CD 38635 NUARY89 $2.51ä $3.50 CANADA Incorporating lihe Official Publication of the Scanner Association of North America @®DIf nications In Gu@rit e2 '6'_17,2_1-g21@g Also in this issue: aNxit Selected English Language)4, Shortwave Broadcastseinter- . The POP'COMM Guide TO_ Do -It -Yourself Bugging Equipment Satellite Data Relay Platforms Customizing Your Phone Call F. Plus: CB, Nostalgia, Scanners, Satellites Ham Radio and More! ICOM RECEIVERSFinge The World at llóur Orly ICOM brings the world into interest, including aircraft, marine, pub- The IC -R7000 is a high band moni- your living room...HF, VHF, UHF, and lic services, amateur, and satellite trans- tor's masterpiece. Its 99 tunable mem- low band receptions. ICOM is the pro- missions in the 25MHz to 2000MHz* ories are complemented by six scan- fessional's choice to receive interna- range. It includes all mode operation ning modes. It even scans a band and tional broadcasts, aircraft, marine, low noise circuits plus outstanding sen- loads memories 80 to 99 with active fre- business, emergency services, televi- sitivity and selectivity. The combined quencies without operator assistance! sion, and government bands. Tune in IC-R7IA/IC-R7000 pair creates a full ra- Additional features include selectable with ICOM's IC-R7000 25-2000MHz* dio window to the world! scan speed and pause delays, wide/nar- and IC-R71A 0.1-30MHz commercial row FM reception, and high frequency quality scanning receivers for full spec- stability. Many professional services use trum coverage. IC-R7000's as calibration references. Incomparable Frequency Control. Options. IC -R7000: RC -12 remote Both the IC-R7IA and IC -R7000 feature control, EX -310 voice synthesizer, CK-70 direct frequency access via their front DC adapter, MB -I2 mobile bracket. keypad, main tuning dial, optional infra- IC-R71A: RC -I I remote control, EX -310 red remote control and/or computer in- voice synthesizer, FM module, CK-70 terface adapter. Flexibility of this na- DC adapter, MB -I2 mobile bracket, ture can only be accomplished with an FL -32A 500Hz, FL -63A 250Hz, and ICOM! FL -44A filters. The IC-R71A is a shortwave lis- IC IC-R7IA at Full Coverage, Maximum Perform- tener's delight. Its 32 tunable memo- See the -R7000 and your local authorized ICOM dealer. ance. The superb IC-R71A is your front ries store frequency and mode informa- row seat to worldwide SSB, CW, RTTY, tion, and they are single -button repro- " Specifications of IC -R7000 guaranteed from AM, and FM (optional) communications grammable independent of VFO A or 25-100MHz and 1260-1300MHz. No coverage from 1000-1025MHz and foreign broadcasts in the 100kHz to VFO B's operations! This HF reception 30MHz range. It features passband, IF is further enhanced by a dual width and Notch, low noise mixer circuits, and level adjustable noise blanker, panel se- 100dB dynamic range. The pacesetting lectable RF preamp, selectable AGC, IGR7000 receives today's hot areas of four scan modes, and all -mode squelch. CIRCLE 101 ON READER SERVICE CARD Firs ommunicatuons ICOM America, Inc., 2380 -116th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Customer Service Hotline (206) 454-7619 3150 Premier Drive, Suite 126, Irving, TX 75063 / 1777 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 201, Atlanta, GA 30349 ICOM CANADA, A Division of ICOM America, Inc., 3071 - #5 Road Unit 9, Richmond, B.C. V6X 2T4 Carta All stated specifications are approximate and subject to change without notice or obligation. All ICOM radios significantly exceed FCC regulations limiting spurious emissions. RCVRS587. NEW OPTOELECTRONICS INC FREQUENCY POCKET SIZE SIZE:4" Hx3.5" Wx1" D MADE IN USA COUNTERS T02.4 GHZ 8 LED DIGITS 2 GATE TIMES #TA -100S ALUMINUM CABINET INTERNAL NI -CAD BATTERIES INCLUDED AC ADAPTER/CHARGER INCLUDED EXCELLENT SENSITIVITY MISS NM Æ_...,...._.,- & ACCURACY MirIra iaaarrrw few .AT<a...A,.-A AC -DC PORTABLE 4bQ 10 00 OPERATION Small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, our new 1.3 GHz and 2.4 GHz, 8 digit frequency counters are not toys! They can actually out perform units many times their size and price! Included are rechargeable Ni -Cad batteries installed inside the unit for hours of portable, cordless operation. The batteries are easily recharged using the AC adapter/charger supplied with the unit. The excellent sensitivity of the 1300H/A makes it ,deal for use with the telescoping RF pick-up antenna; accurately and easily measure transmit frequencies from handheld, fixed, or mobile radios such as: Police, firefighters, Ham, taxi, car telephone, aircraft, marine, etc. May be used for counter surveillance, locating hidden "bug" transmitters. Use with grid dip oscillator when designing and tuning antennas. May be used with a probe for measuring clock frequencies in computers, various digital circuary or oscillators. Can be built into transmitters, signal generators and other devices to accurately monitor frequency. The size, price and performance of these new instruments make them indispensible for technicians, engineers, schools, Hams, CBers, electronic hobbyists, short wave listeners, law enforcement personnel and many others. STOCK NO: #1300H/A Model 1300H/A 1-1300 MHz counterwithpreamp,sensitivity, < 1mV, rEerTertccneewirica 27MHz to 450MHz includes Ni -Cad batteries and AC adapter 5169.95 #2400H Model 2400H 10-2400 MHz microwave counter includes Ni -Cad batteries and AC adapter $299.95 2.4 OHx COUNTER #CCA Model CCA counter/counter, for debugging, ultra sensitive, < 50 micro volts at 150MHzI 1-600 MHz with adjustable threshold, RF indicator LED. Includes Ni -Cad batteries and AC adapter $299.95 Lr 00.LtüLIÌJ ACCESSORIES: MHZ CAS Aw 2400H #TA -1005 Telescoping RF pick-up antenna with BNC connector $12.00 #P-100 Probe, direct connection 50 ohm, BNC connector $20.00 GATE FAST #CC -12 Carrying case, gray vinyl with zipper opening. Will hold a counter and #TA -1000S antenna. $10.00 .C -C.0 SIAw IHIMMC ORDER FACTORY DIRECT MasterCard FLA (305) 771-2050 1_800_327_5912 Vi AVAILABLE NOW! OPTOELECTRONICS INC. Orders to US and Canada add 5% of total ($2 min, $10 max) 5821 N.E. 14th Avenue Florida residents add 6% sales tax. COD fee $2. Ft. Lauderdale. Florida 33334 Foreign orders add 15% CIRCLE 13 ON READER SERVICE CARD EDITORIAL STAFF Kneitel, K2AES/ZF2JO M gazine Tom POPULAR :W'7`Ilii Editor George Doobinin Associate Editor COMMUNICATIONS CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Gerry L. Dexter JANUARY 1989 VOL. 7, NO.5 Shortwave Broadcast Robert Margolis RTTY Monitoring Gordon West, WB6NOA Emergency Communications Don Schimmel Utility Communications Edward Teach Alternative Radio Harold A. Ort, Jr. Military Consultant Janice Lee Radar Detectors Chuck Gysi, N2DUP 10 24 54 Scanners Havana Moon Clandestine Consultant FEATURES Julian Macassey, N6ARE Telephone Accessories 8 Mark J. Manucy, W3GMG SCANNING Today AM/FM Broadcasts The sunspots are back! by Robert Hanson Ed Noll, W3FQJ Antennas 10 Donald Dickerson, N9CUE Combat Weaponcraft Satellites by Gerry Thomas Third World Command And Control. Dave Newkirk, AK7M Amateur Radio Selected English Language Broadcasts 13 BUSINESS STAFF Richard A. Ross, K2MGA Winter, 1988-1989. by Gerry Dexter Publisher Jim Gray, W1XU Uncle Harry's Secret Guide To Do -It -Yourself Bugs 16 Advertising Manager thousands, but what about the low cost stuff anybody can buy? Dorothy Kehrwieder A pro can spend General Manager by Harry Caul, KIL 9XL Frank V. Fuzia Controller SCAN Photo 23 Arlene Caggiano Maybe you can win? Accounting Catherine Ross Circulation Director Recalling Radio Of Old 24 Melissa Kehrwieder Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when adventure rode the airwaves. Subscriber Services by Alice Brannigan PRODUCTION STAFF Elizabeth Ryan Art Director The Moon Waxes and Wanes 29 Barbara Scully A curious collection of miscellany. by Havana Moon Artist Dorothy Kehrwieder Production Manager Books You'll Like 30 Pat Le Blanc Check these out! by R. L. Slattery Florence V. Martin Phototypographers 35 Hal Keith The Big Spill Technical Illustrator by Michael Darby How radio played its part in a water emergency. Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI Contributing Photographer This month's cover: Counterinsurgency group practices a hostage rescue operation. Photo by Larry Muluehill. Offices: 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. Tele- phone 516 681-2922. FAX (516) 681-2926. Popular Com- munications (ISSN 0733-3315) is published monthly by CQ Communications, Inc. Second class postage paid at Hicks- DEPARTMENTS ville, NY and additional offices. Subscription prices: Domes- tic-one year $18.00, two years $35.00, three years Beaming In 5 Pirates Den 52 $52.00. Canada/Mexico-one year $20.00, two years Mailbag 6 Communications Confidentail 54 $39.00, three years $58.00. Foreign-one year $22.00, two 59 years $43.00, three years $64.00. Foreign Air Mail-one Clandestine Communication 36 RTTY year $75.00, two years $149.00, three years $223.00. En- Ham Column 40 CB Scene 62 tire contents copyright ©1989 by CQ Communications, Inc. 65 Popular Communications assumes no responsibility for un- New Products 42 On The Line solicited manuscripts, photographs, or drawings. Allow six Satellite View 43 Emergency 66 weeks for change of address or delivery of first issue. Printed 68 in the United States of America. Better Signals 46 Scanner Scene Postmaster: Please send change of address to Popular Com- Listening Post 48 Washington Pulse 70 munications, 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. THE MONITORING MAGAZINE 2 / POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS / January 1989 World's Most Powerful CB and Amateur Mobile Antenna* Lockheed Corp. Test Shows Guaranteed To Transmit and Receive In order to handle higher power for Wilson 1000 CB Antenna Has Farther Than Other Mobile amateur use, we used the more efficient 58% More Gain Than The CB Antenna or Your Money Back** direct coupling method of matching, rather K40 Antenna (on channel 40). New Design than the lossy capacitor coupling.