ICD 08635 SEPTEMBER $ 99 O POP U L A R 9D COMMUNICATIOIYS Scan The Obscure "Mid Band" "TUK": World's Best Known Radiobeacon? World Band Tuning Pull -Out Section Help For The Shortwave Program Listener 09 Plus: Car Phones, Nostalgia, CB & Nana, 0 Scanners, & More! 4820 086 -1 ro r1 rl r i rl h 1 Ll LI. LI LI LI. LI ic-P7001) ROS SE., MODE MEMORY L, L.- - - - - .iY li W»ma) _ AF 0< S40ecC YOU EXPECT THE WORLD FROM ICOM RECEIVERS ICOM's IC-R71A and IC -R7000 are the to 2000MHz* range. It includes all mode operator assistance! Additional features professional's choice for receiving inter- operation low noise circuits plus out- include selectable scan speed pause national broadcasts, aircraft, marine, standing sensitivity and selectivity. The delays, wide/narrow FM reception and business, emergency services, television, IC-R71A/R7000 combination is your high frequency stability. and government bands. These people window to the world! Options. IC -R7000: RC -12 remote demand the finest in communications control, EX -310 voice synthesizer, CK-70 and so do you. ICOM puts the world at DC adapter, MB -12 mobile bracket. your fingertips with the IC -R7000 25- IC-R71A: RC -11 remote control, EX -310 2000MHz* and IC-R71A 0.1-30MHz voice synthesizer, CK-70 DC adapter, commercial quality scanning receivers. MB -12 mobile bracket, FL -32A 500Hz, Incomparable Frequency Control. FL -63A 250Hz and FL -44A filters. Both the IC-R71A and IC -R7000 feature See these quality ICOM receivers direct frequency access via their at your local authorized ICOM front keypad, main tuning dial, optional The IC-R71A is a shortwave listener's dealer today. 'Specifications of the IC -R7000 guaranteed from 25-I000IMHz infrared remote control and/or computer delight. Its 32 tunable memories and 1260-1300MHz. No coverage from I000-1025MHz. interface adapter. Incredible Flexibility! store frequency and mode information, ICOM America, Inc., 2380 -116th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Customer Service Hotline (206) 454-7619 Full Coverage, Maximum Performance. and they are single -button reprogrammable 3150 Premier Drive, Suite 126, Irving, TX 75063 A VFO B's 1777 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 201, Atlanta, GA 30349 The superb IC-R71A is your key to world- independent of VFO or ICOM CANADA, A Division of ICOM America, Inc., wide SSB, CW, RTTY, AM and FM operations! Dual width, an adjustable 3071 - tt5 Road, Unit 9, Richmond, B.C. V6X 2T4 Canada All stated spe000ai0ns are sublect Io change we00ul 0000e or °Olgatgr. All ICOM 'ados (optional) communications plus foreign noise blanker, panel selectable RF preamp, sytdoantly exceed FCC regulations emong spurious emissons Recewers9.89 broadcasts in the 100kHz to 30MHz range. and selectable AGC combined with four It features IF Notch, low noise mixer scan modes and all -mode squelch further circuits and a 100db dynamic range. The enhance the IC-R71A's HF reception! pacesetting IC -R7000 receives today's The IC -R7000 features 99 tunable hot areas of interest, including aircraft, memories and six scanning modes. It marine, public services, amateur, and even scans a band and loads memories satellite transmissions in the 25MHz 80 to 99 with active frequencies without First in Communications EEB Minutes From The ICOM EXPERTS Washington, D.C. CLASSIC CLASSIC CLASSIC R71A .1-30 MHz R7000 25-2000 MHz R9000 .1-2000 MHz VHF/UHF Classic Nothing Like It World Class HF Receiver Never Has So Much Been Offered In Under $4000 One Receiver All Mode AM, CW, SSB, RTTY, FM (Opt) Triple Conversion Eliminates Images Keyboard And Memory Frequency Covers Everything VLF (100 kHz) To Tuning Steps .1,1,5,10,12.5,25 MHz Entry Super UHF 2 GHz Increments Multimode AM, FM, FMW, 32 Programmable Memory Channels FMN, CW, 99 Programmable Memory Channels SSB, RTTY Optional Filters, Voice, 12VDC, Sensitivity .5µV Computer Input Better Than (12dB 1000 Programmable Memory Channels SINAD) FMN DDS (Direct Digital Many EEB Options Listed In Our 1990 Synthes1izer) Multimode AM, FM, FMN, FMW, Catalog Tuning CW/SSB » CRT, Analyzer, 117/220/234 VAC 13.8 VDC (Opt) Spectrum Multi Screen Many EEB Options Listed In Our 1990 Readout 11.25W x 4.44 x 10.9D (Inch)16.5 Lbs Catalog Power 100-120VAC 220-240 12VDC(Opt) List $999 117/220/234VAC 13.8VDC (Opt) » EEB Optional Power Supply And Filters EEB Discount Price $849.95 + UPS 11.25W x 4.4H x 10.9D (Inch)17.5 Lbs 16.7W x 5.9H x 14.4D (Inch) 44,1 Lbs Get The Details From List $1199.00 List $5495.00 Call Our FREE 1990 Catalog. EEB Discount Price 1019.00 + UPS EEB Discount Price + UPS FREE DETAIL LITERATURE ON ALL ICOM PRODUCTS CALL 1-800-999.9877 NEW NEW CLOSEOUT SONY ICF SW 7600 Panasonic RFB20 Magnavox 3805 Digital SW All Bands .1-30 MHz LW/MW/FM/6SW Bands SW 3.2-7.3/9.5-21.75 MHz FM Stereo With Headphones (Incl) Easy Analog Tuning 10 Memories & Alarm FM/FM Stereo/AM Clock Timer Excellent Audio For Size PLL Synthesized CW SSB (USB, LSB) 2 Year Panasonic Warranty Keyboard Frequency Entry 20 Memories 5 AM 5 FM 10SW Carry Case & Earphone (Intl) Complete System Including Ext Ant, Clock 12/24 Hour Alarm 3AA DC Optional AC Adapter Headset, Push Button Memory Recall Book, AC Adapter New Replacement For ICF-2003 4AA Or Optional AC Adapter List $149.95 46% OFF Unbelievable $129.95 + UPS List $259.95 EEB $219.95 EEB $79.95 While They Last ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT BANK ORDERS: 800.368.3270 PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE 323 MILL STREET, N.E. LOCAL PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE FRE GH11 TECH: 703.938.3350 SORRY, NO COD, VIENNA, VA 22180 FAX: 703.938-6911 RETURNS SUBJECT TO 15% RESTOCK FEE CIRCLE 106 ON READER SERVICE CARD POPULAR COMMUIYICATIOPIS SEPTEMBER 1990 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 1 FEATURES EDITORIAL STAFF Tom Kneitel, K2AES/KNY2AB, Editor "TUK": World's Best Known George Doobinin, Associate Editor Radiobeacon? 9 A Lonely Sentinel In Our Air Traffic Navigation System. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS By Ralph C. Craig, AJ8R Scanning The CHiP's 14 Gerry L. Dexter, Shortwave Broadcast Here's The Latest Update On The California Highway Robert Margolis, RTTY Monitoring Patrol System. By Rick Maslau, KNY2GL Gordon West, WB6NOA, Emergency Scanning The VHF "Midband" 16 Don Schimmel, Utility Communications 22 Edward Teach, Alternative Radio Wedged Between Two TV Channels, It's The Strangest, Least Understood, And Least Explored Little Scanner Harold A. Ort, Jr., Military Consultant Band Going! By Chuck Robertson Janice Lee, Radar Detectors Radio Of Yesteryear 22 Chuck Gysi, N2DUP, Scanners Havana Moon, Clandestine Consultant Radio, From Its Earliest Days, Through It's Golden Era. AM/FM Broadcasts By Alice Brannigan Roger Sterckx, Systems' 29 Ed Noll, W3FQJ, Thoughts and Ideas POP'COMM Reviews: Diamond Donald Dickerson, N9CUE, Satellites Radio Study Program Kirk Kleinschmidt, NTOZ, Amateur Radio By Don Allen, N9ALK Books You'll Like 30 Three Ring Circuits, Espionage, And The New Federal BUSINESS STAFF Frequency Scanner Directory. By R. L. Slattery 60 Richard A. Ross, K2MGA, Publisher POP'COMM Reviews: Software Systems 32 Donald R. Allen, N9ALK, Advertising Mgr. Consulting's PC HF Facsimile Emily Kreutz, Sales Assistant General Manager By Don Allen, N9ALK Dorothy Kehrwieder, Frank V. Fuzia, Controller Catherine Ross, Circulation Director COLUMNS Melissa Kehrwieder, Data Processing Kathleen Bell, Customer Service Emergency 34 STAFF RTTY 36 PRODUCTION You Should Know 39 Elizabeth Ryan, Art Director Clandestine Communique 43 Barbara Terzo, Artist 71 Washington Pulse 44 Dorothy Kehrwieder, Production Manager Broadcast DX'ing 46 Emily Kreutz, Production Phototypographer How I Got Started 49 Pat Le Blanc, CB Scene 50 Florence V. Martin, Phototypographer Pirates Den 53 Hal Keith, Technical Illustrator Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI, Photographer Satellite View 54 Telephones Enroute 60 Scanning VHF/UHF 63 A publication of Ham Column 64 CO Communications, Inc. Communications Confidential 66 76 North Broadway Listening Post 71 Hicksville, NY 11801-2953 USA. Offibes: 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. Tele- phone 516 681-2922. FAX (5161681-2926. Popular Corn- munications (ISSN 0733-33151 is published monthly by CQ DEPARTMENTS Communications, Inc. Second class postage paid at Hicks- ville, NY and additional offices. Subscription prices: Domes- tic-one year $18.00, two years $35.00, three years Beaming In 4 $52.00. Canada/Mexico-one year $20.00, two years $39.00, three years $58.00. Foreign-one year $22.00, two Mailbag 6 years $43.00, three years $64.00. Foreign Air Mail-one New Products 35 year $75.00, two years $149.00, three years $223.00. En- tire contents copyright ©1990 by CQ Communications, Inc. Worldband Tuning Tips 40 Popular Communications assumes no responsibility for un- 77 solicited manuscripts, photographs, or drawings. Allow six Communications Shop weeks for change of address or delivery of first issue. Printed in the United States of America. This month's cover: USA --California: California Highway Patrolman Postmaster: Please send change of address to Popular Com- munications, 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. 53 Ronald Walker patrolling on a CHiP motorcycle. Photo By Larry Mulvehill. 2 / POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS / September 1990 THE MONITORING MAGAZINE 'toed Equipment From Universal! COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVERS PORTABLE RECEIVER SPECIAL RECEIVERS O Japan Radio NRD-525 O Sangean ATS -803A O Icom R-9000 --93tV25dLC- Ma «In 21 .-......._' --. ...-._ . .: _ MIS gook Solid all -mode coverage from .1 to 1999.8 MHz. Multi -function CRT with spectrum analyzer. The For the communications connoisseur. Covers ultimate receiver! CALL FOR PRICE. .1-34 MHz. Incredible performance and fea- Keypad, memories, BFO, clock, RF gain, tures. In stock. $1149.95 (+$12 UPS) etc. A strong performer and unbeatable SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS O Kenwood R-5000 value.