It allows you to see It's license -free at a glance the incoming signal strength 44 It's higher power than FRS 45 and to make comparisons between anten- I already own a Color Dot transceiverfor my business 46 nas, time of day, frequencies that are on It doesn't interest me 47 at the same time, etc. For some reason, this feature has been lost from all but the 44. I'd like more articles in Pop'Comm about the following: high -end communications receivers and Basic construction projects - antennas, tuners, receivers, preamps, etc. 48 scanners for years. The first consumer Satellitemonitoring,including image reception. 49 grade radio to offer this feature in quite Oldtime radio historical 50 literally years is the BC-895XLT (also a Entry-level ham radio, including propagation and equipment. 51 TrunkTracker) base radio, the Regency Freebanding 52 HS -200 and AOR AR -8000 handhelds. FRS 53 It's really a convenient feature in a hand- CB 54 held so you can check your antenna sta- Scanning, specifically military and federal 55 Antique radio information including restoration 56 tions and more. Shortwave utility monitoring 57 DXing on shortwave bands 58 Other Considerations DXing on VHF bands 59 Broadcast Band DXing 60 There are lots of other features avail- Searching the VHF/UHF spectrum with more published frequencies 61 able from model to model. Some folks Reader -submitted monitoring and DXing experiences, photos 62 would not own a scanner without search Disaster preparedness 63 Receiver or transceiver reviews (Spotlights) 64 lockouts, while others never search. Auto Other product reviews 65 search and store is a handy feature too, if you do any searching. 45. I typically use my scanner this amount of time in a week: Selectable attenuation, delay function, 40+ hours 66 priorityoperations,servicesearch, 30-40 hours 67 weather scanning or alert functions, 25-30 hours 68 selectable modes, and tuning dials are 20-25 hours 69 also features that have various amounts of 15-20 hours 70 importance depending on who you talk 10-15 hours 71 5-10 hours 72 to. Look around, collect some catalogs 2-5 hours 73 and dive in. Once you've narrowed the Under two hours 74 www.popular-communications.com January 2001/ POP'COMM / 35 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Pon'Comm Reviews Products Of Interest The Alinco DJ -X2 /s this the world's smallest scanner. We think the Alinco DJ -X2 just might be .. for such a small unit, it's - it's tiny! relatively interference -free." The first item that struck me about the DJ -X2 was its unusual battery arrange- EASSEIST 0 5-10011MIP ment. There are actually two battery sys- ham market that tit this connector direct- NO PUMA DIMMED tems included in the package. The first is ly and might be of interest to you if you WIDE DAND COMMUNICATION RECEIVER DINS an internal lithium -ion battery, which are primarily using the receiver in one fre- does a surprising job of powering the quency range (say the VHF -High or UHF receiver. The battery charger is an unusu- ranges for public safety). You probably MONI tOrilHz PS FUNC al "pack" which snaps on the back of the would want different antennas if you were unit. The charger also includes a spot forusing the HF reception or for AM broad- 0 *0 SCRT BANK. STEP/SKIP. ENTER - three AA batteries, which will power the cast reception. There is in fact, a ferrite bar Lithium -Ion BATTERY INSIDE radio for quite some time. Even with theantenna inside the receiver for just such charger/AA batteries attached, the DJ -X2 purposes. This antenna can be switched on is by no means a large receiver. and off through menu controls. The receiver offers impressive fre- The most unusual antenna arrange- quency coverage from the bottom of the ment is to use the earphone cable as an AM broadcast band at 530 kHz to 999.995 antenna. There is a switch to turn this on MHz with only the required gap for cel- and off through the menu commands, but lular systems. To accommodate such a itis a surprisingly effective tool, and wide range of frequencies, and to offerhelps to minimize the size of the radio While there's no keypad for direct entry the buttons on the DJ -X2 are remarkably maximum versatility, the DJ -X2 features when you don't want anyone to know easy to master. The tiny speaker at the bot- an unusual combination of antennas. you're carrying a radio. tom is very impressive for its size. The main antenna attaches through an The DJ -X2 isa triple conversion SMA jack like most small portables these receiver and for such a small unit, it's rel- days. Many antennas are now made for the atively interference -free. It will overloadin very strong signal areas. It was a bit disappointing to notice that no facility for tone squelch was included. Lots Of Memories 1 heDJ -X.2 a ,,e3r >1.1.ty.1<-):1 features somewhat :Ryguir unusual arrangement of 10 banks of 70 af'w channels for a total of 700 memory chan- V/1Ht SCAN VD' nels usable for conventional scanning memories. In addition, there are 20 pairs ANT MODE of frequency ranges used for searching, MONI 10MHz PS and 100 search pass memory channels. (1) The 10 banks can be scanned individ- SORT BANE STEP/SEEP ENTER 1 ually, or by using a procedure called bank linking, up to five of the 10 banks can be scanned at once. A memory skip feature allows undesired memory channels to be left out of the memory scan cycle. There is also a VFO mode, used for entering frequencies to be stored, or for monitoring frequencies you may not want This charging unit serves double duty. You must attach the radio to the front of the to put into memory. This featureis charger to recharge its internal batteries, but you can also use the charger as a AA extremely handy for parking on one chan- battery supply. I got about 5-6 hours of typical scanning on the internal battery, and nel in a hurry if you come upon an event about 20-25 on the AA batteries. Very impressive! that you may not have programmed into BY KEN REISS 36 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site memory, or for testing a channel for activity before committing it to memory. Finally, there is a preset mode. In this mode, AM broadcast, No matter which way you look at it, this is a small receiver. But don't let its size FM broadcast, and TV audio channels have been prepro- fool you! grammed into the receiver. By operating just a few buttons, these media channels can be recalled fairly quickly. This actually proved a bit more useful than I first thought. The receiver's audio, particularly through earphones, is fairly impressive. The DJ -X2 has two modes of operation, easy and expert. Unfortunately, I think almost everyone is going to have to get to the expert mode almost immediately as it includes the most useful features, including memory access! Some of the other settings that are available in this mode are not as important, and probably should be in some form of expert or controlled access mode to prevent accidental resetting by an inexperienced user. However, memory operationisprettybasictomost scanner/receiver operation, and I'm not sure why this mode was included there. It is a very easy switch to make, although it requires a brief trip through the manual to find out why the mem- ories are not accessible if your receiver ships in the easy mode. "For its size, it is quite an impressive performer." Other features included in the expert mode are the antenna selection, modulation mode, tuning step, memory skip, and Once snapped on the back, the unit is still many operational settings. Once the expert mode is selected, small. As a handheld or carrying it all of these parameters become available, and with just a few around, I found that I almost preferred the charger to be in place as it helps keep minutes with the manual, it is fairly obvious how the settings the radio from tipping over. However, in and menus work. Anyone familiar with the operation of the the pocket, the small thin radio by itself receiver will find it easy to access the controls necessary, while is barely noticeable and quite effective. those unfamiliar with its operation would probably have some difficulty changing by accident those settings, which might cause problems. Having said that, it is important to remember isfactory. I'd assume that it would do OK on the military air that it is difficult to make anything foolproof, since fools are range as well, which is an important note, since so few receivers so ingenious. available today cover this range. "In actual operation, the DJ -X2 proved to be The Bottom Line quite surprising. It is probably one of the most sensitive receivers I have tested in some time." So how does the DJ -X2 stack up? Quite well, actually. Its impressive sensitivity and strong signal handling make for a great combination in any receiver. The real challenge comes in Field Test getting it programmed and operating. While it certainly would be possible to program the receiver's 700 memory channels, I In actual operation, the DJ -X2 proved to be quite surprising.wouldn't want to do it by hand, and I certainly wouldn't want It is probably one of the most sensitive receivers I have tested to re -program it once I had it done! There is supposed to be soft- in some time. With the supplied antenna (which is usually theware made available at a later time, but we were not able to test first problem with many receivers) the DJ -X2 surprised me inthis. That might make the Alinco D5 -X2 acceptable as a pri- receiving from some distance VHF -High public safety channelsmary receiver. while mobile. On many handhelds, the reception falls off quick- More likely, however, you'll want this as a second receiver; ly as you go from district to district without the help of an out-one to carry when you don't want to be bothered much with a side antenna. Quite impressive. receiver in your pocket, but want something along. Or perhaps, Sensitivity is only half the battle, however. A sensitive receiv- you don't want to be seen with a receiver. Keep in mind that it er is much more prone to interference and overload problems. does not do trunking, so if your primary listening interest is in a In this respect, particularly considering that the DJ -X2 does nottrunked system, this won't work. However, for a conventional include tone (CTCSS or DCS) squelch, I was again impressed. scanner, it's definitely worth a look! For its size, it is quite an impressive performer. For more information on Alinco's new DJ -X2 receiver, con- As a final note, I did not get a chance to test the receiver intact Alinco USA at438Amapola Avenue Suite130,Torrance, the military air band, although it includes this range in its cov- CA 90501 or phone310-618-8616.Visit Alinco on the web at erage. I simply did not have the opportunity. I did, however, use www.alinco.com. Tell them you read about the new Alinco DJ - it briefly on the civilian air band and the performance was sat - X2 in Popular Communications! www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 37 OUR SPEAK OUT... Each month, we select representative about skip shooting and freebanding. approach, we are working to bring the high reader letters for our "Pop'Comm P.O." Freebanding is just as illegal as pirate radio costs down to a more manageable level. column. We reserve the right to condense broadcasting and everyone that does it The board members respects the mem- lengthy letters for space reasons and to edit knows that. It is not a question of "if," but'bership's various types of experience and to conform to style. All letters submitted "when" they will be visited by the FCC. expertise as well s the amount of service must be signed and show a return mailing Skip shooting on the other hand, with given to the REACT organization and address or valid E-mail address. Upon re- legal limits on power (4 watts AM, 12 watts their communities. This length of service quest, we will withhold a sender's name if the letter is used in "Pop'Comm P.O." SSB) is just plain silly to try and enforce. time is from the time joined to 38 years, Address letters to: Harold Ort, N2RLL, I too love to cruise the 40 -channels at night for any member. SSB-596, Editor, Popular Communica- and yes, even contact someone in Georgia Instead of a few directors, there are tions, 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY (heavens, no!) from here in southeastnow regional directors and four officers 11801-2909, or send E-mailviathe Texas on four watts. The ol' Midland 77-to assist the teams, councils, the mem- Internet to 38 / POP'COMM / January2001 ScanOurWeb Site Tap into secret Shortwave Signals Turn mysterious signals into exciting text messages with the MFJ MultiReaderTM! Plug this self-contained MFJ MultiReaderTm greatly improves copy on CW and other modes. into your shortwave receiver's earphone jack. Then watch mysterious chirps, whistles and Easy to use, tune and read buzzing sounds of RTTY, ASCII, CW and AM - '111,1.0 It's easy to use -- just push a button to select TOR (FEC) turn into exciting text messages as modes and features from a menu. they scroll across an easy -to -read LCD display. CAN TIM /01,0 It's easy to tune -- a precision tuning i eicator makes tuning your receiver easy for best copy. You'll read interesting commercial, military, 211111100PAN Mit TiREADER diplomatic, weather, aeronautical, maritime and MOtILL 611N498 It's easy to read -- the 2 line 16 character LCD amateur traffic ... display with contrast adjustment is mounted on a -- all over the world -- MFJ-462B brushed aluminum front panel for easy reading. Eavesdrop on the World Australia, Russia, Japan, etc. Printer Monitors Copies most standard shifts and speeds. Has Eavesdrop on the world's press agencies $ 1 7995MFJ AutoTrakTm Morse code speed tracking. transmitting unedited late breaking news in 24 Hours a Day Use 12 VDC or use 110 VAC with MFJ-1312B English -- China News in Taiwan, Tanjug Press MFJ's exclusive TelePrinterPort'' lets you AC adapter, $14.95. 51/N1x21/2Hx51/4D inches. in Serbia, Iraqui News in Iraq -- all on RTTY. monitor any station 24 hours a day by printing Copy 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 Capetown, London and others. Listen to hams, diplo- You can save several pages of text in an 8K repair or replace your MFJ MultiReaderT" (at matic, research, commercial and maritime RTTY.of memory for re -reading or later review. our option) no matter what for one full year. Listen to maritime users, diplomats and High Performance Modem 'Fry it for 30 Days amateurs send and receive error -free messages MFJ's high performance PhaseLockLoopTm 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- Monitor Morse code from hams, military, with weak signals buried in noise. New thresh-teous refund (less shipping). Customer must commercial, aeronautical, diplomatic, maritime old control minimizes noise interference -- retain dated proof -of -purchase direct from MFJ. Super Active Antenna Eliminate power line noise! CW, RTTY,ASCII Interface MFJ Antenna Swathes "World Radio TV Handbook" says MFJ-1026 - MFJ-1214PCMFJ-1704 MFJ-1702C MFJ-1024 is a 'first-rate easy -to -op- . 111(4"'.7.-41:*14995 $649$awes erate active antenna ...quiet... excell- $179" ent dynamic range... good gain... low Howl Use your computer and radio to MFJ-1704 heavy duty antenna noise... broad frequency coverage." Completely eliminate receive and display brilliant full switch lets you select 4 antennas or power line noise, lightning crashes color FAX news photos and incred- Mount it outdoors away from elec-and interference before they get into ground them for static and lightning trical noise for maximum signal, mini-your receiver! Works on all modes ible WeFAX weather maps. Also protection. Unused antennas auto- mum noise. Covers 50 KHz-30 MHz. SSB, AM, CW, FM, data -- and onRTTY, ASCII and Morse code. matically grounded. Replaceable Receives strong, clear all shortwave bands. Plugs betweenFrequency manager lists over 900 lightning surge protection. Good to signals from all over the main external antenna and receiver.FAX stations. Auto picture saver. 500 MHz. 60 dB isolation at 30 world. 20 dB attenuator, Built-in active antenna picks up Includes interface, easy -to -use MHz. MFJ-1702C for 2 antennas. power line noise and cancels unde-menu driven software, cables, power World Band Radio Kit gain control, ON LED. sirable noise from main antenna. Build this regen- Switch two supply, manual and JumpStartTM guide. Also makes excellent active antenna. erative shortwave ftAg receivers and Requires 286 or better computer .:16 MFJ Antenna Matcher with VGA monitor. receiver kit and lis- auxilary or ten to signals from all OFJ-8100K MFJ-I024 active antenna. MFJ-9 H1gh42 Passive Preselector Ssan. High -Q over the world with just69.skit m'w2r 5 6x3x5 inches. Remote $99"59B 01 k4FJ-8100w F." passive LC MFJ-956$4995 a 10 foot wire antenna. has 54 inch whip, 50 feet coax. Matches your antenna to your Has RF stage, vernier 89.ivired 3x2x4 inches.12 VDC or 110 preselector receiver so you get maximum sig- boosts your reduction drive, smooth regenera- VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. nal and minimum loss. tion, five bands. favorite stations while rejecting Indoor Active Antenna Preamp with gain control boosts 21 Band Rival outside images, intermod and phantom sig- weak stations 10 times. 20 dB atten-nals. 1.5-30 MHz. Preselector MFJ's MFJ-8121 long wires with uator prevents overload. Select 2 new 21$3995 this tuned indoor bypass and receiver grounded posi- antennas and 2 receivers. 1.6-30 Band active antenna. tions. Tin 2x3x4 inches. MFJ-10201.3 MHz. 9x2x6 in. Use 9-18 VDC or Super Preselect*, World Receiver "World Radio TV $79.5110 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. lets you travel the world from your Handbook" says MFJ- Dual Tunable Audio Filter MFJ- 1046 armchair! Listen to BBC news 1020B is a 'fine value... fair $9995 --- sir _ from London, live music from price... best offering todate... per- M6 -752C forms very well indeed. .C.7 NewtImproves any receiver! Paris, soccer matches from Germany and more! Covers 21 Tuned circuitry minimizes inter - Suppresses strong out -of -band sig- mod, improves selectivity, reduces Two separately tunable filters letnals that cause intermod, blocking,bands including FM, Medium you peak desired signals and notchcross modulation and phantom sig-Wave, Long Wave and Shortwave. noise outside tuned band. Use as a Sony" integrated circuit from preselector with external antenna. out interference at the same time. Younals. Unique Hi -Q series tuned can peak, notch, low or high pass circuit adds super sharp front-end Japan, multicolored tuning dial, Covers 0.3-30 MHz. Tune, Band, selectivity with excellent stopbandbuilt-in telescopic antenna, perma- Gain, On/Off/Bypass Controls. De-signals to eliminate heterodynes and attenuation and very low passbandnent silkscreened world time zone, tachable telescoping whip. 5x2x6 in.interference. Plugs between radio and speaker oryhones. 10x2x6 in. attenuation and very low passbandfrequency charts on back panel. Use 9 volt battery, 9-18 VDC or High -Gain Preseleeter loss. Air variable capacitor with 110 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. Carrying handle. Operates on four vernier. 1.6-33 MHz. "AA"s. Super compact size! Compact Active Antenna M FJ -1045C Easy4lp Antennas Plug MI -J-1022 '9995 How to build this corn- $4995 ( Free MFJ Catalog ) High -gain, high -Q receiver pre- and put up inex- pact MFJ Ipensive,fully and Nearest Dealer ... 800-647-1800 all band active antenna into your seletor covers 1.8-54 MHz. Boost I tested wire weak signals 10 times with low http://ww.mfjenterprises.com receiver and you'll hear strong, clear 'I 11/11Mantennas using noise dual gate MOSFET. Reject readily available I Year NoMattewrWhaff warranty 30 day money signals from all over the world, 300 Aac'd KHz-200 MHz including low, med-out -of -band signals and images with arts that'll back guarantee (less s/h) on orders from MFJ high -Q tuned circuits. Push buttonssulks bring signals in MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. ium, shortwave and VHF bands. Box 494, Miss. State, MS 39762 Detachable 20 inch telescopinglet you select 2 antennas and 2 like you've receivers. Dual coax and phono (662) 323-5869;8-4:30es -I-.Mon. -Fri. antenna. 9 volt battery or 110 VAC never heard before. FAX: (662) 323-6551; Add s/h MFJ-1312B, $14.95. 31/8x11/4x4 in. connectors. Use 9-18 VDC or 110Antennas from 100 Tech Help: (662) 323-0549 VAC with MFJ-1312, $14.95. KHz to 1000 MHz. Prices and specifications subject to change. (c) 1998 MFJ Enterprises. Inc. Pop'Comm's World Band Tuning Tips January 2001 This listing 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 00006145 NHK Radio Japan, via Canada 020015425 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. 00007415 WBCQ, Maine 020017675 Radio New Zealand Intl. 00009580 Africa Number One, Gabon FF 02004800v Radio Buenas Nuevas, GuatemalaSS 0000 15345 Radio Argentina al Exterior 02004940v Radio Amazonas, Venezuela SS 0000 17485 Radio Prague, Czech Republic SS 02306673 Radio Super Sensacion, Peru SS 00304985 Radio Brazil Central, Brazil PP 02309835 Radio Budapest, Hungary 00305905 Radio Ukraine Int'l. 023010320 Armed Forces Network, Iceland USB 00309855 Radio Vilnius, Lithuania, via Germany 023010330 All India Radio vem 003011800 RAI, Italy II 023010940.5Armed Forces Network, 00304052v Radio Verdad, Guatemala vem Sicily (Italy) USB 00509022 Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 0230 12050 Radio Cairo, Egypt AA 00509835 Voice of Islamic Rep. of Iran 0230 17770 Qatar Broadcasting Service AA 01006085 Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany GG 02303290v Voice of Guyana 01009440 Radio Slovakia Intl., Slovakia 02305019v Ecos del Atrato, Colombia SS 010011615 Radio Prague, Czech Republic 0300 1350 Radio Ukraine Intl. 010011620 All India Radio Hindi 03006040 Radio Monte Carlo, Monaco, 0100 11985 YLE Radio Finland Finn. via Canada AA 0100 13770 YLE Radio Finland 03009690 Radio Exterior de Espana SS 0100 15395 Radio Thailand Thai 03009905 Swiss Radio Int'l., 01004911v Radio Barahona, Dominican via French Guiana Ital. Republic SS 03009925 Croatian Radio, via Germany Croat/EE 01004915v Radio Cora, Peru SS 030011885 Voice of Turkey TT 01006536v Radiodifusora Huancabamba, Peru SS 030015165 HOB, Ecuador 01006895v Galei Zahal-Israeli Defense Forces HEH 030015245 Radio Sweden 01303280 La Voz del Napo, Ecuador SS 03156015 Adventist World Radio via South Africa 01303300 Radio Cultural, Guatemala SS 03305975 BBC, England, via Antigua 01309735 Radio Nacional, Paraguay SS 03307285 Sudwestrundfunk, Germany GG 013011825 Voice of Russia 03309795 Voice of Vietnam, via Canada 015012055 Vatican Radio 03309870 Radio Austria Intl SS 02005025 Radio Rebelde, Cuba SS 033013675 UAE Radio, Dubai, UAE AA 02007220 Radio Rossi, Russia RR 04004775 Trans World Radio, Swaziland 02007385 WRMI, Florida SS 04009680 Radio Taipei Int'l., via Florida CC 02009475 Radio Cairo, Egypt AA/EE 04009705 Radio Mexico Inn SS 02009635 Radio Nacional, Colombia SS 04009730 China Radio Intl., via French Guiana 0200 11710 Radio Argentina al Exterior 040015435 Radio Jordan AA 0200 11787 Radio Baghdad, Iraq AA 040015565 Radio Vlaanderen Int'l., Belgium, via Bonaire 020012110 Voice of Greece Grk 05004975 Radio del Pacifico, Peru SS 020012160 WINB, Pennsylvania 05007255 Voice of Nigeria 020013662 Armed Forces Network, Guam USB 050011720 Channel Africa, South Africa 020013760 Radio Pyongyang, North Korea SS 050011930 Voice of the Islamic Republic 020015375 Voz Cristiana, Chile SS of Iran AA 020015380 Radio Romania Intl. 05307195 Voice of America relay, Morocco 40 / POP'COMM/ January 2001 Scan OurWeb Site UTCFreq. Station/Country Notes UTCFreq. Station/Country Notes 05307405 WEWN, Alabama SS 1630 11730 RTT Tunisienne, Tunisia AA 06004960 Radio Villa, Dominican Republic SS 163011815 Radio Exterior de Espana, Spain, 06007210 ORTB, Benin FF via Costa Rica SS 060011770 Qatar Broadcasting Service AA 163021470 BBC relay, Cyprus 06304845 Radio Mauritanie, Mauritania AA 163021660 BBC via Ascension Is. 07009870 Trans World Radio, Monaco 17009000 V. of Democratic Alliance 07306160 CKZN, Canada of Sudan (clandestine) AA 08005020 Solomon Island Broadcasting Corp. 17009465 WMLK, Pennsylvania 09004755 Radio Rural, Brazil PP 170011510 Voice of Russia 09004885 Radio Clube do Para, Brazil PP 170021630 NHK Radio Japan via England JJ 09004960 Radio Vanuatu, Vanuatu FF 173014670 CHU time station, Canada 09004980 Ecos del Torbes, Venezuela SS 173015265 United Nations Radio via England 09009615 KNLS, Alaska RR 173015335 RTV Marocaine, Morocco AA 09306020 Radio Australia 173017720 Radio Pilipinas, Philippines 09305055v Faro del Caribe, Costa Rica SS 18009780 Republic of Yemen Radio AA 09306140v Radio Aparaecida, Brazil PP 1800 12010 Radio Maryja, Poland, via RussiaPolish 10006185 Radio Educacion, Mexico SS 180015475 Africa Number One, Gabon FF 100012020 Voice of Vietnam 1830 13725 Radio Telefis Eireann, via Canada 103012085 Voice of Mongolia 183017870 Channel Africa, South Africa FF 10305040v La Voz del Upano, Ecuador SS 190011675 Voice of Russia 1045 11715 Radio Korea Int'l.', S. Korea 190015190 Radio Pilipinas, Philippines 11003205 Radio Sanduan, Papua New Guinea 190017535 Kol Israel 11003325 Radio Bougainville, Papua New Guinea 190017660 HCJB, Ecuador 11004881v Radio Comas, Peru SS 1930 11975 Voice of America relay, Sao Tome 11309525 Voice of Indonesia JJ 193011990 Radio Kuwait 113013640 Radio France Ina, via Fr. Guiana FF 2000 11640 World Beacon, via South Africa 12004725 Radio Myanmar, Myanmar (Burma)BB 2000 12005 RTT Tunisienne, Tunisia AA 12004753 Radio Republik Indonesia, 2000 15160 Radio Algiers Int'I. Ujung Pandang II 200015210 Radio Cairo, Egypt AA 12009805 Radio Marti, USA SS 200015275 Deutsche Welle, Germany, 12009865 Radio Vlaanderen Intl., via Russia via Sri Lanka GG 120015075 All India Radio 200015150vVoice of Indonesia 120015285 Radio Tashkent, Uzbekistan 20307280 Voice of the Strait, China CC 12304890 National Broadcasting Corp., Papua New Guinea 203011734 Radio Tanzania, Zanzibar vem 1230 13765 Vatican Radio 203012140 Kol Israel AA 123015330 Adventist World Radio, Guam 210013660 Radio Havana Cuba USB 13009335 Radio Pyongyang, North Korea KK 210013820 Radio Marti, USA SS 13009570 Radio Korea Intl', S. Korea 2100 17565 Voice of Greece Grk 1300 15390 Radio Romania Int'l. 2115 12085 Radio Damascus, Syria 1300 17775 Radio Tashkent, Uzbekistan Urdu 213017705 Voice of Greece, via USA Grk 13309590 Radio Singapore Int'l. 2130 17825 NHK Radio Japan 133018960 Radio Sweden 213021800 RDP Portugal PP 133021495 Broad. Service of Kingdom 22009615 Radio Cultura, Brazil PP of Saudi Arabia AA 220017695 Radio Canada Intl 14009830 Radio Thailand 220017850 Deutsche Welle, Germany, 140011690 Radio Jordan via Rwanda GG 140011730 NHK Radio Japan 220021540 Radio Exterior de Espana, Spain SS 140011905 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. unid 22006250v Radio Nacional, Equatorial Guinea SS 143012075 Radio Netherlands, via Uzbekistan 223017740 Voice of America relay, Philippines 1430 14140 Sultanate of Oman Radio AA/EE 22305985 Radio Congo, Congo Rep. 1430 15400 YLE Radio Finland Finn. 223013640 Voice of Turkey TT 1430 17725 Radio Jamahiraya, Libya AA 2300 15495 Radio Kuwait AA 15009380 China Peoples Broadcasting Station CC 2300 15735 Radio Norway Intl. NN 15009405 Far East Broadcasting Company, 230015760 Reshet Bet, Israel HH Philippines CC 231511401 Rikisutvarpid, Iceland Ice. 15009580 Radio Australia 23305770 Radio Miskut, Nicaragua SS 15009740 BBC relay, Singapore 23307125 Radiodif. National de Guineenee FF 150011765 Radio Free Asia, USA, 233011585 Kol Israel HH via No. Marianas CC 233011710 Broad. Service of Kingdom 150015235 Voice of America relay, Thailand of Saudi Arabia AA 150017770 Channel Africa, South Africa 233011815 Radio Brazil Central, Brazil PP 15309575 Swiss Radio Intl. GG/FF 233011915 Radio Gaucha, Brazil PP 1530 17865 Radio Austria Intl. 233015455 Voice of Russia RR 160011570 Radio Pakistan 2330 17510 KWHR, Hawaii 1600 17850 Radio France Int'l. www.popular-communications.com January 2001 /POP'COMM /41 BY HAROLD ORT AND R.L. SLATTERY PRODUCT PARADE Review Of New, Interesting And Useful Products CEA Publishes Digital nologies. "As the lines between tradi-more than 600 U.S. companies involved America tional consumer electronics products andin the development, manufacturing, and information technology continue to blurdistribution of audio, video, mobile elec- as digital technologies develop, ourtronics, communications, information The Consumer Electronics Asso-industryis primed for phenomenaltechnology, multimedia, and accessory ciation (CEA) has published its annual growth.DigitalAmerica - U.S.products, as well as related services that review of the consumer electronicsConsumer Electronics Industry Todayare sold through consumer channels. industry today. Digital America - U.S.details this growth and the economicCombined, these companies account for Consumer Electronics Industry Todayimpact these products have had on U.S. more than $60 billion in annual sales. chronicles product category perfor-business and projections for the future," mances and offers the industry perspec-stated Gary Shapiro, CEA president tive on market trends. While it's notand CEO. A Breakthrough Antenna- about ham radio, shortwave, or scanning, The book also provides a historical The 'Super Mobile' from it's a 100 -page comprehensive analysisoverview of the industry and includes a Nil -Jon of video, audio, mobile electronics, mul- timeline incorporating significant tech- timedia, communication and informa- nology achievements along with a direc- Tired of banging that 5/8th wave? tion,integrated home systems, and tory of related industry sources. To orderImpossible to use parking garages? accessory products. copies of the publication, contact CEA'sForget to use that flip down? That 1/4 Previously entitled U.S. ConsumerCustomer Service Department at 703-wave just not enough? Nil -Jon Antennas Electronics Industry Today, CEA re-907-7600 or E-mail [email protected]. has just introduced the Super Mobile. named the publication to more accurate- The CEA, a sector of the Electronic The newest design features an 18 -inch ly convey the emergence of digital tech- Industries Alliance (EIA), representscompacthigh-performance mobile GET ON 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 Empress gives you Monitoring you may download the August 1999 issue for free! Just go to Times magazine http://www.grove-ent.comto 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 [email protected] 42 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site antenna. It's radical and certainly unique. all utilizing surface -mounted devices. This antenna is dual polarized with no These projects are built with readily - loss from coils, winding, or traps because available components, and not only are they don't use them! Nil -Jon says it will they great fun to build, they can be of work on any frequency in three radio great use in your home. bands. Use it mono band, dual band, or SMD components have opened up a multi band. It will transmit and receive on brand new area of electronic project con- any frequency from 140 through 170 struction. These tiny components are now MHz and/or 200 through 225 MHz and/or available and listed in many electronics 400 through 480 MHz. That is correct! mail-order catalogs for the hobbyist. The They report SWR matches at 2 to 1 or bet- book includes everything you need to ter and no tuning. know to build 30 surface -mounted pro- Do you like to work simplex or operate jects including an earphone radio, Xtal QRP (low power)? This 'Super Mobile' is receiver, shortwave receiver, IC radio, a must have! Any VHF/UHF transceiver shortwave converter, FM radio, active including amateur, satellite, APRS, busi- antenna, RF amplifier, sideband adapter, ness, police, fire, emergency services, audio amp, Xtal earphones, FM baby Land Mobile, the New "MURS" CB allo- monitor, code oscillator, LED flasher, cation - operators of these and all other Nil -Jon's Super Mobile antenna. We'll be reviewing it in an upcoming issue. melody doorbell, electronic timer, flash- VHF/UHF mobile transceiver applica- ing pin, touch alarm, continuity tester, tions - will see improvements from the signal injector, audio generator, pink use of this patent -pending design. orders, visit their Website at www.Nil-noise injector, cable checker, Xtal check- Scanning Enthusiasts - this could beJonAntennas.com. Be sure to tell them er, laser disk tester, and various recorders. the ultimate mobile antenna for youryou read about it in Pop' Comm! For more information or to order your hobby. The antenna consists of three copy of this great 336 -page book at tipped elements (lengths from 16 to 18 SMD Electronic Projects $29.95, call 800-428-SAMS or FAX 800- 1/4") angled up from a gold irridized base 552-3910. Order book No. 61211 from conethatfits'LM'stylemounts. Renowned author Homer DavidsonHoward W. Sams & Co., Indianapolis, Adapters available for `NMO' mounts.has outdone himself again by bringing Indiana. Be sure to tell them you read It's priced at $69.95. For information and you a book of 30 electronics projects,about it in Popular Communications. DEDICATE° TO TH GANNI RE MORE _J - TWA, 4 IAJ "SE" HERWAINCODEZOGIOILID he Recognized Leader in mp ter Control "The Standard Against Which All Future Decoders Will Be Compared" Once you use SCANCAT with YOUR radio, you'll NEVER Many radio amateurs and SWLs are puuled! Just what are all those strange signals you can hear but not use your radio again WITHOUT SCANCAT1 identify on the Short Wave Bands? A few of them such as CW, RTTY, Packet and Amtor you'll know- biA SCANCAT supports almost ALL computer controlled radios by: AOR, DRAKE, KENWOOD, ICOM, YAESU and what about the many other signals? JR NRD)lus 0- 005/6/35/42 (with 0S456/535), Lowe HF-150, and Watkins -Johnson . There are some well known CW/RTTY Decoders but then there is CODE -3 GOLD. It's up to you to make the choice, but it will be easy once you CANCAT GOLD FOR WINDOWS "SE" see CODE -3 GOLD. All units have an exclusive auto -classification module (Sun/alliance- nnnnnn se) that tells YOU what you're listening to AND automatically sets you up to start [..;7AW*41329%-----...""'All of Scancat Gold for Windows Features Plus 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 §eieAive-SoUnd Recording using PC -compatible Exclusive 'MACRO' control by frequency of Dwell. Hang,signals! Why spend more money for other decoders with FEWER features? sound card. "Point 8 Shoot" playback by Resume. Sig. Treshhold and even 6 separate CODE -3 GOLD works on any IBM compatible computer with MS-DOS with individual hits. programmable, audible alarms. at least 640kb of RAM, and a VGA monitor. CODE -3 GOLD includes software Demographic search for frequency co-ordination and 2 -way Command line options for TIMED ON/OFF (Unattended) and a complete audio to digital FSK converter. Usage Analysis. logging/searches. Simulated Speed Measurement Module Detailed logging to ASCII type Ides with DATE, TIME, Sig Run as many as 6 different CI -V addressable radios Modes included ADDITIONAL Str, Air Time. as 'Master/Slave". in BASIC package Modes included in STANDARD and PROFESSIONAL package 6 New sweep Analysis Functions. New! Scheduling/Recording Functions. Morse * Autospec - Mk's I & II TDM242/ARO- Piccolo With Scancat Gold for Windows 'SE,' your spectrum never looked so good! Load virtually 'any' database and Scancat 'SE will RTTY/BaucloV DUP-ARO Artrac M2/4-242 Coquelet examine your database, plot each and every frequency, no matter what the range... nd 'paint' the entire analysis on your screen. Murray * Twinplex TDM342/ARO-M2/4 4 special ARO 8 SEVERAL GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS MODES AVAILABLE Sitor CCIR 625/476-4 ARC/6-90/98 FEC-A FEC systems: By Signal Strength per frequency in a 'histograph'. IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, try this...Multicolored, 343 ARO Navtex * SI-ARO/ARO-S FEC100A/FEC101 TORG-10/11, By Signal Strength platted in individual dots. "Spatial/Landscape" . AX25 Packet * SWED-ARO-ARO-SWE FEC-S FEC1000 ROU-FEC/ RUM-FEC, By Number of hits per frequency in a 'histograph'. Facsimile all RPM (up to ARO-E/AR01000 Simplex HC-ARO (ICRC) and 16 gray shades at 1024 Duplex Sports info 300 baud HNG-FEC SCANCAT GOLD -se...$159.95.s & ti UPGRADE SCANCAT GOLD V7.5.7 le...$59.95 s & x 76B pixels * ARO-N-AR01000 ASCII SYNOP decoder SCANCAT GOLD FOR WINDOWS FEATURES Hellscreiber- Duplex Variant &tor RAW Unattended Logging of frequencies Synch/Asynch * MULTIPLE search filters for Diskfile Scanning ARO-E3-CCIR519 (Normal Sitor Additional COOE4 00W Scan Create Disk Files. New - Programmable Favorite Frequency ASCII * Variant but without Synch PROFESSIONAL Analysis Toots Spectrum Analysis to Screen OR Pnnter. "Quick Buttons' Pactor * POL-ARCI 100 Baud AR06-70 Power SpectrumOsclitoscope Supports PerCon, Mr. Scanner, and Betty Bearcal Search by CTCSS 6 DCS tones with WEFAX * Duplex ARQ Baudot F788N Watertall AFT IAmplltuds, CD Roms. 0S456/535 or DC440 (ICOM only). Display Freq.. Phase) Scan VHF & HE Icon's Simultaneously. AD Spectrum Phase Plane INCLUDES several large shortwave and CODE -3 GOLD is the most sophisticated decoder Oscilloscope LINK up to 100 Disk files or ranges. *Correlation NCO VHF/UHF databases available for ANY amount of money. Oscilloscope an*Correlation BM SCANCAT GOLD FOR WINDOWS (NON -1r) $99.95 .s & H' UPGRADE TO V7.5.7 $29.95 .8 & H CODE -3 GOLD CODE -3 GOLD CODE -3 GOLD All the features you EXPECT from a true Windows application such as: VHF/SW DECODER VHF/SW DECODER PROFESSIONAL VERSATILE -Functronar spectrtim analysis. NOT just a UNIQUE database management system with move - 450.00 'pretty face'. Spectrum o held in memory for long term able columns. Even SPLIT columns into doubles or 595.00 795.00 accumulation. Sirnply 'mouse over to read frequency of triples for easy viewing of ALL important data on Includes POCSAG 8 ACARS With ALL Modes/Options spectrum location. "CLICK'to immediately tune your one screen. Plus * Modes/Options With ALL Modes/Options Plus Professional receiver. You can even accumulate a spectrum from scan- Exclusive' LIDE RULE tuner. Click or 'skate' your mouse Analytical Package ring DISKFILES of random frequencies! overour Slide-Tunerto change frequencres effortlessly!OR DIRECT scanning of most DBASE. FOXPRO. ACCESS, use our graphical tuning knob. BASIC STANDARD PROFESSIONAL BTRIEVE files WITHOUT 'importing'. Now Available - Stridaberg Engineering Multicouplers -Cal for Quantity Pricing" 055 U.S. 57.50 FOREIGN http://www.scancet.com/mItleplr.html FREE FREQ FILES WEBSITE - www.scancat.com E-MAIL - [email protected] FREE DEMOS Order direct or COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGIES P.O. Box 18285 Shreveport, LA 71138 Orders Only contact your tailor 888-SCANCAT ite dealer Phone: (318) 687-4444 FAX: (318) 686-0449 Info Tech Support: (318) 687-2555 (9 a.m. -1 p.m. Central M -F) 888.722-6228 www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 43 WASHINGTON BEAT FCC Actions Affecting Communications New Phone Tap Legislation, And Keeping Tabs On Your Boss More news from the "What Are similar to one already in the House, which Association and other lobbyists. They Thinking?" file: this timeforces employers to disclose if and how Interested parties cited the need for more legislators claim it's too easythey are monitoring their employees.time to prepare as the reason for request- for law enforcement officers to obtainLegislators say H.R. 4908, the Notice ofing the delay, saying that the compressed court orders to disclose the telephone Electronic Monitoring Act, is a good billtiming of the auctions does not provide numbers that criminals dial. In the form which has found little opposition so far.enough time to develop business plans, the law is currently written, obtainingThe bill would require employers toformulate strategies, and assess market permission for a pen register telephonerelease details every year of how employ- conditions. The 746-764 and 776-794 tap - which records source, frequency,ee actions or communications are being MHz bands, traditionally used by UHF TV and destination of telephone calls - onlymonitored in the workplace. stations 60-62 and 65-67, were reallocat- requires that a prosecutor certify to a ed for broadcast use in 1997. TV stations judge that the information the tap would FCC Denies Three Amateur currently using these channels were obtain is relevant to an ongoing criminal Petitions directed to vacate the spectrum by the end investigation. Legislators say they want of 2006. In November of 1999, Congress the standard of evidence for a pen regis- In the space of one week, the FCCpushed up the throttle on the auction ter tap raised to match that needed to actu- denied petitions for reconsideration from schedule for licenses, requiring that the ally record phone calls: a showing ofthree Amateur Radio operators, citing proceeds for any auctions be deposited no probable cause that a crime has or is about improper filing as the reason for thelater than September 30, 2000. After to occur. Several bills were introduceddenials. Lawrence Gutter, formerlyreview, the Commission decided that relating to this, including H.R. 5018, theWA2YTO, and Richard E. Jamison, Congress' mandate was superceded by the Electronic Communications Privacy ActKG6ARN and formerly K 1 OTO, were Communications Act statute that requires of 2000, which was been forwarded byturned down for license renewal by the sufficient time for bidding preparation. subcommittee to the full committee by a Wireless Telecommunications Bureau LPFM Update voice vote and now is under Committeeafter filing late in their two-year grace consideration, and H.R. 4987, the Digitalperiod and failing toincludetheir On April 13th, 2000, the House of Privacy Act of 2000. And, of course,Taxpayer Identification Numbers. Both Representatives overwhelming approved because they can't leave the Internet outre -filed with the proper information after H.R. 3439 by a vote of 274-110. H.R. of anything these days, these laws alsotheir grace periods had passed, stating propose to extend current legislationthat they were not aware of the TIN3439, you may recall from the September related to law enforcement interception 2000 issue of Pop'Comm, deals with the requirement. The FCC said, in effect, that issue of Low Power FM broadcasting. of online conversations and other elec-ignorance is no excuse and refused to This retooled bill was designed with pro- tronic means. These bills fly in the face accept the refiled petitions. visions to make the National Association of rulings by the Supreme Court, which Charles W. Heard, W4CO (formerly has held that dialed telephone numbers of Broadcasters and others breathe easi- W2FLA) also was turned down afterer about what they perceive will be are not covered by an expectation of pri- seeking reconsideration of the denial of hideous interference as a result of LPFM vacy, only the actual conversations.his request for a vanity call sign. Heard stations. The bill mandates and makes Who's going to win this one? Stay tuned. lost call sign W4FX to amateur Robert C. permanent current third -adjacent channel Williams because of what he calls "a han- protections, while still allowing the FCC Workplace Monitoring dling error" and misuse of the ULS sys- to continue licensing LPFM stations. It tem. The FCC fired back that Heard's Everfelt likesomeone islooking over also requires an independent third party your shoulder? Watching you type that E- allegations lacked merit and that the sys- to find out how LPFM, without third - mail message at work? Listening to yourtem "processes mutually exclusive vani-adjacent channel protections, would ty call sign applications received on the phone calls at the office? You're not para- affect listening audiences in nine test same day in random order." Luck of the noid, you're probably right. Workplace markets, with the findings to be reported draw, pal, luck of the draw. monitoring is becoming more common as to Congress by February 2001. Should employers keep a weather eye on what the Commission decide to make changes employees are up to. When you're on com- CTIA Gets Postponement Ofto third -adjacent channel protections, it pany time, what you do on the phone, on 700 -MHz Auction must then get congressional approval. your computer, and at your desk becomes The bill also goes on to require several company business. Sen. Charles Schumer, The FCC delayed the auction of com- additional studies by the FCC, including (D-N.Y.) says that workers have a right to merciallicenses in the 700 -MHz band foran LPFM economic impact study on what know how their employers are watching six months after a request from the it calls "incumbent FM broadcasters in them, and he has introduced a bill veryCellular Telecommunications Industry general, and minority and small -market 1111111r BY LAURA QUARANTIELLO 44 / POP'COMM/ January 2001 Scan Our Web Site broadcasters in particular," as well as a the FM station's listening audience regis- remain in November 2000, February study of the impact on the transition toters complaints. 2001, and May 2001. digital in -band on -channel (IBOC) radio, The Commission also modified its sin- reading services for the blind, and FMgle station ownership rules to allow gov- GPS On FRS translators. As if that isn't enough, this ernment public safety and transportation legislation also establishes that all LPFM organizations the chance to apply for sev- The FCC has granted a waiver of licenses will be non-commercial anderal LPFM stations to distribute traffic, Family Radio Service rules to allow the remain non-commercial, and prohibits safety, and similar information. transmissionofGlobalPositioning issuing an LPFM license to anyone whoUniversity student -run LPFM stationsService location information on FRS has engaged in unlicensed (pirate) radiowould also be allowed from universitieschannels.Currently,FamilyRadio broadcasting. Hopefully H.R. 3439 willholding full power FM licenses that areService Rule Sections 95.193(a) and make everyone happy for the time being, not student -run. 95.631(d) allow units to transmit only at least until those LPFM stations start To prove just how popular LPFM is, the emission type F3E and tones to establish going on the air. FCC received 473 low power FM radioor continue FRS voice conversations. Manufacturer Garmin International peti- Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the FCCapplications during its second filing win- tioned the FCC to change their rules to has adopted new complaint proceduresdow, held August 28 to September 1, allow licensing of handheld FRS units designed to ensure swift action if any sig- 2000. Applications arrived from non- nificant third -adjacent channel interfer- which contain a feature which poll other ence occurs due to operation of an LPFMprofit community -based organizations units for their GPS-derived location infor- station. The process would begin withand state and local governments inmation and display it on a map of the efforts between the LPFM and the fullConnecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, receiving unit. The request for waiver was power FM station to identify and resolve Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New originally denied due to concerns that the any true interference complaints, assist-Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and GPS feature could be used to track other ed by FCC field agents if needed. If this Wyoming. A list of the applicants is avail- FRS units, but Garmin clarified to the doesn't work, an expedited modification ablefromtheFCCwebsiteat FCC that the user of the unit being polled procedure will kick in to resolve the com-www.fcc.gov (Broadcast Applicationswould have to press a button to transmit plaint within 90 days. These actionsPublic Notice, Report No. 24820, pages GPS information and that it could only be won't begin unless at least one percent of8-103.) Three more filing windows transmitted once every 10 seconds. Super a1¢11 Gettin Started Videos P10.019, Getting Started In Ham Radio Getting Started in Getting Started in Ham Radio- Packet-De-mystify Ham Radio How to select equipment, packet. Info on making Horizons-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 involved. Getting Started in GPffing Stoitod in VHF VHF-Intro to VHF. Amateur Satellites- Repeater usage, packet, How ops set up satellites and more exotic stations. Locate and $JT5 each- Now $12.95 VHF op modes. track ham satellites. Buy more and save! Getting Started in Getting Started in Buy 2 or 3 for $11.95 each DXing- Top DXers Contesting- Advice Buy 4 to 6 for $10.95 each share experiences with and op tips from Ken Buy all 7 for your Club for equipment, antennas, Wolf, K1 EA, K1 AR and op skills and QSLing. others! only $ !! Now $69.95i! 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. Foreign - shipping/handling charges are calculated by order weight & destination. Credit Card No. Expiration date MO= Method of payment Check Money Order Visa MasterCard Discover['AmericanExpress CQ Communications, Inc., 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801/516-681-2922; Fax 516-681-2926 BROADCAST DXING DX, News And Views Of AM And FM Broadcasting WPAQ Archives Bluegrass Music Community radio is alive and well along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the southern Appalachian mountains, where bluegrass music emanates from a hilltop in Mount Airy, North Carolina. With a solid 10,000 watts non -directional on 740 kilohertz, WPAQ broadcasts the music that is part of the heritage of the region. Locally owned and operated by the same owner since its inception in 1948, WPAQ has become synony- mous with bluegrass, earning the respect of the community and the world. The continued success of WPAQ can be attributed to the commitment of owner Ralph Epperson. Since the begin- ning, Epperson has dedicated his efforts toward supporting the community and its traditional music. Epperson grew up listen- ing to country music on clear channel WSM Nashville and WLS Chicago, along with WBT Charlotte, North Carolina and WCYB Bristol, Tennessee, all of which served as models foi WPAQ programming. The keystone to WPAQ programming has been the Merry -Go -Round, first broadcast in 1948, featur- ing live performances and conversation with local musicians. The Merry -Go -Round was based on similar programs heard on WNOX Knoxville, WSB Atlanta, and WLS. After a brief respite as the airwaves succumbed to the popularity of rock n' roll in the 1950s, WPAQ returned to its roots in the mid '70s, bring- Date: 110 ing back the old bluegrass recordings and inviting new artists 4.5_,V1111 to perform. Since then WPAQ's popularity has continued to grow. Today you can hear the best in bluegrass featuring orig- inal 78 rpm cuts and masters recorded live at the WPAQ stu- e dios, live remote broadcasts from area concerts, and the Merry - Go -Round on WPAQ. that's us. This confirms your reception of our signal at the You can sample the music of WPAQ on a new compact disk date and time indicated. Using a Nautel XL12 at 10KW into recently released by Rounder Records. "WPAQ: The Voice of a 350' stick from College Station -Bryan, Texas. the Blue Ridge Mountains - Radio Recordings from Mt. Airy, NC 1947-1950" is a compilation of music from the extensive First WPAQ archives featuring local and national bluegrass artists of WAVY Broadcast the time. NewsTalk Broadcasting has become an Epperson family endeavor. 1620April 5, 2000 Epperson's daughter owns WBOB Galax, Virginia, and his son can be heard on WBRF FM Galax and WPAQ. Epperson also QSL card from WTAW College Station, Texas on 1620 owns WPNC AM and FM, Plymouth, North Carolina. from radio industry pros as well as beginners who thought they'd More News! give it a try. After this long and exhaustive search, we've final- ly filled our opening for co-host/newsperson on our More Music Perhaps sensing the growing trend toward local radio, "Q-Morning Show. Bonnie McCann, from Francestown, NH, has 93" CJYQ St. John's, Newfoundland, at 930 AM has changedbeen hired for the position. And no, Bonnie has no prior radio from classic rock to a local bluegrass music format. Under theexperience! But she's got the perfect personality for Cool 96.5." new nickname "Radio Newfoundland" CJYQ will be playing Bonnie will have quite a challenge ahead, as Darien Jaye and a variety of local music including the jigs and reels representa-Joan Kelley were the New Hampshire Association of tive of the region's Irish heritage. Broadcasters' 1999 Personalities of the Year. "Cool 96.5" WQLL Manchester, New Hampshire, sought out A unique simulcast is history. "Oldies 98" WTRY AM and local talent for their morning drive time show. After morning DJ FM Troy, New York, was unique because of it's simulcast on Darien Jaye's co -host Joan Kelley retired from the airwaves, 980 AM and 98.3 FM, such that the Oldies 98 nickname applied WQLL launched the "Who wants to be Joan Kelley?" on -air cam- to both the AM and FM frequencies. 980 is now WOFX Fox paign. Program director J.C. Haze writes, "We received tapesSports Radio, also carrying Imus in the Morning. The oldies 11111111111111111111r BY BRUCE CONTI 810 ZNS3 Freeport, Bahamas, at 0806 English with Guatemala vs. BarbadosCartagena, Colombia, at 2308 most Caribbean -accented DJ played "The Firstfootballplay-by-play,goodsignal. likely this with Spanish talk and het Cut is the Deepest" by Rod Stewart and (Conti, ME) against CJCH/WHJJ groundwave and an some other '70s/'80s era tunes, good over 900 YVMD Mara Ritmo900, unidentified Latin American station on likely HJCY with WGY nulled, later atMaracaibo, Venezuela, at 0108 "Muy920. (Connelly, MA) At 0218, poor in 1015 Caribbean English religious talk, pronto, Mara Ritmo 900" and Zulia men-sub -audible het, sign -off ". . . desde alone on the channel during a pre -dawntions, "hora de Venezuela" time checks, Cartegena, Colombia" with anthem, then "Bahamas pipeline." (Connelly, MA) accordion/cumbia music, mixing withthe off -frequency het was gone leaving 900 CBC Bridgetown, Barbados, atCBC Barbados. (Conti, ME) YVQX Venezuela in clear. (Conti, ME) 0050 announcers in Caribbean -accented 920.17 HJAA Emisora Fuentes, 930CX20 R. MonteCarlo, 50 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site Montevideo, Uruguay, at 0250 fair,great signal popped up from nowhere atlocation. This is one of the strongest "CX20 Radio Monte Carlo" IDs, full ID 0900, with man in Spanish followed by aProgreso signals, often heard along the " transmite CX20 Radio Monte Carlo, woman with ID mentioning Buenos Aires, eastern seaboard, but a nice catch in the Montevideo, republica .Uruguay" with Argentina and BBC. My third x -band sta-west. The transmitter site is in Santiago domestic interference. (Conti, ME) tion from Argentina. (Martin, OR) de Cuba. The Progreso station on 640 1060 HJLY R. Delfin, Riohacha, 1700 KBGG Des Moines, Iowa, atfrom Guanabacoa is another one that's Colombia, at 2200 fair, jingle, and ID, 0803 good signal, local talk show inter- regularly heard. "Transmite Radio Delfin, HJLY, en laview of a female talent from TV channel Thanks to Mark Connelly, Ralph bande AM" with fanfare into program of 8. (Griffith, CO) Epperson, Dan Gillespie, Patrick Griffith, exitos. (Conti, ME) Bob Montgomery in California reports PatrickMartin,BobMontgomery, 1110 YVQT R. Carupano, Carupano,hearing Radio Progreso, Cuba on 890 Mauno Ritola, and Roger Winsor. 73, and Venezuela, at 2325 a huge signal with slo-kHz, and inquired about the transmitter good DX! gan "Radio Carupano, la emisora de la buena suerte." (Connelly, MA) 1130 YVRL R. Ideal, Maiquetia, Venezuela, at 2259 good, ad for super- CALL TOLL FREE CALL, E-MAIL OR mercado in Maiquetia, "1130 AM.. Ideal WRITE FOR OUR romantica" into light adult contemporary (800) 292-7711 music. (Conti, ME) Orders Only C & S FREE Se Habla Espanol 4 PAGE CATALOG! 1280 VSB2 Hamilton, Bermuda, at Order On -Line @ www.cs-sales. (800) 445-3201 2332 an interview with a young girl about reasons to join the church, way over usual Digital Multimeters Elenco Oscilloscopes Free Dust Cover and 01. 02 Probes WADO and possible Brazil. This 1 kW Elenco Model M-1740 Elenco Model LCM-1950 Fluke Model 87111 station was almost pegging the S -meter! $39.95 '69." '3190 (Connelly, MA) FM,lo 0MHz road lo v 1320 WUNO NotiUno, San Juan, AGOG Voltage AC/DC voltage and AO, Current tttet2 Gee, Puerto Rico, at 2334 an emotional Drode Test prey, duty Traosislor Test esstance. 2 year Free Holster Spanish political speech about Puerto tactance and Web qadsalery Rees Warranty Model 812780 SVIAS tiance Rico, good with WJYT (Spanish domes- (9 tunchonst S-1325 Dual Trace 6325 S t 330 25MH Delayed Sweep 6439 tic) nulled and not much CKEC because S-1340 40MHz Dual Trace $475 S-1345 40MHz Delayed Sweep $569 Test Instruments 5 1360 60MHz Delayed Sweep 6725 of auroral conditions. (Connelly, MA) S-1390 100MHz Delayed Sweep $895 Elenco 3MHs Sweep Function Generator Elenco Handheld Elenco Power Supply DIGITAL SCOPE SUPER SPECIALS 1470 YVSY R. Vibracion, Caru- with built -In 60MH$ frequency counter Universal Counter Model X14-5131 DS 20 r re , riryDgilal $695 Model GF-8046 1MHz - 2.8GH. DS -hr,: r, q/Digital 5850 pano, Venezuela, at 2357 a plaintive model F-2800 DS, dog/Delta! $950 male Spanish folk ballad, then Radio 1121 $99 ;;ITM:11-11. -;11 Deluxe Soldering Station Vibracion ID, loud! (Connelly, MA) 85 Dense SL -5 Series - PlectrontCally 5tuderas 1480 KDXX Dallas, Texas, at 0300 S195.95 d h taby weep tuncton genmatur wth counter NO an Elenco Power Supply As Low As Spanish programming with Spanish ver- Model XP -603 ,tment capable of generating square, triangle. Works w/ any sions of U.S. soft -rock hits from the '90s, stne weyelorma and TTL. CMOS pulse over a frequency range from 0 2Hz to 2MHz 10 God dueled 10 iron! Turn $29x95 sepureni aud RF opnal over a second Spanish station and English OF -8025 - Mtn. Counter $139.95 strerigth [puree, any soldering nc uet. enna NtCad Ider iron into a Features: 20MHz Sweep / Function Generator battery and AC adapter sports station. (Griffith, CO) Res...non to 10H2 $85 variable iron. rhion Grp Handle with Frequency Counter C-2800 Cse with Bee 64 Snn Grounded Tip rot 1550 WLOR Huntsville, Alabama, Model 4040 $14.95 o.enng Stem Sensotve CroveleS Fa, Elenco RF Generator Elenco 10Hz - 1MHz Rep.., Uses Lo, "Jammin' 1550" has been very strong at with Counter. Digital Audio Generator Lae Pei. Cont., Tin Model SG -9500 nights lately. They must be newly returned $445 Model SG -9360 dews Steel Non-Sirp '225 Bose AMHz to 20MHz Imo 110ider to the air. I never heard them at night when ..11111.Reven,sw len or rqnt AM & FMod 1 ti ErE=11 am. they were WAAY. (Winsor, IN) Burst Operation Inn. `225 srde External Frequency counter lo 30MHz Siete Gay IraSponge Linear and Log sweep KO Fax, 1630 KCJJ Iowa City, Iowa, at 1046 111 110111.4111111. sponge Pad 21.5MHz Model 4070 $1295 Features t.1 111 (arl uHe frequency COUnter. low dretOrtiOn commercials and music by Styx, strong 10MHz Model 4017 $325 sinteiSpUare WaVeS Ordering Information: 5MH7 Model 4011 $255 SG -9200 (w/o counter, $124 signal at first, fading with sunrise, out by Model SL -5 - No iron (Kit SL -5K) '29" 1056. (Gillespie, MI) Elenco Educational Kits Four Functions in One Model SL -5-40 Includes 40W UL iron 535.95 1630 WRDW Augusta, Georgia, at Model AR-2N6K Model AM -780K (Kit SL -5K-40) Lima. Time Otbrif. 0358 with full ID mentioning 1630 as 410 tlef 0 well as on 1480 for a short time, interfer- Digital/Analog Trainer ence from KCJJ. (Winsor, IN) '34." 2 Meter / 6 Meter $1 1 .95 EICIICO MO(101 0K-150 Amateur Radio Kit 2 IC Radio 144 1630 KKWY Cheyenne, Wyoming, ...... at 0536 in here this morning with the best Model M -1005K Model RCC-7K Elenco Model MX -9300B Digaal Muthmetor Kit Radio Controlled $450 Race Car RH signal I've heard since they went on the S1995 Features: $89." $29." One instrument with tour test and rneasurong systems air. Frequent "1630 KWY" IDs and coun- I 30Hz Frequency Counter 2MHz Sweep Function Generator A low cost lublunclow,grIalranalorg trainer lnal meets the needs 01 try music. (Griffith,CO) Dtgdal Multuneter efactron5 Panne ProgramsRugged constructton can be usea az fixed lab epUipmen1 or portableAn economical =peecase 1660 KQWB West Fargo, North 7 Functions Disstai Tnple Pa, avarla, Dakota, full ID at the top of the hour, Guaranteed Lowest Prices C&S SALES, INC. 15 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE UPS SHIPPING: 48 STATES 5% 150 W. CARPENTER AVENUE 2 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY heard several times with ID as "Star OTHERS CALL FOR DETAILS WHEELING, IL 60090 1660.- (Winsor,IN) IL Residents add 8.25% Sales Tax FAX: (847) 541-9904 (847) 541-0710 SEE US ON THE WEB http://www.cs-sales.com voir0F0 SuSGOT TO ORANGE WiToCuT NOT , 1670 BBC Buenos Aires, Argentina, a e-mail: [email protected] www.popular-communications.com January2001 /POP COMM / 51 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Pop'Comm Reviews Products OfInterest EZ Raze Mast System Ask any radio enthusiast if he or she panel or run down the mast, my goal was could use another antenna, anten-simple: see how easy it was to connect na mast, or 50 -feet of coax and the mast with panel already attached, to you'll likely get "are you kidding, sure Ithe tripod and hoist it up, pole by pole to can" for an answer. I first saw one of thethe desired height. As you'll see in the EZ Raze mast systems at the Daytonphoto, I held the tripod at an angle while Hamvention where the quick setup and maneuvering the pole -mounted panel tear down was attracting a crowd, and assembly into the top hole of the tripod, have since had the opportunity to use one and down to the center plastic hole mount, on an extended basis first-hand, reporting carefullytiltingthe entire assembly my findings for you this month. upright and connecting additional poles The basic EZ Raze mast system con- underneath the tripod. While it may at sists of the tripod mount and the four 4- first look awkward, it was far better than foot poles. Additional poles, special large raising a standard RadioShack 10 -foot tripod feet, sturdy nylon rope, and guy-pole with the panel on top, onto another ing ring are available in the model EZ-28 10 -foot pole, then figuring out how you Mast 28 -foot system ($1,200) and model would steady the entire assembly - RR -36 Military Mast which is loaded that's easily a two -person job. Working with special features. I highly recom-with the EZ Raze mast system was far mend the RR -36 IF you'll be using the easier, and a one -person job! mast system in very windy areas where Not surprisingly, the military uses you require an installation higher than these EZ Raze mast systems; they're eas- 20+ feet, and want to install multiple ily transportable by one person, up in a antennas. This superior model includes jiffy (and down quickly if necessary!) and V -bars for multiple antenna installation, heavy -weight enough to withstand the special guy ropes, winch & cable assem- elements and rigors of field day or emer- bly, top pulley, and much more! gency use, yet light enough for one Unpacking the EZ Raze Mast System The tripod and poles on the standard EZ Raze Mast System are no lightweight affair; this is one heck of a mast system that can support a variety of antennas, including yagis, verticals, or discones. The company literature and Website says the EZ Raze system goes up in about five minutes. I'd say that's about right. It took me a while longer the first time, because I laid out all the poles and tripod on the ground, examined the various parts. joints and "extras,"Iwas provided, including the heavy-duty red metal foot- pads and guy rope. But when it was time to open the four -foot tripod and connect the poles, it was a snap - no more than five or 10 minutes from start to finish. Puffing It All Together My "antenna" of choice for the top of Insert the provided (with the EZ-28 Mast) metal stake through the pre -drilled hole in each the mast was a small 18 112" x 25 1/2" footpad for a super -strong installation. Or you can use the stakes and guy rope (convenient- Kyocera solar panel. While the DC ly wrapped onto provided plastic storage handles) to make an already good installation even power cord wasn't yet connected to the better - something you should do for heights over 20 -feet anyway. BY HAROLD ORT, N2RLL, EDITOR 111111111111111MM 52 / POP'COMM / January 2001 &cm Our Web Site Mast Systems EZ Raze (18 -Foot Mast System, $750) 1 -4 1/2 -foot center -base tripod 3 - Nested tripod base legs 4 - Center mast poles EZ Raze (28 -Foot Mast System, $1,200) 1 -4 1/2 -foot center -base tripod 3 - Nested tripod base legs 1 - Guy collar 6 - Center mast poles 3 - Base plates 3 - Ground stakes 3 - Guy rope kits 3 - Quick release rope stays 1 - Five-foot canvas carrying bag Note: Extra poles, base plates, ground stakes, and guy rope kits can be purchased separately. Putting two four -foot pole sections together is a cinch. person to carry. The four -foot poles are constructed of .049 gauge CREWST steel tubing and are specially coated to pre- vent corrosion. Careful handling to avoid scratches will ensure years of continuous use. (If you do scratch the paint, simply re- paint it with a good, quality outdoor enamel). The poles fit I decided to use a brick as a "base" for the center poles to keep the together perfectly - there's no wobbling or bowing, as each heavy poles from digging into the soft ground. pole has a four -inch solid aluminum insert on one end that, unlike standard garden variety poles, gives each connection pole a snug fit and absolutely no chance of working loose or devel- oping hairline cracks. Also at the "plug" end of each pole is atogether, even though they come pre -coated from the factory, ball plunger similar to the locking device found on your vacu-simply because repeated assembly and disassembly, and plac- um cleaner hose - with one main difference. These snaps are ing the poles on the ground eventually removes the grease). The extra heavy-duty and user -adjustable! A little patience is in order other, more expensive Military Mast version mentioned earlier here if you don't want the poles to turn your beam in a heavyusessquarepoles, thereby eliminatinganypossible concern wind. Near the end of each pole is a simple screw adjustmentabout your yagi moving in the wind. Frankly, I probably would that moves the small ball plunger in or out from the pole's outerhave designed the basic system with a simple hole and non- surface. Be careful: too much ball plunger extending outwardadjustable,fixed ball plungers, but the way it is merely requires from the surface and you'll mistakenly believe you've got to usea couple of extra minutes to properly adjust for a snug fit. brute force to put the poles together. This is NOT true! I adjust- I'm an instruction manual junkie. We've got instruction man- ed each ball plunger with small one -quarter screwdriver turnsuals in a large filing cabinet on everything from blenders to tape until getting just the right plunger protrusion, then pushed therecorders. This one is easy enough to follow, but you really don't poles together, resulting in four, four -foot sections that didn'tneed a manual for the basic system. The EZ Raze mast system is turn, yet were easily separated. (I'd also recommend rubbing designed to be a temporary setup (although many folks, I'm told, just a dab of grease on each connection before putting the polesget around various antenna restrictions using this "temporary" www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 53 Tightening the knob in the centerpiece holds the bottom pole firmly in place. The black pin assembly pin locks the bottom of each leg firmly into place on the footpad. additional height, you can always extend The back of our 18 1/2" x 25 1/2" Kyocera the tripod's legs that tighten firmly into solar panel attached to the top pole with a Ram -It mount (which we'll be reviewing in a place with the large weather -resistant future issue). knobs. They're also extremely helpful on uneven terrain. I used the tripod feet which attach to the bottom of each leg in seconds using the provided black snap -pin gizmo. As you'll see in the photo, each footpad has two holes, through which you insert the optional 18 1/2" solid metal stakes (with the included large mallet in the 28 - foot Mast System). Be careful when opening and closing the tripod assembly. It's fairly easy to crunch your fingers on the folding center support braces. I found no sharp edges or metal burrs on any piece of the EZ Raze mast system, however you should always wear good quality work gloves when putting up wires and antennas. I'd certainly recommend the EZ Raze mast system to you, regardless of your radiopursuit,especiallyifyou're Standing the small Kyocera solar panel and involved in disaster preparedness, or are single four -foot pole/ tripod assembly. one of those folks who likes to be pre- pared for virtually any emergency. After all, you've got the radios, why not go all installation) that only requires a few min-the way and get an antenna support struc- utes of your time and a little commonture that's capable of rolling with the sense. Overall, I found it to be an excel- punches? For more information, contact lent, easily assembled, sturdy mast system Old Stone Corporation, 6101 Cascade that's light years beyond using a few flim- Mill Road, Cascade, VA 24069 phone The EZ Raze Mast System shown here (but sy poles and shaky assemblies, despite the with a total of six poles), tripod legs fully 800-538-4977 or visit them on the extended for a total height of 31 feet. The base higher cost ($750 for the 18 -foot version). Internet at http:// www.AntennaMast. of the tripod measures about 31 inches It not only performs as advertised, butcorn. Be sure to tell them you read about between each leg for a good, solid ground looks darned good as well. If you need the it in Popular Communications. without the need for guying up to about 20feet. 54 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site BiSavins onRadio Scanners all COMMUNICATIONSTrunkTracking Radio Radio Scanners 0 Monitor fire, police, weather, marine, medical, aircraft and I DISTRIBUTOR'S COUPON 1 Expires 12/30/2000 I #00102P ELECTRONICS INC. other transmissions with your radio scanner from CEI. AOR8200 Mark IIB-A wideband handheld scanner/SPECtAL $539.95 Order on-line and get big savingsI SAVE $75..eBC245XLT AOR AR16B0 wideband handheld scanner w/ quick charge .$299.95 Take advantage of Popular Communications ISave $75 when you purchase your Bearcat 245XLT scanner directly I Bearcat 895XLT-A1 300 ch.TrunkTracker base scanner $194.95 from Communications Electronics Inc. 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Includes moni- toring other channels for transmissions. Preprogrammed & search decoder $89.95: EM8200 Extema14,000channel backup memory, tor function to receive weak signals. Built-in S -meter, mul- Service (SVC) Search - Allows you to toggle through 160 search banks. $69.95; RU8200 about 20 seconds chip based record- tiple operating profiles, backlit keypad and display and preprogrammed police, fire/emergency, railroad, aircraft, ma- ing and playback $69.95; 7E8200 256 step tone eliminator $59.95. In rine, and weather frequencies. Unique Data Skip - Allows addition, two leads are available for use with the option socket. CC8200 PC twelve channel steps. Now, when you purchase your AOR control lead with CD Rom programming software $109.95: CR8200 tape your scanner to skip unwanted data transmissions and re- AR16B directly from Communications Electronics, you'll get recording lead $59.95. Includes 41,000 mAh AA ni-cad batteries, charger. duces unwanted birdies. Memory Backup - If the battery cigar lead, whip aerial, MW bar antenna, belt hook, strap and one year a free 'Q' option package deal upgrade, a $30.00 extra completely discharges or if power is disconnected, the fre- limited AOR warranty. Enter your order now at hrtp://ww.usascan.com. special value. This upgrade includes two 1,300 mA NEX cog quencies programmed in your scanner are retained in AA size rechargeable nickle metal hydride batteries and a memory. Manual Channel Access -Go directly to any Buy with confidence MAHA MH-C204F AA/AAA Nickel Metal Hydride/Nickel channel. LCD Back Light - An LCD light remains on for 15 seconds when the back light key is pressed. Cadmium battery rapid charger upgrade. Includes one year It's easy to order from us. For fastest delivery, enter your order Autolight - Automatically turns the backlight on on the intemeL Mail orders to: Communications Electronics Inc., limited AOR factory warranty. For quick delivery, order on- when your scanner stops on a transmission. Battery P.O. Box 1045, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA. Add $20.00 per line at http://www.usascan.com or call 1 -800 -USA -SCAN. Save - In manual mode, the BC245XLT automati- weather station or radio product for UPS ground shipping, handling Bearcat®895XLT-A1 Radio Scanner cally reduces its power requirements to extend the and insurance to the continental USA unless otherwise stated. Add Mfg. suggested list price $729.95/Spec ia I $194.95 battery's charge. Attenuator - Reduces the sig- $13.00 shipping for all accessories and publications. Add $13.00 300 Channels 10 banks Built-in CTCSS S Meter nal strength to help prevent signal overload. The shipping per antenna. For Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, Size: 10-1/2" Wide x 7-1/2" Deep x 3-3/8" High BC245XLT also works as a conventional scan- Guam, P.O. Box or APO/FPO delivery, shipping charges are two Frequency Coverage:29.000-54.000 MHz., 108.000-174 MHz., ner. Now it's easy to continuously monitor many times continental US rates. Michigan residents add state sales tax. 216.000-512.000 MHz., 806.000-823.995 MHz., 849.0125-868.995 radio conversations even though the message No COD's. Satisfaction guaranteed or retum item in unused MHz., 894.0125-956.000 MHz. is switching frequencies. The BC245XLT condition in original packaging within 61 days for refund, less The Bearcat 895XLT is superb for intercepting bunked commu- comes with AC adapter, one rechargeable shipping charges. 10% surcharge for net 10 billing to qualified nications transmissions with features like TurboScanTm to search long life ni-cad battery pack, belt clip, flexible accounts. All sales are subject to availability, acceptance and VHF channels al 100 steps per second. This base and mobile rubber antenna, earphone, RS232C cable, verification. Prices, terms and specifications are subject to change scanner is also ideal for intelligence professionals because it has Trunk Tracker frequency guide, owner's without notice. We welcome your Discover, Visa, American Ex- a Signal Strength Meter, RS232C Port to allow computer -control of manual and one year limited Uniden warranty. Not press, MasterCard, IMPAC or Eurocard. Call anytime 1 -800 -USA - your scanner via optional hardware and 30 trunking channel compatible with AGEIS, ASTRO, ESAS or LTR systems. SCAN or 1-800-872-7226 to order toll -free. Call 734- indicator annunciators to show you real-time trunking activity for an Hear more action on your radio scanner today. Order on-line 996-8888 if outside Canada orthe USA. FAX anytime, entire trunking system.Other features include Auto Store - at http://www.usascan.com for quick delivery. dial 734-663-8888. Dealer and international inquir- Automatically stores all active frequencies within the specified ies invited. Order on-line today or call today. bank(s). Auto Recording- Lets you record channel activity from e scbedule AIWA* Sei, --fret 1. 2000 AD 1100100PC 02000 C0111111.1111.10115 Electronics Inc the scanner onto a tape recorder. CTCSS Tone Board(Continu- (VHF/GMRS/CB Radios) ous Tone Control Squelch System) allows the squelch to be broken For credit card orders call during scanning only when a correct CTCSS tone is received. For Have fun and use our CB, GMRS, shortwave and commercial maximum scanning enjoyment, order the following optional acces- radios to keep in touch with the world, friends and family. sories: PS001 Cigarette lighter power cord for temporary operation Cobra 148GTL-A3 SSB CB/SPECIAL $114.95 1 -800 -USA -SCAN from your vehicle's cigarette lighter $14.95; PS002 DC power cord RELM MPV32D-A 5 watt VHF handheld transceiver $299.95 Communications Electronics Inc. - enables permanent operation from your vehicle's fuse box $14.95; Uniden GRANTXL-A SSB CB Mobile $124.95 Emergency Operations Center MB001 Mobile mounting bracket $14.95; EX711 External speaker Sangean ATS909-A shortwave receiver $229.95 with mounting bracket & 10 feet of cable with plug attached $19.95. Sangean ATS818CS-A shortwave receiver $199.95 e-mail: [email protected] The BC895XLT comes with AC adapter, telescopic antenna, Sangean ATS800-A shortwave receiver $64.95 www.usascan.com owner's manual and one year limited Uniden warranty. Not com- Sangean ATS505-A shortwave receiver $104.95 PO Box 1045, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1045 USA patible with AGEIS, ASTRO, EDACS, ESAS or LTR systems. Sangean ATS404-A shortwave receiver $79.95 For information call 734-996-8888 or FAX 734-663-8888 ANTENNAS & THINGS Simple Antennas And Accessories Par Signal Improvement Angle Of Radiation And Relative Antenna Height This month we are going to take avisible to the transmitting antenna, even Angle Of Radiation look at two topics, Relative anten- though the signal kisses the Earth's sur- na heights and angle of radiation. face at the radio horizon. The angle of radiation (0 of an anten- These two topics are little discussed in How far away is the radio horizon? The na is the angle from the Earth's surface of radio circles, especially among short- standard equation for a single antenna is: the main lobe (Fig. 2). It tells you the wave listeners and monitor/scanner oper- placement of the main lobe of the anten- ators, but they are very important to the R.H. = kN/FI na, and therefore the direction of the max- proper functioning of your antenna sys- imum reception sensitivity. tem. And they are somewhat interrelated. Where: Figure 3 shows how the angle of radi- R.H. is the distance to the radio hori-ation can affect where a signal goes Relative Antenna Heights zon in miles because of angle of radiation differences. H is the antenna height in feet Note that, because antennas obey a Law There's no doubt about it: height helps k will be 1.26 if R.H. is in nautical miles of Reciprocity (i.e. they work on receive in radio communications and broadcast- (n.mi), and the same as on transmit), you can reverse ing. I can recall operating all over the 50 1.43 if R.H. is in statute miles (mi.). the directional arrows to see where a states on 40 -meters with only 15 watts [Note: the n.mi is 6,000 feet, and thereceiver antenna looks as a function of its CW from a homebrew transmitter on ami. is 5,280 feet; the n.mi is commonlyangle of radiation. ham radio ARRL Field Day, using onlyused in navigation and in radio com- Signal A in Fig. 3 has too high an angle a half -wavelength dipole for an antenna. munications, but we'll use statute milesof radiation. It is refracted in the ionos- The reason why we were getting very(mi.) because it's more familiar to mostphere, like any other signal, but not suf- good results was the fact that we were onreaders.] ficiently to return to the Earth's surface; a Virginia mountaintop (Rocky Mountain For a two -antenna system, we need toit is "lost in space." Signal B, has a lower residents need not snicker). add the radio horizons to each, when angle of radiation, but is at a critical angle. Height always helps, but it's even aimed at the same point (e.g. point A inThis signal does not escape into space, more critical on the VHF/UHF scannerFig. 1). For this situation, the distance but is ducted along in the ionosphere. This bands. Figure 1 shows why. The Earth'sbetween the antennas can be: signal is at a so-called "critical angle." surface has been curved ever since Signals C and D are at angles that are low Columbus sailed the ocean blue, so a enough to be refracted in the ionosphere R.H. = 1.43 + 1.43 A./ -H radio wave that is parallel to the surface TA -RA such that they are returned to Earth. But at the transmitting antenna (TA in Fig. notice how the distance to the point of 1) will kiss the surface tangentially at a These equations are useful for directimpact, or target area, varies with the place called the "radio horizon" (point line -of -sight communications with only angle of radiation. This phenomenon A in Fig. 1). The radio horizon is a bit a small amount of refraction, no multi -occurs in the medium wave, shortwave, beyond the optical horizon because ofpath reflections, or special circumstancesand low VHF bands (but sporadically in atmospheric refraction. such as aurora or meteor scatter propa-the latter). As you can see, a horizon -hug- Note the two receive antennas in Fig.gation. They add another dimension to ging angle of radiation is the key to longer 1 (i.e. RA1 and RA2). Antenna RA 1 has your radio communications activities. distance shortwave communications. a height that is too low for the signal path As you can see, height counts. The So what angle of radiation should you so will remain shadowed, therefore silent. higher your receiver antenna, the more use? Are low angles always best? The But antenna RA2 is high enough to be distance it will "hear." answer would be "yes" only if you want - Fig. 1. Distance to the radio horizon. BY JOE CARR, K4IPV 56 / POP'COMM / January2001 Scan Our Web Site ale Pelject ioteetetry 94e1 The Worldwide Shortwave Listening Guide "...is indispensible for anyone seriously interested in listening to international broadcasters, either on the radio or on the web." Fig. 2. Angle of radiation. Radio Netherlands Completely Revised & Updated Comprehensive listings of world- wide shortwave broadcasts in English Highlights programs targeted to the Americas Expanded section on using your PC for shortwave listening "The perfect complement to Fig. 3. What happens to a signal as a function of angle of radiation. Passport and theWRTH!" John Grinder, ODXA ed nothing but long distance DX. But if5/8 -wavelength radiator element has a Just $15.95 you wanted to hear stations closer in, then lower angle of radiation. Antennas such a higher angle of radiation (to encourage as the Bobtail Curtain and Thorne Array plus $3.95 shipping and handling "short skip") might be in order. The key, (for more information on the last two if you have the dollars and space, is toantennas,see my bookJoe Carr's MasterCard & Visa customers build your antennas with various angles Receiving Antenna Handbook). order by calling toll free of radiation. By the way, don't bother trying to tilt the antenna to affect the angle of radia- Conclusion 1-877-724-7274 tion. You might affect the polarity of the Or send you check of money order signal, but not the angle of radiation. The Clearly, angle of radiation and height for $19.90 made payable to angle of radiation is independent of the above the surface of the Earth are impor- angle of the antenna. tant concepts in radio communication. Shortwave Listening Guide The angle of radiation of horizontal Whether you listen at the AM broadcast to: half -wavelength dipoles, at least those band, shortwave bands, or the VHF/UHF less than two wavelengths above the scanner bands, these concepts are critical Shortwave Listening Guide Earth's surface,is dependent on theto the success of your operation. 7101 N. Ridgeway Ave. height of the antenna above ground. The You can contact me with questions, Lincolnwood, IL 60712 angle of radiation of verticals is depen-complaints, kudos, suggestions, brick- dent on the radiator length. The standardbats, or just about anything you want, at Please allow 14-21 days for delivery. quarter -wavelength antenna generallythe following NEW address: P.O. Box Add $3.00 for priority shipping. has a higher angle of radiation. while the 1587, Annandale, VA 22003. www.popuIar-communications.com January 2001 /POP'COMM / 57 UTILITY RADIO REVIEW News, Information, And Events In The Utilit9 Radio Service Between 30 kHz And 30 MHz Welcome To The Longwave Monitoring Theme Column While the majority of peoplenals to provide bearings for aeronauticalmodulated with digital signals to provide who monitor utility stationsand marine navigation. Most of these local -areacorrectiondatafor GPS stick to the HF bands, there aretransmit with a one kilohertz channel receivers, and no longer have Morse code a number who specialize logging low spacing with a continuous carrier period-identifications. The digital signals are frequency ute stations. This month my ically tone -modulated by a Morse coderelatively broadband, and unless they can guestcontributor,PerryF. be nulled by a loop antenna, it Crabill,Jr.(W3HQX)of is very difficult to copy con- Winchester, VA is one of those ventional co -channel signals. people. Perry will be providing The location where I do my us with an overview of the tech- monitoring is a residential sub- niques that he has developed urbtwomileseastof from 10 years of experience Winchester, Virginia, which is monitoring NDB's (non -direc- in turn about 70 miles NW of tional beacons). Washington, D.C. GPS gives If thereis one thing that the latitude as 78.12882 West Perry's monitoring experience and 39.17234 West. Initially, a shows, it is that "silence is gold- Kenwood R-5000 Receiver en." Despite monitoring in a equipped with a 500 -Hz CW noisy location, his LF NDB log- filter was used, along with an gings include stations in South outdoor wire antenna about America,theNorthWest 100feetlong.Afairly Territories in Canada, and the respectable log was built up Easter Islands (a distance of during the last year or so. approximately 5000 miles). So, Although signals could be how has he overcome the prob- demodulated using the AM lem of noise reduction for low capability of the R-5000, bet- frequency monitoring? Read on ter results were obtained using and find out. the CW mode with the 500 -Hz People have been writing and filter to tune for the keyed side - I'll be including some of their band. With 1020 Hz modula- letters in this month's column. tion, the upper sideband was And I have logs - both those often covered up by the carri- of Perry and several regular er of a strong adjacent channel contributors. In that regard, I am station 1.0 kHz higher in fre- happy to report that some new quency, but if the NDB was people have sent in their logs this month. Southern Avionics' SA -100 Dual NDB trans- using DSB modulation. The signal could Please, feel free to join in and send in your mitter. Running from 25 to 100 watts, a safe- be frequently identified by looking for the ty feature switches to the second transmitter logging contributions. As always, they if the first fails. (Photo courtesy Southern lower sideband. are more than welcome - even if it is Avionics Company). I soon learned that it was possible to only one log. identify different stations on the same Enough of the housekeeping, let's get channel, even if they were using the same on to Perry's contribution. identifier. Common modulating frequen- normal modulating frequency. Apparent- cies are 1,020 Hz and 400 Hz, with thely the manufacturing or operating toler- later being primarily used by Canadian ance allowed a slight difference in fre- Monitoring NDB - By Perry stations. Both USB and DSB modulation quency to occur, and in many cases time F. Crabill, Jr. may be used, and very few beacons key difference could be recognized by ear. their carrier without modulation. The use of a selective audio filter was Starting January 1, 1990, I began a In recent years, many radio beaconsespeciallyhelpfulhere.Initially, 1 serious effort to log non -directional bea- operated by the U.S. Coast Guard in thepressed into service an Autek QF-1 filter cons in the band 190-530 kHz. These are285-325 kHz range have been decom- already on hand, although it was not as radio stations equipped to send out sig-missioned. Those remaining are now selective as I would have liked. BY JOE COOPER 58 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site In time all of the easily logged signals on each channel had been identified, and Perry F. Crabill, Jr. NDB Logs new loggings were hard to come by unless a new station came on rite air. At this Note: Perry's logs number well over 1,000, so only a sampling of the DX that he point, I added turns to a two -foot square has done will be listed here. loop antenna I had built for BCB recep- tion to lower its frequency coverage to tile kHzCall QTH and comments beacon band. This added another dimen- siontologging co -channelstations 200 YAQ Kasobonikar ONT; 400 Hz because the loop could be rotated to null 201 RI Riviere du Loup; PQ; 400 Hz a dominant signal on a given bearing to 204 YFY Iqualuit, NWT; new freq; ex -206; 1741 miles allow identification of signals coming 206GLS Galveston, TX; DSB from other directions. 207CL Charlo, NB; 400 Hz; 844 miles Using a loop in the same room with 208 YSK Saniklauq, NWT 400 Hz; 1201 miles the R-5000 required some physical sep- 210CLO Cali, COLOMBIA; 1000 Hz; 2472 miles aration between the two because the 211 K7 St. Ann des Montes, PQ; 400 Hz receiver's digital display radiated inter- 212 SJ St. Johns, NB; 400 Hz ference in the long -wave range. The pur- 212UCF Cienfuegos, CUBA; 400 Hz; 1000 Hz in Guide; 1185 miles chase of a Drake R-8 receiver in 1992 214YFL Ft. Reliance, NWT; 2073 miles eliminated this problem altogether and 218DRM Drummond Island, MI the Kenwood was relegated to standby 218RL Red Lake, ONT; 400 Hz status. Like the Kenwood, the Drake had 218YUY Rouyn, PQ; 400 Hz a 500-hz CW filter capability that was 221 BO Bristol, TN; DSB equally effective. The noise blanker in 221 HM Hamilton, ONT; 400 Hz both receivers was somewhat helpful in 230UCL Cayo Largo del Sur, CUBA; 1229 miles reducing man-made electrical noise. I 232 GT Grand Turk, TURK ISLANDS; DSB; 1302 miles would say that both performed equally 232 UMZ Manzanillo, CUBA; 1000 Hz; new; 1311 miles well, although never completely elimi- 234 RYD Green Cove Springs, FL nating power -related interference. 235 URT Uruburetama, BRAZIL; 1000 Hz; 3849 miles While the two -foot loop added anoth- 236 4L Chatham, ONT; 1000 Hz; 400 Hz in Guide er dimension to the receiving arrange- 236 J Toronto, ONT; 400 Hz ment, when it was random -wound with 242 PJN Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, FL; DSB small- gauge wire the combination result- 244 BA Baranquilla, COLOMBIA; 1000 Hz DSB; dit after ID; 1969 mile ed in high -distributed capacity and low Q. 248 WG Winnipeg, MANITOBA; 400 Hz; voice Wx; 1196 miles Due to its small size, the output was low 251 ZQA Nassau, BAHAMAS; 977 miles and required a flat gain amplifier to pro- 254 5B Summerside, PEI; 400 Hz; new ID; ex-YSU; 875 miles vide a reasonable signal level. Rather than 256 UNV Nuevas, CUBA; 1000 Hz DSB; dit before ID; 1228 miles take the time to design and build a high- 269 UDE Delta Station, MANITOBA; 400 Hz; 1242 miles er quality loop, I ordered a Model 105-C 277 YLC Lake Harbour, NWT; 400 Hz; 1671 miles Longwave Loop from RSM Communi- 278 UBA Baracoa, CUBA; 1000 Hz DSB; 1316 miles cations. This was a three -Coot square fiat 2804B Little Grand Rapids, MANITOBA; 400 Hz; 1216 miles loop with spaced lungs and a matching 280 IPA Isla de Pascua, EASTER ISLAND; DSB; dit after ID; 5004 miles transformer for a 50 -ohm coax output. 280MID Metida, MEXICO; DSB; 1433 miles The signal levels were sufficiently high 280 QX Gander, NFLD; 400 Bz; 1338 miles that no amplification was required and its 284 QD The Pas; MANITOBA; 400 Mz? 1482 miles performance was quite superior. 287 G Winnipeg, MANITOBA; 400 Bz; 1194 miles In September 1994, I substituted the 287 SMR Santa Maria, COLOMBIA; 1000 Bz DSB; 1958 miles Timewave DSP-59+ Digital Filter for the 290 YNP Managua, NICARAGUA; 1931 miles 290 YZS Coral Harbour, NWT; 400 Hz; 1726 miles analog QF- I. This wasaten -fold improvement in performance in at least 292 MIQ Maiquetia, VENEZUELA; 2087 miles two ways. The digitalfilter allowed 300 ABL Ambalema, COLOMBIA; DSB? dit after ID; 2384 miles adjusting both audio bandwidth and cen- 300 PPR Pointe A Pitre, GUADELOUPE; 1878 miles ter frequency in its bandpass mode, with 305 YQ Churchill, MANITOBA; 1523 miles a narrowest bandwidth of 25 Hz available. 311 TBG Panama City, PANAMA; 1000 Hz; 2100 miles This extremely narrow width allowed 318 SSB San Sebastiean, VENEZUELA; 2127 miles using a "fine tuning" technique for sepa- 323 UWP Argentia, NFLD; 1330 miles rating keyed sidebands for NDBs that were nominally co -channel but had slop- py frequency tolerance. The DSP tech- I am not one of those longwave DXers I purchased the ANC -4 Antenna Noise nique also significantly reduced the effectwho isn't bothered by power system noise Canceller made by JPS Communications, of uncorrelated noise, and was effective and TV set sweep circuit harmonics. The Inc. This is intended to cancel locally gen- on both power system interference and problem has been becoming more serious erated noise before it gets into the receiv- atmospherics. at this location overtime, and in July 1996er and affects its AGC circuits. It operates www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COAM / 59 by adjusting the phase and amplitude ofquency is not shown for those U.S. sta-hear non -directional beacon JTM on 234 the interference picked up by a noise tions using 1020 Hz, nor is SSB indicat- kHz, as advertised in the table on page 72 antenna so that it cancels the interferinged if that is the known mode. All stationsof that issue. Hearing nothing from my signals on the main antenna. using DSB are also indicated. A question lodging location, I drove to the Sutton air- The ANC -4 has a rated operating fre- mark following data indicates that it may portforanothertry.Stillnothing. quency range of 500 kHz to 80 MHz, with be correct, but the item does not show in Observing a small group of fellows work- the notation that it is usable down to 100an available reference. Entries labeled asing on an aircraft inside a hangar, I kHz. I tried it out only one time in the bea-"new" designate ones that were not found inquired about the beacon. Pointing to the con band with indifferent results; its main in the 1990 Aero/Marine Beacon Guide. nearby knoll on which the transmitter and effect seemed to be attenuation of the Distance information for certain foreignantenna had been located, one of the guys desired signal. Very likely I need to spend stations were calculated with a computer advised that the beacon had been removed additional time with the unit, and proba- program from the station's latitude and from service about four years ago. bly need a more effective noise antenna longitude. The country or province for Just wanted to update you on that one. for Longwave than the whip supplied by DX stations is printed in capital letters. Thanks for doing the column, and please the manufacturer. keep up the good work! Serious logging of NDB sig- Jim Byrne, nals requires certain reference South Charleston West material regarding frequency, Virginia modulation, identification sig- nals, power, location, and any Well Jim, thanks for the other pertinent information. A great story and updated infor- source that I used in the begin- mation. I hope other readers ning was the 1990 edition of get some inspiration here and The Aero/MarineBeacon send in similar information. Guide,publishedbyKen This column is about more Stryker through the Long Wave than monitoring; it's about the Club of America. It has been updated sev- An NDB "T- antenna supported by woodutility radio service as an important part eral times. A more recent reference is poles or metal towers with an above ground of our community and our lives. Again, Monty's 1998 Beacon Guide, by Robert level height of 50 to 60 feet. The transmitter I'd like to hear from those who work at Montgomery, also published by the and coupler can he mounted on a wooden post utility radio stations. What's it like to run LWCA. Updated NDB information beneath the antenna downlead. (Photo cour- one? What kind of problems do you have? appears in The Lowdown, the LWCA's tesy Southern Avionics Company). What's the latest trends in the business? monthly newsletter. Drop me a line soon! Additional NDB information appears intwo monthlylistenermagazines. Monitoring Times features a column In order to find out more about the Mr. Joe Cooper, called "Below 500 kHz," by Kevin Carey, products, clubs and organizations men- Most of my monitoring time this past while Popular Communications includes tioned in the above section of the column, month was spent trying to find the USAF NDB data in one called "Utility Radioplease see the special boxed information or NOAA aircraft that fly into hurri- Review," by Joe Cooper. Other sources ofprovided at the end of the column. canes. I have all kinds of HF frequencies NDB information are the Airport/Facility for this activity that I obtained from var- Directories and aeronautical charts pub- ious and sundry sources, but after a lot lished by NOAA. These are usually avail- Reader's Letters of time monitoring them I have not heard able at even small airports. A number of a thing related to hurricanes. This after- Internet websites also have such informa- It's always a pleasure to get corre-noon Hurricane Gordon is making its tion. But including their URLs is beyond spondence from the readers - even those landfall on the Gulf coast of Florida, and the scope of this article. that contain opinions that are a little crit-even with the aircraft investigating the My NDB loggings are first recorded in ical of what's happening in the column. weather close to my location, still not pencil on special 8-1/2"x 11" forms I have Fortunately the majority of letter's anda peep. designed for fitting in a 3 -ring binder. E -mails have been positive and support- I only have a few logs of interest to send When a page is full, I enter the data intoive. Here are some examples that haveyou. I have heard 8BY, the U/I CW sta- a GWBASIC program I have written crossed my desk or computer screen over tion, on many other freqs for several specifically for this purpose and add it to the past two months. years. The callsign allocation falls with- the disk file, with a backup. As circum- in those used by Indonesia, but this sta- stances require, I make a printout so I can Dear Joe, tion can not be located there. have a fairly current record before me as First, let me say that I am very much Best Regards, I tune around. enjoying your new series of "Utility Larry J. McMahan The entries are sorted by frequency,Radio Review" columns in Popular with a separate disk file for each channel Communications. Larry poses a good question in his let- from 190-530 kHz. In reviewing the Following the August edition, I hadter. Why was there no discussion about printout, it is helpful to know that certainoccasion to visit my hometown, Sutton,the hurricanes over the radio? Can any- conventions have been followedin WestVirginia. Armedwithmy one solve this mystery? Our next reader preparing the data. The modulating fre-Pop'Comm and my DX -398, I set out to also has a good question. 60 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site Hello, Mr. Cooper. coordinating apparently both Link -11 and I had to voice my opinion of your arti- Link -16 links. (RRM) cle since everyone else seems to have. I 5450.0: RAF London, England in USB like it.I am not a big Ute guy, but I am w/YL/EE and wx. (LJM) starting to get into it. I like the amount of 5500.0:UnidColombianNavy0142 logs you include as they are the most CLOVER -2000 in tfc. (MADX) 5696.0: 6001: USCG HH-60J 0830 USB wkg interesting ones. I don't think we need to CAMSLANT. "On short final for crew swap log every beacon that everyone hears at Williamston, NC."(MADX) (unless of course it is logged from some 5696.0: 1500: USCG HC -130H 0031 USB ungodly distance). wkg CAMSLANT w/"flight ops normal." Thanks for your time, and keep up the (MADX) good work. 5717.0: HALIFAX SEARCH/ RESCUE 230 Adam Smith, Rescue -230 was told to "liaise" with Clarks Federal Way Washington Harbor, and when situation was under control to return to base. (JH) Mr. Smith has a good point. Due to the 6458.5: American Forces Network, in USB w/rebroadcast of NFL football game. (LJM) fact that so many of you have been ask- 6501.0: Coast Guard Camslant calling cutter ing for logs, and not wanting to offend Gentianwith no response. Freq note: cutter is anyone who takes the time to make them a training ship for Carribean Coast Guards and send them, I have not been editing such as Trinidad and Tobago. Also used for them down. How do you, the reader, feel logistics and disaster relief.(JD) about this? Quantity or Quality - that is 6628.0: UNID speaker with Spanish accent. the issue here, and it is your opinion that EE (EN) will direct me. 6809.0: FC8FEM: FEMA Region 8 0150 Speaking of opinion, not everyone is MIL -STD 188-141A ALE w/sounding call. completely pleased with me, as the next An NDB MDE located in Madiera. Ohio. This (MADX) 6912.0: Mossad Numbers Station 0318 USB letter shows. photo shows a self-supporting vertical anten- na with capacitive top hat and transmitter KPA2." (MADX) Joe, shack.( Photo courtesy Xetron Corporation). 6966.0: 0000001220: poss Iranian Military 0645 MIL -STD 188-141A w/sounding call. I have been learning a lot of interesting (MADX) information from your column, and I things to the point. So in the future look 7385.8: NAVY MARS NET OPS talking appreciate your efforts. for more steak, less sizzle and lots of logs. about a new freq.for net 4.802.0 C/S However, I've got to admit that I can And speaking of logs, here are this NNNOGAQ3 NNNO AKT TIME 1338 UTC sympathize with Ted Powers' comment month's contributions. USB 4BRAVO2 ALPHA NET. (JD) that you publised in the October column. 7620.0: E5: The Counting Station 0332 AM Perhaps what he was talking about was Reader's Logs w/5FGs (3/2) in EE. (MADX) how much you have talked about what you 7632.0: WRL: Warner Robbins AFB 0152 MIL -STD188-141A ALE w/sounding are doing in the column, who you have Note: All frequencies in kHz. talked to about it, what your rationale is. call.(MADX) 2808.5: FBI Quantico MIL -STD 188-14 I A 7720.0: UNID: 0307 MIL -STD 188-14IA This even shows up when you get to clg ALI : FBI Albany, NY. (MADX) w/end of call followed by ANDVT. (MADX) your topic of the month. A discussion of 4146.0 2: EE OMs in USB at 0400Z reference 7792.0: Royal Navy: 0032 BAUDOT 75/880 why you selected what you did, why youexhaust header problems forcing them to w/RYs in the clear then encrypted. Typical think it might be of interest, why you are return to port. Same vessel had a hydraulic line vmgtcnjbh intro following RYs. (MADX) going to discuss it in the manner you are.bust and had no repair parts. At 0415Z, two 8050.0: CRM poss Mexican Navy 0134 MIL - All the topics you have picked have shrimpers came on freq. covering the other STD 188-141A ALE clg CLC41: poss been worthwhile; some of more interest stations. (RRM) Mexican Navy.(MADX) that others, but that will always be true. 4426.0: Volmet Wx for East Coast (EN) 8056.0: E80267: U.S. Army MH-47E 0134 4536.0: Unid poss National Guard 0245 MIL - MIL -STD 188-141A ALE w/sounding call. May I suggest that perhaps - and I don't STD 188-141A w/sounding call. (MADX) know exactly how to say this - the col- (MADX) 4604.0: Red Robin, Civil Air Patrol, Michigan, 8098.6: UNID: 0018 SITOR-A 100/170 w/EE umn would be even better by telling us U.S., in USB w/personnel matters. (LJM) chatter. Apparently shipping related.(MADX) about the topic more than why you decid- 4886.5: DUST: Unid 0248 MIL -STD 188- 8125.0: KLO87: FAA Net Control Station ed to do the column as you did and why 141A w/sounding call. (MADX) 1443 USB w/Eastern Region Net Roll. you selected the topic and how you decid- 5194.0: UNID: 1000 USB w/ANDVT pulses. (MADX) ed to organize it. (MADX) 8400.0: ENSB: Colombian Naval Academy Wes Leatherock, 5333.4: USB TIME 0506 possible navy radar Barranquilla 0101 MIL -STD 188-141A clg Oklahoma City, OK net involved in fleet exercisces As one oper- COVENASYB: possCovenasAirbase. ator said no data on my screen. C/S FOX- (MADX) Point taken, and I am working at "tun- TROT, ROMEO NOVEMBER, also men- 8422.0: KPH (RTTY) personal letter from tioned E-mail. (JD) ing" my writing style to keep things rel- YL. Another from someone on board the 5333.5: USN Fleet Area Surveillance net- "Mahimahi." (EN) evant and to the point. The Editor of this work, many mobile units in USB w/Gator and worthwhile magazine has restricted me to 8450.0: 5AB, Bengazi R., Libya w/CW mark- Timber info. (LJM) er. (LJM) nine pages maximum for the column, and 5333.5: ECHO FOXTROT wkg various sin- 8450.0: 5AB: Benghazi Radio 0118 CW this may help "motivate" me to keep gle letter phonetic callsigns; USN stations w/call tape. (MADX) www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 61 8478.5: FUF: French Navy Fort de France 8992.0:MAINSAIL/ANDREWS EAM Believe an error has been made." (EN) 0121 BAUDOT 75/810 w/call tape. (MADX) broadcast (32 characters) simo on 6712, 6739, 11342.0: A/C BRITTANIA 259 CLG NY 8496.0: CLA: Havana Radio 0124 CW w/call 8992, 11175, 11244, 15016,and 13200 kHz. ATC for WX report of winds calm, visibility tape. (MADX) Echoed by THULE (Greenland) on 11244 at more than six miles. VARIABLE WINDS 8503.9: NMG: USCG New Orleans 0127 2346Z. (JH) 2000 FT. TIME 1257 UTC. sec. freq was also FAX 120/576 w/chart. (MADX) 8992.0: Andrews EAM message phonetic used. (JD) 8551.6: CTP, NATO Lisbon, Portugal, in alphabet. (EN) 11342.0: CONTINENTAL 725 in contact/w Baudot 75/850 w/NAWS marker. (LJM) 8992.0: Andrews working Mainsail EAM ARINC NY RE/PASSENGER ILLNESS. 8573.0: CLA: Havana Radio 0130 CW w/call message pheonetic alphabet (EN) 725 will divert to SAN JUAN P.R. TIME tape. (MADX) 8992.0: Hickam working VZM Phone patch 0115 UTC. (JD) 8617.0: XSV, Tianjin R., China w/CW mark- re. ETA. (EN) 11342.0: NY wrking MMUN and MUCL er and sitor phasing signals. (LJM) 9025.0: ANDREWS: Andrews AFB 0322 Advice on T -Storm (EN) 8624.0: XSQ, Quangzhou R., China in CW USB wkg WEST COAST: McClellan AFB in 11440.0: ESPARTANA: Colombian Coast w/marker "cq de xsq up 356 k" (LJM) voice w/radio checks and MIL -STD 188- Guard Patrol Craft Espartana (PM -41) 0112 8698.0: 7TF, Boufarik R., Algeria with mal- 141A (IDs: ADW and MCC). (MADX) MIL -STD 188-141A ALE clg RADGENA: functioning CW auto-keyer that sends strings 9085.0:RAD:unidColombianNavy Unid Colombian Navy. (MADX) of 3's instead of usual marker. (LJM) (Radgena) 0029 MIL -STD 188-141A clg 11476.0: Dominion in USB wkg numerous 8698.0: 7TF6: Boufarik Radio 0134 CW VAD: unid Colombian Navy. (MADX) mobile units w/test of USN Fleet Area w/call tape. (MADX) 10204.0: IMPLICATE/ MACINTOSH Radio Surveillance network. Much talk of Gator and 8737.0: 5BA42: Cyprus Radio 0135 USB check. Loud and Clear. (JH) Timber digital protocols. (LJM) w/voice mirror. (MADX) 10540.0: CESYP: Colombian Navy Special 11476.0: DOMINION wkg various single let- 8800.0: PPR, Rio de Janeiro R., Brazil OM Command San Andres and Providencia ter phonetic callsigns; USN link coordination wkg vessels in Portugese. (LJM) Islands 0254 MIL -STD 188-141A wkg net. (RRM) 8825.0: UNID request aircraft go to 6628. (EN) ANTIOQUIA3: CM -53 Antioquia FS -1500 - 11495.0: Unid Iranian station 0241 ALE 8843.0: San Francisco wrkng United 59. Class Corvette w/msg servicing/op chatter. w/sounding call. At 0412, 0000001220: unid United 59 acknowledge SF message (EN) (MADX) Iranian station w/sounding call. Again at 8971.0: CARDFILE 711 (P -3C) wkg FID- 10608.0: BARRANCA: prob Squadron Base 0512, 0613, and 0643. These 10 -digit calls DLE (TSC Jacksonville) in USB to pass Barrancabermeja 0059 MIL -STD 188-141A reportedly are part of an unid-Iranian net- reports and a request to drop sonobouys out- ALE clg RADGENA: unid Colombian Navy. work.(MADX) side of the assigned drop area. (RRM) (MADX) 12101.0: S12: Swedish Embassy Bogota 0138 8983.0: USB CAMSLANT; USCG IN 10608.0: D3S: Prob USCG Cutter 2200 USB ALE/QPSK wkg S84: Swedish Embassy COMMS W/34 CHARLIE A/C RE/ITS wkg USCG GROUP MIAMI on "high fox." Washington, D.C.(MADX) POSITION reports "go fast" motorboat mov- ANDVT at 2202.(MADX) 12132.0: BA1: unid 0947 MIL -STD 188- ing 240 degrees at 25 KTS. Suspect vessel is 11034.7: Prob Egyptian MFA 0036 SITOR- 141 A clg BR3: unid. Also at 0949, 0953, and dead in water; now underway again. CG oper- A w/selcal OOVF: EgyptianEmbassy 0955. At 0959, clg BR3, AR3: unid and B03: ator reports to 34 C that stingray 35 A/C AND Pyongyang DPRK. Also in SITOR-B instruct- unid. All probable FBI, although signal 41 Alpha will relieve them on scene. OPBAT ing Pyongyang to transmit on 11541.7 kHz. strength (for what it is worth) suggests a non - advises army helo will be airborne ETA 15 (MADX) local signal. (MADX) mins. Army helo will contact 34C on BLUE 11175.0: (various acft)/ Puerto Rico New call - 12592.0: KUSV test pattern ARQ625 (EN) ONE CH. (JD) sign. Acted as USAF GHFS station, conduct- 12673.5: CLA: Havana Radio 0041 CW 8983.0: RESCUE 6033 (HH-60), RESCUE ing radio checks and phone patches for a num- w/call tape.(MADX) 1720 (C- I 30) and CAMSLANT in comms ber of aircraft. Initial callup was preceded by 12685.5: Amercan Forces Network, Key (USB) reference MV Chios Dream and Cruise 15 minutes or so of a four or five-minute loud West, FL, in USB w/rebroadcast of NFL foot- Ship Tropical (Tropicale?) and patients on musical score by bells and chimes that blocked ball game. (LJM) board Chios Dream. (Note: this was part ofother transmissions on this frequency. (JH) 12691.0: RFVIE, French Navy, Le Port, the SAR operation for the Cuban "hijacking" 11175.0: ANDREWS/AUSSIE 805 Reunion Island in Baudot 75/850 w/ry's on 19 Sept.) (RRM) Requested SELCALL LPDC then advised (LJM) 8983.0: RESCUE 1503: USCG HC -130H Andrews to disregard. 12750.0: CWA, Cerrito R., Uruguay in CW 2302 USB wkg CAMSLANT. (MADX) 11175.0:ANDREWS/ZW3 14P/Pfor at 0040 w/wx broadcast for South Atlantic in 8992.0:MAINSAIL/ANDREWS "FOR Brunswick NAS weather forecast for 2400Z. spanish. (LJM) REGION ALPHA, FOR REGION CHAR- Weather was unfavourable for arrival time; 12801.0: TAH: Istanbul Radio 0045 CW LIE" two-part EAM broadcast simultaneous- discussed weather at other bases in Maine, w/call tape. (MADX) ly on 8992, 11175, and 11244 kHz. This was decided Portland was the best, with ceilings 12984.0: 4XZ: Haifa Naval Radio 0048 CW echoed by HICKAM at 0500Z on 8992 and of 600 feet. (JH) w/call tape.(MADX) 11175 kHz. (JH) 11175.0: MAINSAIL/ANDREWS EAM 13031.2: FUF: French Navy Fort de France 8992.0: SKYKING/HICKAM SKYKING broadcast (about 26 -character msg) on 11175, 0049 BAUDOT 75/810 w/call tape. (MADX) message. Echoed by CROUGHTON 8992, 11244 kHz simultaneously. (JH) 13062.0: CLA: Havana Radio 0051 CW (England) at 0534Z and THULE (Greenland) 11175.0: MAINSAIL/COBRA 72 Ground w/call tape. (MADX) at 0535Z on 8992 kHz. (JH) radio check. (JH) 13089.0: Volmet (Unid) Forecast for Gulf of 8992.0: ANDREWS/REACH 7042(C-17) 11175.0: Mainsail wrkng NavyQE084 No Mexico re. tropical storm (EN) several phone patches: to HILDA METRO for responsefromMainsail22232ISe00 13257.0: UNID Station working aircraft re wx forecast at GRK, ETA 0200Z; to HILDA Newbury, NE. WX. (EN) WEST, passed offloading info for GRK. Other 11175.0: 064 trying to work Mainsail. No 13306.0: NY wrkng Continental 067 position p/p's to Robins Gray Army Aifield Ops giv- reply (EN) report. (EN) ing ETA, repeated offloading info, added pas- 11175.0: Mainsail de Andrews Coded EAM 13530.0: CESYP: Colombian Navy Special sengers to the offload, inquired about the DV message (EN) Command San Andres and Providencia who was to meet the aircraft, requested cus- 11175.0: Andrews de Offuit Radio check (EN) Islands 0051 MIL -STD 188-141A wkg BAR- toms, agriculture people to meet the acft, and 11282.0: San Francisco working 35225 at RANCA: prob Squadron Base advised he needed fuel upon arrival. (JH) 2250 on 05 Oct 00. "Confirm time over ." Barrancabermejavia ZARRAN: unid 62 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site Resources For Low Frequency Monitoring Note: The following information is provided as a guide only. Please contact people and companies listed below for more Equipment: information on their products and services. Loop Antennas http://www.inforamp.nett-funk/page6.html Clubs: http://www.frontiernet. nethj adale/Loop.htm Longwave Club of America http://www.lwca.org/ Timewave DSP or write to: http://www.universal-radio.com 45 Wildflower Road Levittown, PA 19057 USA VLF Converters: They publish a monthly newsletter called The Lowdown, http://www.monitor.co.uk/v1fhtm which is included in the membership dues.It is $18 a year in the http://www.antennex.com/palomar/page_3.htm United States, $20 a year in Canada and Mexico, and $26 a year http://www.radiosky.com/upconv.html for overseas members. Other Logs and information: National Radio Club Raymond Richard Rocker http://www.nrcdxas.org/catalog/ http://www.datasync.com/-rocker/longwave.html Internet Resources: Intro to VLF Monitoring List of NDB http://www.provcomm.net/pages/joe/introvlf.htm http://www.unetsul.com.br/py2p11/ndb_list.htm http://www.amrad.org/projects/lf/ Essay on NDB http://www.southernavionics.com/saclg.htm Manufacturers of NDB: Dxing.Com Southern Avionics http://www.dxing.com/lw.htm http://www.southernavionics.com/ Colombian Navy. Also in CLOVER -2000. Atthe quick brown fox etc. endlessly w/no ID line the rules, and tell you more of what 0056: BARRANCA clg RADGENA: unidgiven, but every fifth line has an error. I have in mind. Colombian Navy. (MADX) Probably U.S. Navy. Station is also noted on I'd also like having some suggestions 13874.0: The Counting Station 2007 USB 5320. (LJM) for themes for this year's columns. w/"980" and 1-10. (MADX) 20267.0:UNID:RussianDiplo 1615 There are always the standby military 13900.0: DEPA: Unid Moroccan MOI 0138CROWD36 idle then into tfc. QRT at 1620. MIL -STD 188-141A ALE w/sounding call. (MADX) and naval topics, but how about some- (MADX) thing different? Send in your ideas, because I enjoy researching them and 13927.0: MARS RADIO/KING 33 (HC - Log Contributors 130?) P/P DSN 497-0680 with command post turning them into column material. GUNRUNNER. Notifiedgunrunnerhe Likewise, as I said at the beginning of departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, ETA Patrick RMD - Jim Deardorff this month's column, rough out ideas AFB (Florida). (JH) EN - Ed Newbury and let me write it up for you. 13972.1: WA9XHN: RTTY experimental JH - J. Hall I know there is a lot of talent out there broadcast station 0055 BAUDOT 45/170 LJM - Larry J. McMahan - it is just a matter of getting the infor- w/EE nx. MADX) MADX - MidAtlanticDXer mation out of you so that it can be shared 14421.0: The Counting Station 0308 AM RRM - Roland R. McCormick with others who read this column. wr825" and 1-10 in SS.(MADX) 14776.0: FM6FEM6: FEMA Region Six Likewise, are there any events that are Thanks again to everyone for yourcoming up soon that would make a good 2257 ALE w/sounding call. (MADX) excellent contributions. Your efforts are 14812.5: S72: Swedish Embassy Kinsasha background piece for the frequencies of 0149 MIL -STD 188-141A ALE wkg unid sta- appreciated! target services? This could also include tion (prob S25: Swedish Embassy Lisbon). major breaking news, or scheduled events (MADX) Last Word such as space shots, or major military 14814.0:CYP:ProbBritishMilitary 21111.11M1111111111M exercises. Please pass on the information Contingent Cyprus0150 MIL -STD 188- Now that we are finally entering intoand I will put it to good use. 141A ALE w/sounding call. (MADX) the new millennium (I'm of the school of So there you have it, the basic agenda 16788.0: U/I vessel on ship station ch. 7thought that believes it really begins in for the year 2001. And don't forget to send w/news in Tagalog about the Phillippines. Op in your logs! Be it one or 100, each log is signs off "this is spites 94/95." (LJM) 2001) there are lot of new challenges 17050.0: 4XZ: Haifa Radio 0006 CW w/call awaiting us. To celebrate this year, I'man important contribution to the success tape. (MADX) going to be offering readers who submit of this column. They are all appreciated. 17166.0: CLA: Havana Radio 0003 CWlogs and reports some "suitable for fram- Until next month, take care and may w/call tape.(MADX) ing" certificates and some prizes too. Inthis year be the best year in your utility 19530.0: U/I station w/Baudot 75/850 repeatsnext month's column, I'm going to out- monitoring career! www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 63 THE HAM COLUMN Getting Started As A Radio Amateur Chasing Paper: Awards! /f you're the kind of ham who likes a good challenge, and you want the doc- "The quest for ham radio umentation to prove it when you've operating awards and made good on the requirements -certificates captures the researching, chasing, and displaying ham radio operating awards will definitelyattention and efforts of almost enhance your enjoyment of the amateurevery ham at one time or radio hobby. another. Some make it a life- The quest for ham radio operatinglong journey." awards and certificates captures the atten- tion and efforts of almost every ham at ing Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii). one time or another. Some make it a life- Endorsements are available for different long journey. So, whether you're after bands and modes. Once the basic award one specific award, or you're aiming to The Japan Amateur &sae Laaguo is under your belt you can start on the Five Itoktrt.1 tliet oft cover every inch of available wall space ?wad tItat:r = Band WAC award and the Six Band WAC . u . *P.01*.e. 6,41444 wi I..% in your shack, the sheer number of avail- endorsement. For complete rules and an able awards will keep you tuning theapplication form, send an SASE to bands for quite some time. With the solarAwards Manager, ARRL, 225 Main St.. cycle providing its present slight boost to Newington, CT 06111, or point your propagation, award -hunting opportuni-Internet web browser to BY KIRK KLEINSCHMIDT, NTOZ 64 / POP'COMM / January 2001 &an Our Web Site announce it to the world with a WAS or 5BWAS pin! The Best The Big One - The DX Century Club etter The Eavesdroppersrm now includes our new Zaprapintmt-4ct5nicGas Tube This sought-after award is the DXer's Lightning Arrestors. Receive -only design shunts damaginc transient; to ground at benchmark. DXCC is awarded to hams only 1/7th the voltage buildup of the available 200 watt transmit -type arrestors, who confirm contacts with fellow hams in providing maximum solid state receiver protection. 100 or more "DXCC entities." Although Protect your investment - combine an excellent shortwave receiv ng antenna countries such as France and Sweden are with the best receiver protection money can buy. definitely DXCC entities, other areas such as Hawaii and Alaska are also considered DXCC entities, which makes your job a little easier, if a bit more confusing! Completely assembled and ready to use Model T includes 100' twtnlead feedline Only 42' overall length Model C includes weatierproofed There are presently more than 300 enti- 8 trap circuits permit reception on all center connecto- for yoJr coax & coax ties on the official "ARRL DXCC List," shortwave bands, 11-90 meters. sealant which is available from the ARRL in All connections soldered and enclosed in Either model $39.95 printed form, or from its Website at ultrasonically -welded, hermetically -sealed UPS for lower 48 states $6.00 COD add S5.0). IL acd 8.25°0 sales tax There trap covers At your dealer or direct Visa & Mastercard accepted As I mentioned earlier, there are liter- ally hundreds of other ham radio awards to work toward. They're sponsored by ham radio magazines such as QST and Ranger Communications, Inc. CQ, national societies and local/region- World's Most Reliable CB and Amateur Radios al clubs and associations. The biggies CB Mobile and Base Applications Amateur Mobile and Base Applications include the ARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). You can earn awards for working all 10 callsign areas in Japan, for working 100 or more Russian oblasts (similar to U.S. states), gm 66 or for working 100 or more "islands of to, the world" (IOTA, short for Islands On The Air). TR-296DX Mobile RCI-2950 Mobile One popular awards program is man- aged by CQ magazine (a Pop'Comm sis- ter publication). For more information, point your web browser to Hicksville, NY 11801. Sales & Product Information: 1-877-536-0772 www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 65 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Pon'Cornm Reviews Products Of Interest Ranger's RCI-2970DX Transceiver Ten meters is a fabulous band when it regularly "opens" during summer months for short skip, and in the fall for long-range F2 skywave excitement. Now that we are rid- ing the peak of solar cycle 23, we can expect another five or six years of regular skywave activity during daylight and evening hours on 10. Ranger Communications, Inc., based out of San Diego, California, manufactures a huge selection of 11 -meter CB radio equipment as well as 10 -meter and 12 -meter amateur radio gear. We were fortunate enough to be able to test the Ranger ama- teur radio Model RCI-2970DX, a transceiver with a built-in huge -heat -sink RF amplifier coming out the top. Just by feel- ing the weight of this equipment, we knew it was really going to belt out a big signal on ham frequencies. We ran the equipment in our communications van, tying direct- ly into a 100 -amp, 12 -volt circuit with enough power to drive the equipment to 100 watts output at about 23 amps peak current load. Keep in mind that it only draws 23 amps on SSB during voice peaks for each syllable - not 23 amps continuously! Our antenna was the Outbacker from Alpha Delta, and we tapped into either the 10 -meter point or the 12 -meter point on Ranger's RCI-2970DX transceiver. the side of the shaft. Frequencies read out on the Ranger 10/12 - meter ham set from a very clean, crisp, and clear LCD display. We found that we could backlight the LCD display for night-mode, the microphone's up and down buttons allowed us to time operation at four different levels, which was great! jump from one memorized channel to another. Although 10 We tuned around the 10 -meter band with the medium-sized memories doesn't sound like a lot, it was fine for us - most of tuning knob just above the mic cord, or could have used the the activity on 10 meters is usually around a few certain spots. microphone up and down buttons to tune. We liked the tuning knob better. The Ranger 2970 tunes at 1/10 kHz, I kHz, 10 kHz, Great 12 -Meter Performance and if you're really looking for activity fast, 100 kHz. There is also a 1 -MHz tuning step to take you from 28 MHz to 29 MHz. The 2970's perfomiance on the 12 -meter band, 24.930 to 24.990 for voice, was also as advertised - great! There's full Effective Noise Blanker power output, and plenty of elbowroom where QRM is a lot less. You would be surprised how strong signals are at 24 MHz We found most of our operation was upper sideband aroundwhen the band is open. We also tried some CW between 24.890 28.400 MHz. The noise blanker was quite effective in keeping to 24.930 with the Ranger, and the CW action was smooth. A down the racket from the Chevy's 454, and the unit ran rela- 3 -kHz RIT allowed us to get our CW signals perfectly in tune tively cool from the large heat sinks even though we were pump-with other CW operators. ing out 100 watts of power. There is even a capability of dual The 100 -watt version of the Ranger 10-meter/12-meter ama- VFO operation if we should encounter any foreign DX work- teur transceiver is around $400. The 25 -watt version of this same ing split. equipment with the same features is only $299 as seen selling There is plenty of excitement for General class operators upat local dealers. Part of the new Ranger Communications all - at 29.6 MHz, frequency modulation (FM). You can operate FMdealer sales program gives ham operators an opportunity to see simplex at 29.5 and 29.6 MHz, as well as FM repeater at 29.62,the equipment in action, right on the dealer's showroom shelf. 29.64, 29.66, and 29.68 MHz. There is a repeater offset switch Ranger also has the RCI-2990 base station equipped for rack with a standard 100 kHz offset. Many repeaters throughout themounting. The unit runs right off of 110 VAC with its built-in country operate open squelch, so no subaudible tone is required. 12 -volt DC power converter. We didn't have a chance to test Ranger produces an optional CTCSS encode/decode module thatthat particular model, but we are told it's the same radio but easily plugs into the equipment if you have a local 10 meter with power supply added in. repeater in your area or a distant repeater via skywave. We liked the Ranger equipment. For those that want to go We stored 10 frequencies in memory to give us easy recall.exclusively 10 meters and 12 meters, and not any other bands, This was especially handy for some of the repeater frequencies.Ranger equipment works well. Their Website is www.ranger Having them in memory saves having to look down at the equip-usa.com, or you can call them for sales and product informa- ment while we were spinning down the road. In the memorytion at 877-536-0772. 1=1111M11111111, BY GORDON WEST, WB6NOA 66 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site OcS4 4 4 Keys, Keys, Keys Building and Using by Dave Ingram, K4TWJ B""Clofq :;n6p;(;,,i, You'll enjoy nostalgia with Baluns and Ununs Ununs Visit OurWeb Site this visual celebration of ama- by Jerry Sevick, W2FMI www.cq-amateur-radiacom teur radio's favorite accessory. This volume is the source for This book is full of pictures the latest information and and historical insight. designs on transmission line transformer theory. Discover Order No.KEYS new applications for dipoles, s,,,,,,,. 33 Simple Weekend $5.95 yagis, log periodics, Weekend fv,1, Projects NOW ONLY beverages, antenna tuners, and countless other examples. by Dave Ingram, K4TWJ Order No. BALUN $ /9.95 Do-it-yourself electronics projects from the most basic to W6SAI HF Antenna Handbook the fairly sophisticated. You'll by Bill Orr, W6SAI Vertical Antenna find: station accessories for Inexpensive, VHF FMing, working OSCAR practical antenna projects that Handbook satellites, fun on HF, trying work! Guides you through the by Capt. Paul H. Lee, N6PL CW, building simple antennas, even building of wire, loop, Yagi and Learn basic theory, design and a complete working HF station you can build for vertical antennas. applications. Also includes easy $100. Also includes practical tips and techniques Order No. HFANT construction projects. on how to create your own electronic projects. Order No.VAH $1995 Order No. 33PROJ 05 NOW ONLY $6.95 $9.95 The NEW Shortwave Propagation NOW ONLY Handbook The NEW The Quad Antenna Shortwave McCoy on Antennas t-ctv McCoy by Bob Haviland, W4MB tripe Qu.iti;ntenn,i by W3ASK, N4XX & K6GKU by Lew McCoy, W1ICP Propagation On Antennas Second Printing A comprehensive source of Handbook Unlike many technical publi- An authoritative book on HF propagation principles, cations, Lew prsents his the design, construction, sunspots, ionospheric predic- invaluable antenna information characteristics and applica- tions, with photography, in a casual, non -intimidating tions of quad antennas. charts and tables galore! way for anyone! Order No. SWP Order No.MCCOY Order No. QUAD $19.95 $15.95 $15.95 2001/2002 calendars antenna book special! 4 great books for only $54.95! W6SAI HF Antenna Handbook McCoy on Antennas Save Building and Using Baluns and Ununs $16.85! Fifteen month calendars The Quad Antenna January 2001 through March 2002 Order No. ANT4 (Specify Amateur Radio or Classic Radio) fax us : 516-681-2926 call us 1-800-853-9797 r $> ea. Name Callsign NOW ONLY Street Address $12.95 ea. City State Zip Ham Radio Horizons: The Video Qty Item # Description Price Total Price Order No. VHOR Getting Started in VHF Order No. VVHF Getting Started in Ham Radio Order No. VHR Shipping/Handling Getting Started in DXing Total Order No. VDX Getting Started in Packet Radio U.S. and possessions - add $4 shipping/handling. Foreign - shipping/handling charges are calculated by order weight & destination. Order No. VPAC Getting Started in Amateur Satellites Method of payment Check 0 Money Order 0 VisaEl MasterCard Order No. VSAT Getting Started in Contesting Discover American Express 41.= Order No. VCON Credit Card No. Buy all 7 for youo ,qub for only Expiration date Seffse5 CcmarnaT -1110Egirr 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801 RADIO & THE INTERNET Pop' Comm 'sCyber Sleuth Checks Out Online Resources Stations On The Internet Note: Remember, all online resources and contacts appear- In fact, after you've spent a little time there, you'll probably ing monthly in Pop'Comm are available at the Quick Links find some new favorites as well! When visiting, be sure to check site at http://www.dobe.com/q1/. out the "About this Site," "What's New," and FAQ pages. Many thanks and a tip of the ol' Sleuth's hat to Theodric for one incred- ible, enduring and constantly updated resource! Don't miss it rte of the interesting aspects of surfing the web in search at http:// wmbr.mit.edu/ stations/. of column material is observing how different people and businesses maintain their web presence over time. Cleared to Land Runway 27, CyberAir Alrpark Based on my observations, there seems to be a growing ten- dency to launch a website only to abandon it a few months later http:llwww.cyberaincorn1 when the site visitor count doesn't "take off" as expected, inter- ests or priorities change, or reality sets in with respect to the work involved. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not criti- cizing those folks since maintaining a website can be (and usu- ally is) a VERY time consuming activity. If a site has a num- ber of links to other sites, (most do) it can take an incredible amount of time just keeping the links current. Depending on the site's design and implementation, it can also be a VERY expensive endeavor. My reason for mentioning it here is defi- Experience a Flight on a liocon; . and nnn-c.' nitely NOT to "put down" anyone- rather, just an observa- tion and "lead-in" to one of this and future month's features. Aviation Scanning And So Much More! From time to time, I'll be revisiting sites that were previously noted here. If I see substantial enhancements or updates, I'll let Our November '99 column also noted cyberair.com as a you know about them. It's also my way of giving recognitionresource for listening to the Chicago Approach frequency, and saying thanks to those folks who have relentlessly strivedtransmitted from O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois, and a not only to keep their sites current but to add substantial andrecording of a disoriented pilot flying into an unfamiliar airport. meaningful content as well. Well, those resources are still there but that's only the tip of the iceberg today! Cyberair.com has grown dramatically! In addi- RADIO -LOCATOR tion to the scanner material of a year ago, they now host (Formerly: The MIT List of Radio Stations on the Internet) A Your Electronic Guide to Radio Stations around the World "Cyberair Airpark." When you "land" at Cyberair Airpark, you'll have access to valuable information by entering Cyberair Locate Stations In Your Area: Find a Station by Call Lifters: City: State: About this Site Airpark's Control Tower & FAA Info, the Museum, the f-Loeate Ca" Sign. Welt Find What's New? - fAQ RealAudio area, the Real Video area, the Fixed Base Operations Mme Ooeon9l sots! 11.111, Mom Oottom 00.0.9 54 att. This sits includes links to 10252 radio station websites and 2544 streaming radio stations. building, the Links Area, the Gift Of Wings Aviation Store and U.S. Radio Stations more. One of the more interesting "tours" for me was one of Sorted bo state Sorted by freauenty. their "5 By 5 Internet Seminar shows" where you ride along in Sorted be formal Canadian Radio Stations a United Boeing 777. You'll be right there from the time the AM Canadian qtations Sorted Alphabetically crew gets to the airport, through pre-flight, and into the air. FM Canadian Stations Sorted Alohabetical Sorted by molder., Joining in the 59 -minute audio and video slide show are two Radio Stations Around the World captains from United Airlines who share all of the interesting http:11wmbr.mitedulstationsi facts and figures about the aircraft. Another don't miss resource from cyberair.com at http:// www.cyberair.com/. Your electronic guide to radio stations around the world. Scanning - Law Enforcement Radio Stations On The Internet "To Inform and Serve" is the stated mission of APBnews.com. The name's changed but it's only gotten better. Maintained It's an excellent resource for news, information, and data on by Theodric Young at MIT's radio station WMBR-FM, "Radio- crime, justice, and safety. Quoting information found at the site, Locator" (formerly "The MIT List of Radio Stations on the"To Inform and Serve, is based on the belief that the criminal Internet") is hands down, the most comprehensive resource ofjustice system belongs to the citizens, and that by informing them its kind on the web. Substantially enhanced since we last visit-about the system, we are also empowering them to improve it. ed in November 1999, Radio -Locator now provides links (andAPBnews.com is committed to providing the news, information, information) to over 10,000 radio station websites (up fromand data necessary to make you, your family, and your commu- 8000+) and over 2500 streaming radio stations. There's a VERY nitysafer.You have therightto know." Inaddition, good chance you'll find your favorite stations at Radio -Locator. APBnews.com provides links to live 24 -hour audio broadcasts BY ERIC FORCE A.0'111.7.17:" 9 kullanis IBERIA' K1.17/14 ApBmin.1....iffin APBnews.com LivePolice Scanners err Marthair NOIMIWESTres:/- g-'44 did bat * waves& sabena " -{ROROGSTIN , 5 kraylplp ii Peoisipmd0sem avissairff 4398ineoi V UNITED AVELINO .« qr~.. trot, rgrunplinumimiuw*aaralia,atAll Oregon Confronts Coes Duane Drug Bust CrIftfitt scatt Yrtattl eleyet ) Asenerrmastor lit r 7 Canadian AirlinesAer lingus4 111-71/111INS ' Man Held In Santa Pealtla la - Ana Roan_ 1,7 NIWIM ILIS PASO. D.m. jUkt.,4 adiL. Iii,Pnliro Unfurl C Is lotu. cos lot Uvitian Vversigm _ MAI'S Continental I. r""L''Aor., ar, Dma. le i:i neAcsekettot Some of the many airlines using ACARS worldwide ' ... ItanDRY Hittnettaillb.isflutillb aua, flu. MART '' tell Player Found httpdipatriotmetl-jetsetlacars.html S/10(1E8140_ etre t r I Ity.c.s a ,,rein netI' . Rostentiossinalli en pr)int for learning about aviation's digi- ',..... ,fr .. Bounds Caged by tal data link system. 1114 -caliN11,, ...,,,,,,..,,1. GeRs_ lk fak -111.in `'-'' ^; cRemoM. ala'Pr V 1 tetana. BlEMMUMMNE Wiz 110. L-__ ,, 1 io.e.tars. INN Haneehio Mum n...,,,.0ca, :IWO Pinckney Personal Radio gaols Missing from &Nei Spring. enfiamen., Md., since July 7, 20:113 Steering Group Inc. .paa..e ors2==e 1---- G0P Welcome to the APEInews corn policescannersAlone Alarelinksnks to Code tor a exciting, Ise 24 hour audio broadcastsof police scanners inmajor cities Enter your D PO Box 2851, Ann Arbor MI 48106 local around the UnitedStates.In order tohear these broadcasts,you need to (734) MOBILE -3 (-734.662.4533] voice have the Windows Media Player or the RealPlayer 7 plug -ins MaIMEMZEMZEME [best: late afternoons, evenings to 1 AM Eastern time] http:11www.apbnews.comIscannerl Send a message or inquiryto PRSG. News, Products and Services Listen to police scanners from cities across the U.S. for Licensees in and Users of the General Mobile (GMRS) and of police scanners in major cities across the nation - 29 cities Family Radio Services (FRS), and when I visited the site. In order to hear the broadcasts, you'll need the new Multi -Use Radio Service (MURS) to have the Windows Media Player or the RealPlayer 7 player or plug -ins installed. In case you don't have that capability, links to the audio players are provided. Updated daily, APBnews.com is hitinlIwww.provide.netl-prsgl a really nice resource - check 'em out at http:// www.apb- news.com/. Updated MURS info and more will be found here. ACARS - Aviation's Digital Data Link "study groups" and voluntary "notification networks" were cre- System ated to encourage public participation in FCC rule -making inquiries, to study proposals for new personal radio services, From the Northern Virginia ACARS Page: "ACARS is the and in general to carry on some of the programs of the PURAC. acronym for the Aircraft Communications Addressing and These groups were subsequently brought together under a com- Reporting System, a digital data link system for civil and busi- mon structure, the Personal Radio Steering Group. By consol- ness aviation and their companies. ACARS transmissions are idating individual volunteer efforts, a greater degree of admin- presently on VHF radio, and on HF in a developmental stage only. With the new wave of decoders arriving on the marketistrative support and coordination was possible, and a broader exposure of their individual activities could be achieved." from such companies as Lowe Electronics and Universal Radio, ACARS decoding is now within the reach of aviation enthusi- You'll find tons of valuable information at this content -rich asts who own an IBM-compatible PC and a high-speed serial site. Don't miss it! Check out hup://www.provide.net/ -prog/. port to connect the decoder to." I haven't tried to receive ACARS data yet but it certainly looks Electromagnetic Radiation Explained interesting and The Northern Virginia ACARS page appears to be an excellent starting point. Take a peek at http://patriot. Jim Hawkins (WA2WHV) of "Jim Hawkins' Radio and net/etset/ acars.html. Broadcast Technolgy Page" has done it again! This time by adding his "Electromagnetic Radiation Explained - How MURS: Multi -Use Radio Service Radio Waves are Born" page. I won't even try to describe this awesome resource. I'll let Jim do it via his introductory para- You'll find the latest scoop on MURS, GMRS, FRS, and muchgraphs. "One of the least understood phenomena in electrical more at the PRSG (Personal Radio Steering Group) site. Whatengineering is the idea that electric and magnetic fields appear is the PRSG? Here's how they describe their origin: "After the to leave a radio transmitting antenna to form what we know as expiration of the federal PURAC charter in late 1978, several radio waves. Most books fall just short of explaining this process www.popular-communications.com January2001 /POP'COMM / 69 Broadcasts to North America" site we visited in July. Today, as JIM 11 \.\\ 1:1\S' R \DR) \\I) then, Daniel continues to borrow a slogan from his employer to BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY PM ; describe his effort: "I want to be the best source for schedules." I know you'll agree Daniel has more than succeeded! Super job FP:11111111, ,,rI 'mann., I nt \ OA. 110 \ I,W. 5/VAL'S, RC I ,Lnd other ,Linderd orde, oule with L. 300 pi, ,-,entost with &eroded ddbindae(etet sifiresehtlenlelidteend Daniel - THANKS! Repeating my July statement: Don't miss this outstanding SWL resource. Be sure to visit http://daniel- sampson.tripod.com/shortwave/. leetroraniietic Railiation Strong Numbers Don't you just hate it when you find one of your "million dol- lar" ideas already being implemented by someone else? Such is the case with one of my brainstorms put into action by another firm. "Strong Numbers" is a fast-growing and innovative Internet company founded in 1998 and based in the heart of Boston's Back http://hawkins.paincomIradio.shtml Bay. It is an online price reference guide that is designed to pro- vide users a fair market value for everything from computers and Learn the inside scoop on how radio waves are born. tipli STRONG NUMBERS by making statements that fields snap or jump off the antenna THE SLUE ROOK FOREVERYTHING"" PARTNERS I HELP as they expand. At the same time, books on electromagnetics Strcop Mare as revolt/al., Into paci We doff. *se In fle present the needed laws of field behavior to explain wave prop- v.* Of lame Wood On cm. halloo.Seim wire unbent01.C11week d agation, but are so advanced that it can be difficult for us to you need to know what sorneenno 4were, check we l to ten ART & ANTIQUES ELECTRONICS POTTERY & GLASS relate what we are learning to radiation. This explanation El I> attempts to go beyond the elementary treatments, while at the IoI Corn, Non, AUTOMOBILES ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS IL RECREATION same time keeping the mathematics a notch simpler than the Lf. Pol, Mgr, VHS Moot, soott. YofnaOre. Naest,ro cnt more advanced treatments of fields. This article will attempt to COINS & STAMPS pro,HOME I. GARDEN TOYS S. GAMES give the reader a better feel for how electromagnetic fields is tem* QS ecuo, nnrend. enact S.E11111. Of. Bain.etanot liatOti Logan.. behave to provide propagated radio signals." COLLECTNILES JEWELRY 8. GEMS nTRADING CARDS Folks, don't miss this! Even the ol' Sleuth could understand ff. am Moat'. 0,e,w vas, wss. the concepts as presented by Jim. For those of you who missed COMPUTERS 8 SOFTWARE PHOTOGRAPHY ITMORE TO COMP 2 seeing Jim's Radio and Broadcast Technology page noted sev- eral months ago, it's better than ever so be sure to spend some httpffiwww.strongnumbers.coml time exploring at http:// hawkins.pair.com/radio.shtml. Buying a used radio? Check out this online resource. Prime Time Shortwave electronics to Beanie Babies. Billed as "The Blue Book for Daniel Sampson's "Prime Time Shortwave" site had me goingEverything," Strong Numbers is a revolutionary new type of price for a while. I initially thought I had snagged a completely new guide. If you need to know what something is worth (or at least resource for Pop'Comm readers. But once I began to explore Iwhat others are paying for it), perhaps that "perfect" receiver on KNEW this was an old friend. Yes, Prime Time Shortwave is athe auction block at ebayTM? Check out Strong Numbers at new and improved version of Daniel's "English Shortwave http://www.strongnumbers.com/. Dirty Mouse! .....--...v.-- wrPRtiVit Tint SNORTV/AUt SW schedules by time $%#*&^&!! - this mouse is driving me nuts! Getting the SW schedulesby Your guide for English shortwave broadcasts to North America country cursor to go where I want it is becoming next to impossible. Sound familiar? Time to toss out the old mouse and buy a new Download SW UTCTIME schedules in text one? If you have a mechanical mouse, (95% of us do) the answer format What's New on this see I Future Events DX media is probably not. The most likely problem is that dirt, pet hair, A. tpenal terms to the vulture of this wends I have deluded the Synched* Blum end Teacart proprams list newmaa mam, etc. has built up on the rollers inside the mouse. I was going to Getworry's UTC-localtime news fhomiSynelecat Express OvnOsc at e bored; Get todays news front Tern toes 7= mom Tort 1,Iews convernon take some photos showing how to clean your mouse (using my Redden promews Shensi at g Credits! Mrsnoof NIT 11 cat hair infested mouse) but why reinvent the wheel? Here's a Webmaner What's new on this site resource that will walk you through the easy procedure http:// Radio related WRMI (U S A) will be gm tests of a new deytune frequency for North Amen, 15725 kHz The tests Males ..urprobably begin October 2nd and will occur at venous tones clunng the penod of 1200-2200 UTC, www.ils.nwu.edu/-vandrvr/mouse/mouse.html. buta may not necessarily be on foe the whole penod The new frequency will only be Ist use on inteerahrtnid weekdays, Jeff W1nte says that weekends will probably stay on 9955 to Lew, Amenca donng the same Well, that's about it for this month. Remember to keep those broadcaster inks bow penod for the moment, but they nosy else 5,1,1. t_ 157.:!,f ,,,.::: n c,...,- 131 'Ile Lamb vle 1 eff "AtofwRmh Awardsthe comments and suggestions coming and don't forget to visit the website has Quick Links site at http://www. dobe.com/ql/ for easy access to received r all the resources noted here and the Pop'Comm Website at http://www.popular-communications.com/ for the latest and It's updated frequently, and a super SWL resource. greatest. See you next month. 70 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site THE 2001 WRTH PACKED WITH ALL YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE WORLD WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK WRTH THE DIRECTORY OF INTERNATIONAL 1ROADCASTING aloe Up -:o -Date Guide to Eroadcasting with: Hour -by -hour guides to international broadcasts in English, French, German &Spanish 80 pages of color-full of reviews, news, and views. Available at all good bookstores and electronic retailers or contact: Billboard Books, 770 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10003-9595 (www.watsonguptill.com) THE LISTENING POST VVhat'slo[oening: International Shortwave Broadcasting Bands UN Radio Returns To Shortwave Another broadcast service, which used to be a regular on shortwave. hasrediscoveredshortwave. United Nations Radio has begun a regu- lar, albeit sketchy, service to Africa. The broadcasts run 15 minutes each, as fol- lows: in French from 1700-1715 on 6120 (via South Africa), 17580 (via Great Britain) and 21490 via South Africa. English from 1730-1745 on 6125 (South Africa), 15265 (Great Britain) and 17710 (Ascension). Arabic at 1830-1845 on 15265and 17565, both via Great Britain. These are all Merlin Communications facilities. The UN's unexpected appear- ance on shortwave is part of an effort to expand UN Radio's reach around the world, via satellite and direct cooperation with national and regional radio stations and networks around the world. It's been 15 years since UN Radio has been on shortwave (except for local stations car- This computer -designed QSL for Adventist World Radio was issued to mark the 57th World rying occasional UN programming). Congress of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, held in Toronto last summer. Reception reports are wanted and can be sentto:DavidSmith, UN Radio, ing the NATO bombing raids in the spring QSLcollecting you probably have your Secretariat Building, Room S -850-M, of 1999. Check 6100, 7115, 7120, 9580,share of "war stories" - the trials and New York, NY 10017. 11835, etc. during our evenings in thetribulations you went through to get It seems everybody's relaying every-event this is somehow resolved, though Radio Whichever to reply to your report. body else these days, but this just may be it's probably unlikely anytime soon. We thought we'd heard everything until the ultimate case of strange bedfellows. It's a lot tougher to hear than Christianwe heard about an old friend, Ron If you tune to 11625 between 2100-2130 Voice from Chile, but have a go anyway Hopkins in Canada. He recently got a ver- or 9765 between 0200- 0300 you justat Radio Santa Maria, 6030, which is ification from Radio Pyongyang. His first may hear the Voice of Russia, coming at back on the air. It signs on at 1045 dailyletter to them was mailed 40 years ago! you via Vatican Radio! That's not set inexcept Sunday and that's probably your And he's been working steadily on them stone, but certainly worth checking out! best shot. Sign -off is at 0230. The station for the last 15! Congrats, Ron. That rede- Christian Vision has surely come on the islocatedinCoyhaique.Anotherfines determination! air from Darwin, Australia by now (seeChilean, Radio Patagonia Chilena, This month's book winner is Robert last month's column). These broadcasts6080, is off the air at the moment but will Brossell of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, who will be beamed to Asia and will likely airbe back when they get their new trans-has been helping us out regularly with around the clock or close to it on variousmitter active. quality reports for many years. Bob will time/frequency combinations and proba- Also reactivatedistheVoice ofget a 2001 edition ofPassport to World bly in various Asian language. Initial testsGuyana, on 3290 or a shade under. They Band Radio,courtesy of Universal Radio were to be carried out on 6010, 13585,feature lots of local programming in- the people who have everything a 17775, and 21680 so those spots are the English, and also carry four hours of BBC shortwave fan needs for full enjoyment of logical places to start looking. programming fromaround0400. the hobby. Their huge catalog has over As of this writing Radio Yugoslavia isThey're also known asthe Guyana 100 pages of gear, gadgets, and goodies. not broadcasting on shortwave. The mainBroadcasting Corporation. To get a copy call 614-866-4267 or write transmitter facilityatBjeljinaisin The new BBC Oman relayat Al themat6830 Americana Parkway, Bosnian territory and the Bosnians haveAshkharah will have three 250 kW trans-Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. And let 'em forced the staff there to discontinue use mitters when it becomes active in a year know who suggested youdo so. of the facility and get the heck out. Theor two. The current site in Oman will be And by theway,Passport to World Band transmitter site at Stubline, in closed once the new one becomes active. Radiois the first source we turn to when Yugoslavian territory was wrecked dur- If you are into reception reports and there's a question about a relay or a sign - BY GERRY L. DEXTER 72 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site WSHB South Cambria, I ISA WSHB SouthCwohod, I ISA Here are the new and very attractive full color QSLs being issued by Herald BroadcastingIWSHB. on time or the spelling of a station name. 0915. (Jeffery, NY) 21740 to 0000 sign -off The 2001 issue is out now and we strong- Abbreviations Used in Listening Post when switched to 17580 and 21725 (the lat- ly recommend you get a copy. If you do ter inaudible) (Silvi, OH) VNG time station, AA Arabic without, you're listening with half an ear! 8638 at 0636. (Becker, WA) 16000 at 0449 BC Broadcasting with EE time signals. (Miller, WA) Remember that your reception logs are CC Chinese always welcome. Please be sure to list EE English AUSTRIA - Radio Austria Int'l., 9870 at FF French 0313 in GG. (Paszkiewicz, WI) 0340 in SS. your logs by country, provide at least a GG German (MacKenzie, CA) 0445. (Weronka, NC) double space between each one (so we ID Identification 1120.(Provencher, ME) 1150inGG. IS Interval Signal can navigate scissors more easily) and JJ Japanese (Northrup, MO) 2105 in GG. (Foss, AK) add your last name and state abbreviation mx Music 17865. (Newbury, NE) after each logging. Logs are cut and sort- NA North America BELGIUM - Radio Vlaanderen nx News 9865 heard with sign -on at 1200. (Barton, ed so be sure to use only one side of the OM Male paper - otherwise some of your logs pgm Program AZ) 15565 in DD via Bonaire at 0403. won't survive. Other things we can put to PP Portuguese (Miller, WA) RR Russian BENIN - ORTB, 7210 with man in FF good use are spare QSL cards you don't rx Religion/ious and ID at 0629. Then more talk, some of it in need returned (or good quality copies), SA South America/n EE. Muffled audio so it was hard to pick out SS Spanish station photos and other items from sta- UTC Coordinated Universal Time (ex -GMT) words but music was nice and clear. Still there, tions, including schedules, brochures, Frequency varies but weaker at 0700. (Montgomery, PA) V etc. We'd love to feature a photograph of w/ With BRAZIL - Radio Brazil Central, 4985 at WX Weather 0056 with soccer match in PP. (D'Angelo, you at your listening post, too! As always, YL Female thanks so much for your continued inter- // Parallel Frequencies PA) Radio Clube do Para, Belem, 4885 with est and cooperation! PP DJ at 0906. (Miller, WA) Radiodifusora, Here are this month's logs. All times Londrina, 4815 in PP at 1329. (Miller, WA) presumed this one. 4 + I time pips at 2330 and CANADA - CKZN, 6160 with CBC are in UTC, which is five hours ahead of again at top of hour. (D'Angelo, PA)(Local overnight at 0725. IDs at 0725 and 0728, com- II EST, i.e. 0000 UTC equals 7 p.m. EST, 6 Buenos Aires station relayed over a ute trans- plete with E-mail address. Switched to Radio p.m. CST, 5 p.m. MST, and 4 p.m. PST. mitter -Ed.) Austriaat0730.Listedat300 watts. Double capital letters are language abbre- ARMENIA -Voice of Russia relay, 9965 (Montgomery, PA) CHU time station, 3330 at viations (FF = French, AA = Arabic, SS in SS at 0140. (Brossell, WI) 0630. (Becker, WA) 14670 with time checks = Spanish, etc.). If no language abbrevi- ASCENSION ISLAND - BBC relay, at 1749. (Weronka, NC) Radio Canada Intl. ation is included the broadcast is assumed 7160 at 0547. (Foss, AK) 11765 at 0640 with 9640 at 1149 and 17695 at 2200. (Newbury, to have been in English. news analysis. There was a jammer here until NE) With domestic CBC relay on 13650 at 1700. (Barton, AZ) 12095 monitored at 0240. 1210. (Northrup, MO) ALASKA- KNLS, 9615 in RR with pops (MacKenzie, CA) 17830 at 2000. (Brossell, CHILE - Voz Cristiana, 6070 at 1034 at 0920. (Barton, AZ) 12105 at 1702 with IS, WI) 17885 at1912 and 21660 at1656. with SS canned ID. CFRX notheard. music. (Miller, WA) (Jeffery, NY) Merlin Communications, 21630 21500//21550 which provides a better signal. ALGERIA - Radio Algiers Int 'I., 15160 with Radio Japan relay in JJ at 1700. Into FF Some bleed from BSKSA on 21505. ID on the monitored at 2000 in EE with news. (Linonis, at1800 and RTE Ireland relay at1830. hour and one time pip heard. BSKSA had PA) (Watts, KY) signed off prior to the ID. (Montgomery, PA) ANGUILLA - Caribbean Beacon, 6090 AUSTRALIA - Radio Australia, 6020 at CHINA - Central Peoples Broadcasting at 0845 with Gene Scott. Same old same old. 1205 with news. 12080 at 1120 and 13605 at Station,Beijing, 9380 in CC at1520. (Newbury, NE) 1155. (Northrup, MO) 6020 at 0952 in Pidgin. (MacKenzie, CA) 17580(Lingshi listed - ANTIGUA - Deutsche Welle relay, 61609580 at 1339, 11650 at 1352 and 0538 and Ed)in CC from 0150-0250. (Silvi, OH) at 0904 with news, "Newslink." (Jeffery, NY) 11880 at 1705. (Miller, WA) 9580 at 1215. Guanxi PBS, 5010 in CC at 1306. (Becker, ARGENTINA - Radio La Plata, 13365.5 (Newbury, NE) 9710 at 0935 in Pidgin. WA) China National Radio - 1 , 5030 in CC at LSB, 2258 with live coverage of a soccer (Barton, AZ) 9580 at 1512, 17795 at 2245 and 1310. 5880 at 1320. (Becker, WA) Voice of match. Frequent mentions of "La Plata" so 21740 at 2140. (MacKenzie, CA) 13605 at Jinling, 5860 at 1315 in CC to Central Asia. www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 73 in the "Art in Action" program. 9915 at 0023 with sports and news. (Wilden, IN) 13660 in unid. Language. (Northrup, MO) EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Radio Nacional, Malabo, 6249.35 at 2220 in SS and vernacular with ID, local folk music, off with national anthem at 2302. This is an hour later than their scheduled sign -off. (Alexander, PA) ERITREA - Voice of Eritrea, 5500 heard at 0324 with Horn of Africa music and talks, ID around 0330, carrier cut in mid -sentence at 0348.Good untilitdisappeared. (D'Angelo, PA) The control room at Radio Nacional de FINLAND - YLE Radio Finland, 11985 Angola in Luanda, sometimes audible around at 0100. (Newbury, NE) 15400 at 1430 in 0500 on 4955v and/or 11955. Finnish. (Miller, WA) FRANCE - Radio France Intl., 12015 (MacKenzie, CA) 13660 USB at 2100. (via Gabon) at 1611 with news in EE. (Miller, (MacKenzie, CA) WA) 13640 (French Guiana) in FF at 1155. CYPRUS - BBC relay, 21470 at 1646. (Northrup, MO) 17605 in FF at1530. (Jeffery, NY) (Brossell, WI) 17850 at 1625. (Weronka, NC) CZECH REPUBLIC - 7345 at 0103 GABON - Africa Number One, 9580 in reading "Doors of Life." (Newbury, NE) FF at 0015 with African and Western pops. 11615 at 2332 in Czech. (Miller, WA) 0115. Several IDs and possible weather report. (Brossell,WI)17485in SSat2310. (Linonis, PA) 15475 at 1805 in FF with trans- (MacKenzie, CA) mitter off and on eight different times. Off at DENMARK - Radio Denmark, via 1832 recheck. (Montgomery, PA) 1850 in FF. Norway, 13800 at 0002 in DD with mostly (Miller, WA) news and talk. (Wilden, IN) 15735 in DD via GERMANY -Deutsche Welle, 12015 via Norway at 2259. (Miller. WA) (Unless there Armavir, Russia, in AA at 1444. 15275 (via has been a recent change we're not aware of, Rwanda) and 15410 at 2312 in GG. 17810 via Radio Norway's programming starts on the Antiguain GG at2141.(Miller, WA) hour, Radio Denmark on the half-hour. Same Bayerischer Rundfunk, 6085 with news in GG frequencies. Same transmitters - Ed) at 0115. (Watts, KY) DOMINICAN GREECE Headquarters of Taiwan's Central Broad- Barahona, 4911.1 in SS at 2340 with live Red Greek at 1525. 17565 in Greek at 2120 and casting System in Taipei. Sox -Yankees baseball game. Very poor audio. 17705 (via Delano, CA) in Greek at 2133. ID as"RadioBarahonaInternacional" (Miller, WA) (Montgomery, PA) GUAM - (presumed) AFRTS (presumed) ECUADOR -Radio Quito, 4919 in SS at // to CNR1-5850. (Becker, WA) China Radio 13662 USB at 0217 with continuous music. 0937. (Miller, WA) 4920 in SS at 0608. Barely audible. (Jeffery, NY) Intl., 5850 in CC to Northern Asia at 1315. (Becker, WA) La Voz de Upano, 5040.07, (Becker, WA) 9615 in CC at 1510, 9730 via GUATEMALA - Radio Kek 'chi, San 1027 sign -on with national anthem, opening Cristobal, 4845 at 0140 in SS with Latin French Guiana at 0405 and 13685 via French SS announcements, SS religious program. Guiana at 0228 in SS. (MacKenzie, CA) 9690 music, ID and more music. Off at 0200. (Alexander, PA) HCJB, 9745//15115 at 0400 via Spain at 0321. (Newbury, NE) (Linonis, PA) Radio Tezulutlan, Coban, 4835 with news, mailbag. (Evans, NC) 0035 with COLOMBIA - Ecos del Atrato, (pre- in Quechua at 1152. (Miller, WA) Radio "Saludos Amigos" program. (Wilden, IN) Buenos Nuevas, 4799.8 at 0225 with SS talks, sumed) 5019.66 from 0140 in SS with news. 0400. Also 15115 at 0050. (MacKenzie, CA) local religious music, ID, closing Many breaksforcommercials,jingles, 15165 at 0301. (Jeffery, NY) HD2IOA time Announcements and off at 0232. (Alexander, Caracolnetworkpromos,mentionsof station, 3810 at 1004. (Becker, WA) PA) Radio Cultural, Guatemala City, 3300 in Colombia. Into LA music at 0210. Irregular. EGYPT - Radio Cairo, 9900 at 0022 with SS at 0145. (Brossell, WI) 1141 in SS. (Miller, No ID heard. (Alexander, PA) Radio Nacional music request program. (Weronka, NC) WA) Radio Verdad, 4052 with SS ID, music, de Colombia, 9635 at 0215 in SS with local 12050 in AA at 0243. (MacKenzie, CA) 2131 and talk at 1107. (Becker, WA) folk music, ID, talk. Fair but co -channel QRM in AA. (MacKenzie, CA) 15210 in AA at GUYANA - GBC, 3289.73 at 0230. from VOA. Colombia was slightly stronger. 2015. (Brossell, WI) Reactivated, with EE DJ, local and some U.S. (Alexander, PA) 0221 in SS. (Miller, WA) ENGLAND - UN Radio, 15265 via pops. ID as Voice of Guyana and mentions of CONGO - Radio Congo, Brazzaville, Merlin Communications (Wooferton) at 1730 GBC Radio.Fair. Also heard at 0650. 5985 at 2217 with mix of hi -life, FF talks and sign -on. "Welcome to the UN Today... 15 (Alexander, PA) Radio Guyana 2, 3290 with jazz with IDs and news at 2230 and close at minute program." Mentioned the broadcast BBC news at 0730. Weak, but the best heard 2302 without anthem. Fair, but some problems was to Africa on shortwave. News and short in some time. (Montgomery, PA) from VOA/UK and WYFR. (D'Angelo, PA) features in EE. This frequency was fair and GUINEA - Radio Conakry, 7210 at 0010 COSTA RICA - Faro del Caribe, 5055 at //17710 (Ascension) not as good. (D'Angelo, in FF and possible AA, with AA -type music. 0944 in SS with music. (Miller, WA) RFPI, PA) World Beacon via Merlin, 15558 at 1759 (Linonis, PA) 0645 with ID and station info by 15049 in GG, with schedule at 1556. (Barton, with service to Africa. Announcing 3230 and man. (Montgomery, PA) AZ) 21815 USB at 2130. (MacKenzie, CA) 9675, which was weak at 2000. (Watts, KY) HAWAII - KWHR. 17510 at 0215 with CROATIA - Croatian Radio via Julich, BBC, 6195 at 1005 with news and 9740 at "Truth for the World" religious program. Germany, 9925 at 0305 with talk on tourists 1337 with discussion. (Miller, WA) (The lat- (Watts, KY) 2330 with Christian music. Into to Croatia. (MacKenzie, CA) ter frequency is listed as via Singapore -Ed) JJ at 0000. (Linonis, PA) WWVH time sig- CUBA - Radio Havana Cuba, 6000 in SS 7105 in FF to Africa at 0620. (Barton, AZ) nals, 5000 and 10000 at 0632. (Becker, WA) at1140. (Northrup, MO) 9820 at 0135. 9590 (via Delano - Ed) with strange, music HUNGARY - Radio Budapest, 9835 at 74 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site II. (Newbury, NE) 0100 with music and very in SS at 1820. (Miller, WA) 13630 at 0620. PHILIPPINE choppy reception. (Miller, WA) 0128 with ID (Barton, AZ) BROADCASTING at "RAI" at 0200 and into II. (Brossell, WI) KUWAIT - Radio Kuwait, 11675 in AA _ SERVICE JAPAN - Radio Tampa/NSB, 3925 at 2333 and 15495 in AA at 2310. (Miller, (NSB1) in JJ at 1015, 3945 (NSB2) at 1015 in WA) 11990 in EE at 1955 with music program JJ. Not in parallel. 9595 at 0551 in JJ. (Becker, "Helter Skelter." (Brossell, WI) 15495 in AA WA) 6115 in JJ at 0956 and fighting co -chan- from 2330 to 0000 off. (Paszkiewicz, WI) nel Radio Union, Peru until Tampa sign -off 2323 in AA. (MacKenzie, CA) around 1000. (Miller, WA) BY time station, LIBYA - Radio Jamahiriya, 17725, ten- 8000at 1057.(Becker,WA)Radio tative ID due to overmodulation. Man in AA Japan/NHK, 6145 via Canada at0000. with music in background. Program change to ( Provencher, ME) 9505 at 1410. (Newbury, lighter fare at 1420, back to AA music at 1430. NE) 9505 in JJ at 1514. 17810 in Malay at (Montgomery, PA) Voice of Africa service, 2240. 17825 in EE at 2150. 21670 in EE at 17725 with EE at these new times: 2047-2057, 2143. (MacKenzie, CA) 11730 at 1510 with 1751-1756. WYFR dominates this frequency news. (Brossell, WI) 11730 at 1401 and 12000 from 2300-0145. (Alexander, PA) When seconds count, OVERSEAS SERVICE REACT PR )GRANI nUIDE needs you.... 0230 with news. (Weronka, NC) ...to summon for help for an injured motorist, an elderly woman trapped in a fire, a trucker stranded in a ICELAND - AFRTS/AFN, 6350 USB, blizzard, a drowning child! 0753 with stock market report, game show at 0803. (Montgomery, PA) 10320 USB at 0242 As a REACT volunteer radio monitor, you may be the only with oldies (Today's hit music, yesterday's communication life -line for someone in serious trouble. You favorites) AP news on the hour. (D'Angelo, relay messages from those desperate for help to police, fire, PA) Rikisutvarpid (Voice of Iceland) 11401 or emergency services. with news in Icelandic at 2326, off at 2330. (Miller, WA) Your REACT team may also use CB, GMRS, Amateur, and other INDIA - All India Radio, 11585 at 1348 in unid language. Also 11620 in EE at 1350. radio services to provide safety communications for events like parades, marathons, and even balloon races. The fellowship with other REACT members at team meetings and annual conventions is an added bonus, as is (Miller, WA) 11620 in Hindi with talks and music at 0120. (Brossell, WI) EE music pro- help with licensing, equipment advice, and radio training. gram. Radioteletype station started wiping most of the broadcast out at 2153. (Mont- "The mission of REACT International is to provide public gomery, PA) 15075 at 1210. (Northrup, MO) safety communications to individuals, organizations, and government INDONESIA - Voice of Indonesia, 9525 agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give assistance wherever at 1145 with Indonesian music and JJ talks. and whenever needed. We will strive to establish a monitoring (Newbury, NE) 15149.8 at 2000 sign -on with network of trained volunteer citizen -based communicators using IS, woman with opening ID and announce- any and all available means to deliver the message." ments, news and various features during this EE hour. Off at 2100. (D'Angelo, PA) Radio Republik Indonesia, Ujung Pandang, 4753 in Add a new, exciting challenge to your life. II with pops at 1322. (Barton, AZ) 1300 with Volunteer. Help save lives and property, music, ID, IS. //4925 -Jambi IRAN - Voice of the Islamic Republic of JOIN TODAY! Iran, 9835 at 0050 with EE ID, need for a spir- itual awakening. (Newbury, NE) 11930 at REACT INTERNATIONAL, INC. 0503 in AA. (Foss, AK) Phone (301) 316-2900 ISRAEL- Reshet Bet home service, 9345 at 2345 in HH with phone interview. (Linonis, Fax (301) 316-2903 PA) 15760 at 2315 in HH. (MacKenzie, CA) Web: www.reactintl.org Kol Israel, 9345 at 2142. Talks in HH and U.S. 5210 Auth Road, Suite 403 oldies. (Montgomery, PA) 11585 at 0448 in Suitland, MD 20746 HH and 15760 at 0448. (Miller, WA) 17535 at 1916 with news in EE. (Jeffery, NY) PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENT'SVOLUNTEER ACTION AWARD ITALY - RAI Int' I., 0030 in II and rap in RADIO EMERGENCY ASSOCIATED COMMUNICATIONS TEAM www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 75 LITHUANIA - Radio Vilnius, 9855 (via evenings. (Alexander, PA) Radiofifusora Germany) 0030 in EE. (Weronka, NC) 0030 Huancabamba, 6535.84 at 0145 with folk with news of Baltic states. (Provencher, ME) music, SS announcements, abrupt sign -off at 0044. (Newbury, NE) 0156. (Alexander, PA) Radio Altura, 6479.69 MEXICO - Radio Huayacocotla, 2390,at 0250 with Peruvian folks music, echo ID weak but audible; SS and Mexican music. announcements, SS talk. Abrupt sign -off at Woman with talk at 0056 then to 000mpah 0305.(Alexander,PA)RadioSuper type music. ID by man at 0104, then to kidsSensacion, 0250-0303 close, nice Peruvian singing to 0107 close. (Montgomery, PA) vocals with long talk segments by man, Radio Educacion, 6185 at 0625 with piano, SS including IDs and time checks. Off with vocals. (Becker, WA) 1004 with music and SS orchestral national anthem. (D'Angelo, PA) talks. (Miller, PA) Radio Mexico 9705 ID at 0250 and back to local folk music. at0405 with mailbag programinEE. (Montgomery, PA) Radio Peru, 5637.2, very (Weronka, NC) weak at 0014, tentative ID. (D'Angelo, PA) MOROCCO - RTV Marocaine, 15335 at PHILIPPINES - Radio Pilipinas, 11720 1744 in AA with Mideast music, news. at 1805 with talks about employment oppor- An engineer at Radio Pilipinas, Manila, (Miller, WA) VOA relay, 7195 at 0540 with tunities. (Miller, WA) 15190 at 1827 with feature about leaders and political power in which is often heard in North America. instrumental music, man with sign -off ID (Thanks to Marty Foss, AK, who visited the Mideast. (Foss, AK) announcements at 1928 and off 1930. Poor. the station) MYANMAR (Burma) - Radio Myanmar, (D'Angelo, PA) VOA Relay, 9890 at 1140 in 47215 at 1308 with a drama in Burmese. Asian language. (Barton, AZ) 17740 at 2055. (Miller, WA) (MacKenzie, CA) Far East Broadcasting Co., Islands Broadcasting Corp., 5020 at 0752 with NEW ZEALAND - Radio New Zealand 9405 in CC at 1517. (MacKenzie, CA) country tune, gospel rock. (Foss, AK) 0939. (Miller, WA) 1023. (Becker, WA) Int'l., 17675 heard at 0456 with music, PORTUGAL - RDP 11655 at 2259 Maori announcements; 2131 with '60s pops. in PP. (Miller, WA) 21500 with ID in PP at SOUTH AFRICA - Channel Africa, (Miller, WA) 1505, then again at 1506 and 1508 and back 15545 at 1334, unid language. Very faint. NICARAGUA - Radio Miskut, 5770 to pops. (Montgomery, PA) 21800 in PP at (Miller, WA) 17870 at 1825 in EE, into FF at 2345 to 2356 close. SS talks, commercials, jin- 2136. (MacKenzie, CA) 1828. (Montgomery, PA) Radio Sonder gles. Off with national anthem. (Alexander, PUERTO RICO - AFRTS/AFN, 6458.5 Grense, 3320, man in Afrikaans playing PA) 2355-0001 close. Talk until brief fanfare USB with ball game, //12689- Key West. music, then female with talks and what sound- and ID and sign -off routine by man. Off with Not parallel to 10940.5. Still there at 0830. ed like news at 0130. (Montgomery, PA) orchestral national anthem. (D'Angelo, PA) (Montgomery, PA) Adventist World Radio, 6015 at 0315 with NETHERLANDS - Radio Netherlands, RUSSIA - RWM time signal station, religious broadcast in EE. (Newbury, NE) 6160 (6165? - Ed) heard at 0837, but wiped 4996 at 2316 with time pips and various tones, World Beacon, 11640 with ID, Web address out at 0857 by Deutsche Welle sign -on.a quiet period, Morse code ID. (D'Angelo, and P.O. Box number in South Africa at 2008. (Barton, AZ) PA) Krasnoyarsk Radio, 5290 in RR at 1310, (Brossell, WI) NETHERLANDS ANTILLES- Radiorelaying Radio Rossi. (Becker, WA) Radio SOUTH KOREA - Radio Korea Int'l., Netherlands via Bonaire, 9845 at 0030. Rossi, via Samara, 7360 in RR at 1445. 9570 at 1325 with "From Us to You." (Barton, (Provencher, ME) 21590 at 2050 in DD. (Becker, WA) Voice of Russia, 9665 at 0323. AZ) 11715 at 1045 with music show, news at (MacKenzie, CA) Western press not giving them credit for eco- 1100. (Evans, NC) NIGERIA - Voice of Nigeria, 7255, 0530 nomic reforms. (Newbury, NE) 11675 at 1903 SLOVAKIA - Radio Slovakia Intl., with talk about African culture. (Weronka, with news, Joe Adamov with mailbag. 9440 heard at 0125 with talk about QSLs. NC) 0530-0632. Back on traditional frequen- (Ziegner, MA) 11825 with news, report on (Weronka, NC) cy with EE news, ID and music program, and Crimea at 0130-0145. (Brossell, WI) 15455 SPAIN - Radio Exterior de Espana, 6055 another news program at 0630. (D'Angelo, in RR at 2330. (MacKenzie, CA) in SS at 0000. (Provencher, ME) 0500. PA) 0540 with news. (Newbury, NE) 2205. ROMANIA - Radio Romania (Weronka, NC) 11815 via Costa Rica, in SS (Evans, NC) 15380 in EE at 0200. (Watts, KY) at 1655. (Miller, WA) 21540 in SS at 2205. NORTH KOREA - Radio Pyongyang, RWANDA - Deutsche Welle relay, (MacKenzie, CA) 9335 at 1525 with news. 13760 in SS at 0225. 17860 in GG at 2215. (Mackenzie, CA) SRI LANKA - Sri Lanka Broadcasting (MacKenzie, CA) 11710 at 1500 with news SAO TOME - VOA relay, 11975 at 1950. Corp., 11905 at1411in unid language. and talk on reunification. (Brossell, WI) (Brossell, WI) Religious broadcast. (Miller, WA) 15425 with NORWAY - Radio Norway Intl., 15735 SAUDI ARABIA - BSKSA, 11710 at pop music in EE at 0120. (Montgomery, PA) in NN at 2317. (MacKenzie, CA) 2328 in AA with music. (Miller, WA) 0157 with music to time pips, ID and EE news, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 4890, NBC at SICILY (Italy) - AFRTS/AFN, 10940.5 more music, time pips at quarter hour and 0909 with news, 1315 with music. (Miller, USB at 0236 with "Field and Stream" pro- another ID. (D'Angelo, PA) 0200-0215 with WA) 9675 at 1000 with local news, some U.S. gram, loads of IDs ("You are listening to the news, ID, music. (Alexander, PA) VOA relay, pops and possible public service announce- Armed Forces Network"), AP news at 0300, 15250 at 0208. (Jeffery, NY) Deutsche Welle ments in Pidgin. (Linonis, PA) 1020, weak, AFRTS news at 0309. (D'Angelo, PA) 2356 relay, 15275 in GG at 2020. (Brossell, WI) with town meeting or prayer meeting. with Fox sports, ID, commentary, ID, com- SWEDEN - Radio Sweden, 15245 with (Becker, WA) Radio Sanduan, Vanaimo, plete with address. National Anthem at 2359, news in EE at 0311. (Miller, WA) 3205 with music, EE at 1145. (Miller, WA) one time pip on the hour and into news. Still SWITZERLAND - Swiss Radio Int'l., PARAGUAY - Radio Nacional, 9735 there at 0831. (Montgomery, PA) 9575 ending GG and into FF at 1530. (Miller, with sports in SS at 0147. (Miller, WA) SINGAPORE- BBC relay, 6195 at 1344. WA) 9885 in II at 0225. 9905 via French PERU - La Voz delCampesinos, (Becker, WA) 7135 in Asian language at 1410. Guiana at 0320 in II. (MacKenzie, CA) 9905 6956.57v, 0045-0248 close. Peruvian folk (Barton, AZ) 9740 at 1500. (MacKenzie, CA) in GG at 0031. (Barton, AZ) music, SS announcements, IDs, off with Radio Singapore Int '1., 6150 at 1338 with pro- SYRIA - Radio Damascus, 12085 in AA anthem. Irregular. (Alexander, PA) Radio gram "The Right Stuff." 7170 at 1355 in pre- to Middle East at 1750. (Becker, WA) Comas, 4880.85 (new frequency) 1010 with sumed Tamil. 9590 at 1335 with Asian news, TAIWAN - Radio Taipei Int'l., 5950 via SS talks, commercials, promos, Peruvian folk music. (Miller, WA) WYFR at 0200. (Provencher, ME) 9680 music, ID. Only a weak het heard here in the SOLOMON ISLANDS - Solomon(WYFR) at 0412. 9690 (WYFR) at 1505 76 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site (MacKenzie, CA) 11550 (direct) at 1150. (Paszkiewicz, WI) WINB, 12160 at 0155 with long music segments. Man with sign -off (Barton, AZ) 11745 in Korean at1406. religious programming. Terrible signal. "This announcements at 2056. Anthem was either (Miller, WA) Presumed on 15345 in CC at is WINB, Red Lion, Pennsylvania. We are no lost in building noise or went off with out it. 0215. (Jeffery, NY) ending our broadcast day on 12160 kilohertz." (D'Angelo, PA) THAILAND - Radio Thailand, 15395 at sign -off. (D'Angelo, PA) WMLK, 9465 at And that's it. Lots of good stuff this heard at 0050 in EE with sports, weather and 1640 with EE sermons about teaching oftime. And for that, a big salute to the great ID. Into Thai at 0100. (Linonis, PA) News, Yahweh, IDs. (Alexander, PA) WBCQ, 7415 folks who came through with the essen- weather forecast at 0058, IS at 0059, clock with Yiddish songs and comedy sketches. tial info: David Weronka, Benson, North chime IS, singing - possibly national anthem (Provencher, ME) Carolina; Bobby Evans, Fayetteville, and into non -EE. (Montgomery, PA) VOA UZBEKISTAN-Radio Tashkent, 17775 North Carolina (welcome both of you!): relay, 15235 with "Interview" at1515. at 1300 in probable Urdu, into Uzbek at 1400. Stewart MacKenzie, Huntington Beach, (Brossell, WI) KVOH-17775 knocks Uzbekistan out at 1500. TURKEY - Voice of Turkey, 9445 at (Ziegner, MA) California;RickBarton,Phoenix 0150 with music and announcements in TT. VATICAN CITY - Vatican Radio, 6020 Arizona; Jack Linonis, West Middlesex. (Brossell, WI) 2300 in TT, music of the at 1310 with EE close. Under Radio Australia. Pennsylvania; Mark Northrup, Glad- Shashmaqam. (Ziegner, MA) 11885 in 'IT at (Miller, WA) 12055 to India and Southern stone, Missouri; Michael Miller, 2344. (Miller, WA) 0345 in TT. (Newbury, Asia at 0150 with news of Catholic Church Issaquah, Washington; Robert Brossell, NE) 13640 at 2248 with Turkish music. activities in those regions. (Provencher, ME) Pewaukee, Wisconsin; Lee Silvi, Mentor, (Barton, AZ) 2350-0015 in TT with music and 13765 at 1230 with news. (Northrup, MO) Ohio; Edouard S. Provencher, Biddeford, news at 0000. (Linonis, PA) VENEZUELA - Ecos del Torbes, 4980Maine; Dave Jeffery, Niagara Falls, New TUNISIA - RTV Tunisienne, 7110 within SS at 0921. (Jeffery, NY) 0933. (Miller, York; Ed Newbury, Kimball, Nebraska; AA music. Signal dropping at 0650, talks, WA) 1030. (Becker, WA) Tricia Ziegner, Westford, Massachusetts; music,talks, music. Offat 0659. VIETNAM - Voice of Vietnam, 9695 Richard D'Angelo, Wyomissing, (Montgomery, PA) 12005 in AA at 1945. (via Canada) at 0101 with news and program Pennsylvania;RobertMontgomery, (Brossell, WI) 1955. (Ziegner, MA) about Mongolia. (Weronka, NC) 9795 viaLevittown, Pennsylvania; Brian UKRAINE - Radio Ukraine Int'l., 5905, Canada at 0331. (Newbury, NE) 0350. Alexander,Mechanicsburg,Pennsyl- IDmonitoredat0032.Weaksignal. (MacKenzie, CA) 12019.7 at 1000 with EE (Montgomery, PA) news, commentary, ID. (Alexander, PA)vania; Sue Wilden, Nobelsville, Indiana; UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - UAE 12020 at 2320 in VV. Music bridge, IS, EE R.C. Watts, Louisville, Kentucky; Marty Radio, Dubai, 13675 in AA at 0335 with ID. (Paszkiewicz, WI) 13740 at 1710 with VV Foss, Talkeetna, Alaska; Pete Becker, morality play in AA. (Newbury, NE) 1200 in news. (Miller, WA) Clarkson,WashingtonandSheryl AA. (Northrup, MO) ZANZIBAR (Tanzania) - RadioPaszkiewicz, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. UNITED STATES - WRMI, 7385 at 0228 Tanzania -Zanzibar, 11734 at 2016. LongThanks to each one of you! with address in SS, then Radio Prague relay. vocal segments, man with news at 2030, more Until next month, good listening! WANTED: Pen -Pals building One -tube 1930's Regenerative Shortwave re Receivers. Bob Ryan, 1000 So. Gilbert St., Apt. 67, Hemet, CA 92543-7315. Advertising Rates: Non-commercial ads are 30 cents per word, including abbre- CB MODIFICATIONS! 10M, frequencies, sliders, amplifiers, FM, viations and addresses; minimum charge $6.00 per issue. Ads from firms offer- books,plans,kits,high-performanceaccessories.Thebest ing commercial products or services are $1.00 per word; minimum charge $20.00 since 1976. Find out why! Catalog $3. CBCI, BOX 1898A, MON- per issue. Boldface words are $1.20 each (specify which words). Leading key TEREY, CA 93942. heard KRAP Radio! This verifies that Loc/A.:- Flist received signals from KRAP Radio on7-r3-97at /730on a frequency of 49t -a .Your continued support of KRAP is greatly appreciated. eu:A2yett.pt., ,-rrepor-,01 it. /raw .a.4weler, Al)( grrgilogistone, KRAP QSL No.No From back in 1997 comes this QSL from KRAP Radio. Another pirate oldie is the Voice of Shortwave Radio, which sent this cartoon with its QSL. ?;6244401 BY EDWARD TEACH 78 / POP'COMM / January 2001 Scan Our Web Site 11111.111.1.111111 Aired a "Hooters Girls" segment and then the operator began arguing with another ADVERTISERS' INDEX pirate operator. At 0336 Psycho Radio aired its "What's He Building in There?" Advertiser Page Number Website Address skit. They mentioned an address in Pueblo, Colorado. Got 81009 zip code ADI/Premier Communications 19 www.adi-radio corn but the rest not copied. (Taylor, PA) AOR USA, Inc. 7 www.aorusa corn Radio Free Speech, 6955 from 1305 Antenna Supermarket 65 to 1328 with repeat of an earlier show including the Truckets Tabernacle of Antique Radio Classified 21 www.antiqueradio.com Norfolk, Virginia. Gave the old Wellsville Atomic Time, Inc. 27 www.atomictime.com drop address. (Silvi, OH) Bill's CB & 2 -Way Radio Service 28 www.bills2way.com Ground Wave Radio, 6955 USB at 0143-0217. The program included music C. Crane Company Cover III www.ccrane.com from movie soundtracks, ID, talk on com- C & S Sales, Inc 51 www.cs-sales.com munism, talk of the public being aware of www.crbbooks.com a certain kind of propaganda, "Miss CRB Research 18 Misery" by Nazareth, ID, talk about the Communications Electronics, Inc 55 www.usascan.com top 10 adult videos and a jiffy lube skit, Computer Aided Technologies 43 www.scancat.com fake interview with a porn actor, fake commercials, e-mail address (not copied) CQ Merchandise 67 www.cq-amateur-radio.com some AC/DC recordings, mentioned that CQ Videos 45 www.cq-amateur-radio.com the broadcast was coming from a missile Cutting Edge Enterprises 11 www.powerportstore.com silo. Later the host gave his name as Dave Gunn and some Guns 'N Roses things. DWM Communications, Inc. 18 vvww.qth.com/dwm Off at 0217. (Taylor, PA) Davis Instruments Corp. 49 www.davisnet.com WEB (William E Burrows), 6955 GRUNDIG 8,9,14,15 www.grundigradio.com USB from 0505 to 0519 with a comedy sketch, some sort of segment about old ICOM America, Inc. 5 www.icomamerica.com artifacts, talk about an arrowhead, come- Jo Gunn Enterprises 29 www.jogunn.com dy segment, what sounded like an old- Lee Electronics Company 28 www.LeesElect.com style comedian, a skit about a man named Tim who was involved in some sort of Lentini Communications, Inc 1 www.lentinicomm.com shooting. Off at 0519. (Taylor, PA) Lextronix, Inc 8,9,14,15 www.grundigradio.com UNIDENTIFIEDS: (we have some 27..www.majestic-comm.com/maco room so here are a couple): MACO Mfg. Div./Majestic Comm. 6950.45 in AM mode at 0210 with MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 39 www.mfjenterprises.com Beatles songs. (Hassig, IL) Monitoring Times 42 www.grove-ent.com 6955 USB at 0217 with rock songs, sounded like a test. Interference from the Mouser Electronics 49 www.mouser.com Latin Americanstationon 6956.5. Optoelectronics, Inc. Cover IV www.optoelectronics.com (Hassig, IL) Passport to World Band Radio 17 www.passband.com 6955 at 0100-0132 with oldies such as "Tossin' and Turnin'," "Denise," etc. Phillips -Tech Electronics 21 www.phillips-tech.com Good signal but weak modulation and REACT International, Inc. 75 www. reactintl .org muffled audio. Sounded like a relay of an Radioworld, Inc. 18 www.radioworld.ca FM station on 92.5 or 102.5. Off sudden- ly at 0132. (Hassig, IL) Ranger Communications, Inc. 65 www.rangerusa.com shoc 32 www.shoc.ch That cleans out the "in" basket for this time, except for a number of logs, which Shortwave Store, The 21 www.usa.shortwavestore.com were just too old to include. It's best if Signal Engineering, Inc 28 www.signalengineering.com you just send logs covering the past 30 3 www.universal-radio.com days or so each time. In any event, keep Universal Radio, Inc those logs headed our way. And please Viking Systems International 25 www.vikingint.com have pity and also send some photo copies World Radio Television Handbook 71 www.watsonguptill.com of your recent pirate QSLs. The files here are getting pretty thin! You station oper- Worldwide Shortwave Listening Guide 57 ators are invited to send sample QSLs for Yaesu USA Cover II www.yaesu.com publication, as well as photos of your equipment and/or antennas. I appreciate Reach this dynamic audience with your advertising message, whatever you can send in. Thanks! contact Don Allen, W9CW at 217-344-8653, FAX 217-344-8656, See you next month! or e-mail: [email protected] www.popular-communications.com January 2001 / POP'COMM / 79 THE LOOSE CONNECTION Radio Communications Humor Bill & Dave's Free (and worth every cent) Antenna Design Course /t's about time that my cohort, Daveless than maximum?) and stretched alu- antenna would make up for its lack of Bradley, takes the blame - er - credit minum foil (I believe it was "Kaiser Foil,"height. Since the guys were only about for some of the things that end up onquilted, for extra strength) between thefour feet tall when they built this little this page. We were chatting over a game ears, from tips to base. I can still remem- miracle, the antenna itself - made of of Freecell about antennas, and it turnsber my dad's smile. I thought he was so almost invisible wire - only ever reached out that our childhood forays into elec- proud of me. a maximum height of some five feet - at tronics theory took many of the same I remember too, the day I found histhe ends. The middle of each section paths, though in different states. His wasenormouselectricsoldering iron. sagged considerably. confusion; mine was delirium. Probably a few hundred watts, wooden Because of the proximity of their hous- Really, though, it turns out that manyhandle, weighed a pound or so. I under-es, the kids' parents were close enough to of our ideas regarding antenna designstood soldering to be welding, and neverborrow any of the staples needed to com- were so similar that if we'd have had anyknew that you used solder - I figured youplete a meal, and did so by walking a famil- success, we'd be fighting patent infringe-just hold the iron against the two pieces, iar path from back door to back door. Dave ment battles today instead of wallowing and `poof!' They become one. remembers how lucky he felt that his in wealth. Dave's first axiom was, "It has There were quite a few poofs' that day. friend's mother chose to be the borrower to look like an antenna." He goes on to Hour after hour, I watched the aluminum that night - just after dark. They never did explain, "A TV antenna in particular, has foil change color, then vaporize (or at least get to prove their worth, and since that to live up to certain visual expectations. `cease to exist on this plane') as I held the involved connecting each end of the wire For VHF, it has to look like what we now iron in place, trying desperately to make ato the antenna terminals on their respec- understand to be a Yagi - a long piece in seam. I figured I didn't have enough heat,tive TV sets, it's probably just as well. the middle, and a bunch of pieces across so I (Good Grief! DON'T try this one, kid- Who knows what difference in potential that. The lengths had to be different, anddies) folded the foil into a neat seam andmight have existed between the two sets? that difference had to be, well, tasteful. slid it delicately across a bright red burn-Dave says his friend laughed until his You couldn't just have random lengths. er on the stove. Do you know that alu-mother walloped him a good one, and still Of course, the simple taper was a great minum foil will burn? Neither did I. Gladremember hearing how funny she looked style - short elements at the front (he the stove was next to the sink. tangled up in all that wire, waving her called them "rods") and long ones in the Back up somewhere in the Hudsonhands as if spiders had gotten her. back. Another favorite of his was the Valley, young Dave had completed his sec- We also compared notes on shortwave "sine -wave" look (though he didn't know ond design - the "Zigzag." This design, he radio antennas we designed. My best had that term at the time). Dave's most attrac-remembers, made such perfect sense tobeen a piece of lead from a drafting pen- tive - and heaviest - TV antenna design him that he had to build it. The basic prin- cil, inserted into the center of what I now used a steel handle from a pushbroom andciple was that the TV signal would hit the recognize as an SO -239 UHF jack. A four - (he says) "about a hundred straightenedflat side of each Zig and Zag, then travel inch piece of lead got me a station in CHI- coathangers-short,longer,longer, with other pieces of signal that hit otherNESE! I couldn't even do the math to fig- longer, longer, shorter, shorter, shorter,Zigs and Zags, up the wire to the TV. The ure out how many miles of distance I got shorter - then do it all over again - likeantenna was a wire design, which requiredper inch of lead, but it was a big number! shampoo - lather, rinse, repeat." The ele-quite a bit of real estate, but only in one Dave's best shortwave antenna was an ments, he recalls, varied from about eight direction. His yard and a neighbor's yard antenna from a Buick - a three -section, inches to about eighteen, and bore nobehind it were perfect, and they could chrome -plated telescoping car antenna, relationship to any known formula forshare the antenna! Their folks would think as he remember, which he mounted out- wavelength or frequency. they were geniuses! Dave unwound sev- side his attic window with thumbtacks My first TV antenna took an entirelyeral thousand feet of enameled wire fromand electrical tape. He now attributes the different approach, and probably woulda transformer - he remembers it was real- antenna's stellar performance to the have worked pretty darn well if I couldly fine wire - and he and his neighborextremely long "lead-in," a 100 -foot have only found a suitable solder for alu-zigzagged it across both their yards, with piece of hookup wire which ran down to minum foil. It was obvious to any intu-a zig being only about three feet from athe eaves, around to the other end of the itive kid that if rabbit ears antennas zag at the widest point, and the width ofhouse, then down to his basement labo- worked 'OK,' then MORE would be the thing conveniently equal to the width ratory. Pure genius. BETTER! To that end, my first designof their narrow small town lots. Dave and I are available for design con- was a filled -in version of the classic Dave and his neighbor (who did notsultation. We're not particularly expen- WEE.' 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