MONITORING Receiving Satellite Communications
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A Publication of Grove Enterprises. "nc. MICROWAVE MONITORING Receiving Satellite Communications www.americanradiohistory.com It's kinda s m a 1 1 , but it sure packs a í .j' 4:7 ^fM rior F ^ - i Sometimes size isn't everything. Take for example the new Model 3300 Mini - Counter. A small, yet powerful device that not only outperforms any model in its class, but has features that are unprecedented. Like the implementation of the LCD display, which, unlike energy -sapping LED's, uses lower power and is easier to read, even in bright sunlight! Best of all, with its smaller package, you'll have more time enjoying its features and less time worrying about fitting it in your pocket. 1 MHz- 2.8GHz Frequency Range Direct Count Range From 1MHz to 250MHZ with 1Hz /Sec high resolution display Prescaled to 2.8GHz Select up to 6 Gate /Measurement Periods 10 MHz industry Standard Time Base 2.6" x 1.2" , iu7 true pocket size; 3.4 x í% Ship; I I:: dI::it lllin JS V Niax Ultra Compact 15% Outside continental U.S. Maximized sensitivity for picking up radio Visa, Master Card, C.O.D.. Cash or distance Money Orders only. transmissions from the greatest Switch Locks current Measurement Includes: Internal Nicad Batter. Display Hold Pack & A/C Charger. TA11N)S Telescoping Whip Antenna - Sl 2 40.4 ORDER LINE V1"71.20% V`1iMh. r401Tr11 11%01 r V Ft. Lauderdale FL 33334 800 327 59 12 (305) 771 -2050 FAX (305) 771 -2052.5821 NE 14th Ave., www.americanradiohistory.com February 1994 Microwave Monitoring 8 COMSAT Land Earth Stations By John Wilson If your concept of satellite monitoring is a bunch of beeps and weird noises heard on your wide -coverage VHF /UHF receiver, think again. The INMARSAT satellite system is used by ships, news services, relief agencies, armed forces, business personnel - the list goes on and on. Some of these are scrambled communi- inmarsat 4 Ocean Region Coverage cations, but by no means all. Let us introduce you to the fascinat- ing world of satellite communications. Scanning the Garden State Parkway 14 By Bob Kozlarek This may seem like a mundane target, but that's what most two - way communications involve - the daily routines that coordinate our modern life. The Garden State Parkway is certainly one of the most heavily -traveled highways in the country, and Bob Kozlarek expected sophisticated radio equipment to be used to keep it running smoothly. Not entirely so, he discovered, on a surprise peek inside. The Dominican Scene on SW 18 By Adrian Peterson Several shortwave stations have come and gone from this Caribbean island nation, and they are still in a state of flux. One reliable shortwave broadcaster is gone for good, but others are gearing up to take its place. With an average power rating of 1 kW and irregular schedules, catching one like Radio Amanacer - whose antenna is shown in the photo -is a challenge. ON THE COVER: This impressive antenna array is only one -third of the spread on Sandia Crest just north of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo by Bob Combs. www.americanradiohistory.com Scanner Strategies 22 By Otto Muller MONITORING TIMES (ISSN: 0889 -5341) It is on a -controlled understandable if you miss the action crystal scanner, or is published monthly by Grove Enterprises, Inc. even on a scanner with less than a hundred channels. But if you are scanning with Brasstown, North Carolina, USA. your two hundred or even thousand -channel modern marvel and you still miss it, Address: P.O. Box 98, 300 S. Highway 64 West what you need is a scanner strategy! Brasstown, NC 28902 -0098 Telephone: (704) 837-9200 Fax: (704) 837 -2216 (24 hours) The Medium IS the Message 24 BBS: (704) 837 -9200 (M -F 6:30 pm -8 am; By Arthur Cushen 24 hours on weekends) Subscription Rates: $21.95 in US and $32.00 US funds elsewhere; Label indicates last The concept of a program about radio on the radio was born in Australia in 1946. issue of subscription. Since then there have been many noteworthy DX programs from broadcasters all over the world. Arthur Cushen was a contributor to many of them, and it is fitting that STAFF he is our guide on this historical tour. Owners Bob and Judy Grove Sometimes It's Better to Stay at Home 27 Publisher Bob Grove, WA4PYQ Paul Blumenstein was thinking about dropping in at a scanner club meeting for Editor Editorial Assistant the first time, but he decided to catch up on a little sleep instead. A knock at the door Rachel Baughn Beverly Berrong quickly ended that thought: "LAPD. We are going to be in your bushes. Don't call Subscription Svcs. Dealerships Chanel Cordell Kelly Davis the police!" Advertising Beth Leinbach (704) 389 -4007 And Much, Much More .. Editorial Staff Frequency Manager Gayle Van Horn "Magne Tests" an affordable and surprisingly pleasant portable short- Frequency Monitors B.W. Battin DX -375, and he also reports on David Datko wave receiver from Radio Shack - the Program Manager Jim Frimmel several new developments in the previously- reviewed Yaesu FRG -100. "So Beginner's Corner T.J. Arey, WB2GHA Plane Talk Jean Baker, KIN9DD you bought a new scanner" ... is the theme of "Scanner Equipment," which Computers and Radio John Catalano will walk you through the first stages of setting up your scanner, program- Below 500 kHz Kevin Carey, WB2QMY Experimenter's Wkshp Bill Cheek ming it, and buying accessories. DeMaw's Workbench Doug DeMaw, W1FB Setting up for satellite television has the reputation of being even more Federal File Steve Douglass Digital Digest Bob Evans expensive than the radio hobby. It doesn't need to be, says Ken Reitz, if you Ham DX Tips Rob Gerardi, N9LAG make good use of used equipment. In "Satellite TV" he gives some SW Broadcasting Glenn Hauser High Seas James R. Hay guidelines for compatible equipment and recommended pricing. Scanning Report Bob Kay One of the most useful ways a computer can aid in radio monitoring is On the Ham Bands Ike Kerschner, N3IK Propagation Jacques d'Avignon in database maintenance. "Computers and Radio" compares several com- Magne Tests Lawrence Magne mercial database programs specifically geared to the radio hobby. Communications Larry Miller What's New? Larry Miller Satellite TV Ken Reitz, KC4GQA DEPARTMENTS Antenna Topics W. Clem Small, KR6A SW Broadcast Logs Gayle Van Horn 3 Ham 84 QSL Corner Gayle Van Horn Letters On the Bands Utility World Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Communications 6 Outer Limits 86 Outer Limits George Zeller Utility World 28 What's New 88 American Bandscan Karl Zuk The Scanning Report 32 Scanner Equipment 92 The Beginner's Corner 36 Magne Tests 94 Correspondence to columnists should be mailed Shortwave Broadcasting 38 Computers & Radio 96 c/o Monitoring Times. Any request for a personal QSL Corner 42 Demaw's Workbench 98 reply should be accompanied by an SASE. Shortwave Guide 43 Experimenter's Workshop 100 Copyright © 1994. Short excerpts may be reprinted with appropriate Propagation Charts 68 Antenna Topics 102 credit. Complete articles may not be reproduced Radio Reflections 72 Ask Bob 104 without permission. American Bandscan 74 Club Circuit 108 Second class postage paid at Brasstown, NC, and Federal File 76 Special Events Calendar 109 additional mailing offices. Plane Talk 78 DX Radio Tests 109 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Monitoring Times, Satellite TV 80 Stock Exchange 110 P.O. Box 98, Brasstown, NC 28902 -0098. Below 500 kHz 82 Closing Comments 112 www.americanradiohistory.com (4 "THE WORLD IS FLAT" "THAT THING WILE NEVER FLY" THAT ANTENNA IS TOO SMiL TO WORK There's one in every crowd -one that pushes the limits and proves the compact design is also ideal if you're facing space limitations -mount it in skeptics wrong. The world sailed into a new era of discovery with Columbus. your attic, on a balcony, or go mobile. The Wright brothers propelled us into the age of air travel. AEA advances into With the optional IT -I Automatic Antenna Tuner (below), tuning the ranks of these distinguished pioneers with the IsoLoop I0-30 HF your IsoLoop I0 -30 HF becomes an adventure in speed- 2 or 3 seconds is antenna-a 35" loop antenna with low -angle performance that is better than typically all the time it takes before you're tuned and ready to go. (Antenna many full -size HF antennas. comes standard with a manual tuner.) One IsoLoop I0 -30 HF pioneer offers this "Big -gun DXers will tell you Discover the world of big antenna performance in a small antenna. Call nothing that small can work. They will continue to tell you this after you work our literature request line at (800) 432 -8873 a couple hundred countries with it. Ignore them. In 24 months, I have worked and request the "Inside Story' on the 2I3 countries and confirmed I98." IsoLoop I0-30 HF or call us direct at The reason you get such a big performance in a small package is the (206) 774 -5554. For best pricing, efficiency of the IsoLoop I0 -30 HF; it's 72% on 20m, rising see your favor- to 96% on I0m. The main loop serves as an inductor, tuned ite amateur ra- with a I0,000 volt variable capacitor. Frequency range is dio equipment I0 MHz to 30 MHz with continuous coverage. The unique dealer. CO u.S www.americanradiohistory.com LETTERS There's More to Thanks for the interesting bit of history. Bob called to say that he overheard acellular phone Moore has written a book, Zenith Trans - Oceanic call about a man with a gun and drugs ..." Jim the Story ..