877 lines
54 KiB
Plaintext
877 lines
54 KiB
Plaintext
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THE BEST OF THE EARLY SSC SCANNING FREE INFO SHEETS
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(sorry for the dreadful grammer etc, just read and enjoy)
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ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
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On a little island called the United Kingdom lived a scanner club called
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SSC. Over the years they produced periodic sheets of information, below is
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a hotch potch of items from the best of the first thirty-one sheets.
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Originally written on a CPM computer, later transferred to an MS-DOS system
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and now finally trimmed for the USA market By Nigel Ballard
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SOMETIMES THE BEST MONITORING IS THE DISCRETE FREQUENCY THAT YOU FOUND
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YOURSELF AFTER HOURS OF SCANNING THROUGH GARBAGE, THE NEXT BEST MUST BE
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THE FREQUENCY GIVEN BY A FRIEND THAT TAKES AGES TO BREAK SQUELCH ! well
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here is a rare one that is not often heard. Every so often the RAF have
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a SORTIE off the UK coastline. Recently the USAF and DUTCH airforce have
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sent over AWACS to monitor and protect civil air traffic from the
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muddle of tactical air platforms that dart around in such sorties. As
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well as watch they also record the action for evaluation at a later
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date. To receive a civil radar pattern they form a link with NEATISHEAD.
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What is NEATISHEAD, well it's a very secure military radio exchange.
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Most of it is underground and well guarded. It is to antennas what
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rabbits are to breeding, if you get my drift. Anyway on the discrete
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frequencies mentioned below you will hear the most interesting traffic
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as well as much digitally encrypted speech. Of course secure speech
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comes out as bleeps and fast boring data chains, but to just hear it
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once on your scanner is a first that should not be missed, especially as
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you are listening to the future standard for all REALLY INTERESTING radio
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traffic. Perish the thought I hear you say. As mentioned recently in a
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radio mag, all AWACS are called 'MAGIC', i.e. MAGIC 69 to MAGIC 63. The
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dreaded secure speech is usually referred to as 'VINCENT'. Other links
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are called 'BEAVER' 'ALLIGATOR' 'FRISBEE' 'FLYFISH' 'PLAYGROUND'. We
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believe that frisbee refers to the tower/ground channel at GEILENKIRCHEN
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in W.GERMANY where many of the AWACS live. When they have had enough of
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talking on BEAVER, they instruct NEATISHEAD to STRANGLE BEAVER, only
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from the lips of Americans would you hear such a corny tactical command.
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THEY ALSO DART ABOUT USING TAD'S (tactical air directives).
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SOMETHING FOR THE INSOMNIACS AMONGST YOU.
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The USAF, once again have many many satellite links dotted around the
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globe. This one is called 'BRAVO/YANKEE CH10' and it is heard on 261.675
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MHz FM. Now some scanners like the ICOM R7000 find it difficult to
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decide whether reception is better in NFM or WFM, some scanners find it
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impossible to get a clear copy at all, because the military use a non
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standard bandwidth. However in the last two days we have heard CAIRO,
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FRANKFURT, ICELAND and MILDENHALL all calling the USA by means of
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AUTOVON NUMBERS. The operator on this simplex link is called 'KILO 22
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ALPHA' although it is usually shortened to 2 alpha. The USA operator is
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called 'WHITE FALCON' or 'DRAGON URZ' (where do they get these crazy
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names from?). At 22.30 HRS GMT give or take five minutes 22alpha will
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call WF initiating contact for a series of RWI calls, these are calls
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from servicemen to their wives back home. And very interesting they are
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to. Also during the day sometimes the most INTERESTING PEOPLE COME ON
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LINE!!!!! The only thing you need is a very sensitive set-up, a good
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pre-amp, and a sharp ear to make out the conversations which can get
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pretty hairy. (six months is a long time to be away from home).
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HOW TO CONVERT A STANDARD CASSETTE RECORDER INTO A SLOW SPEED SECURE
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MODE RECORDER.FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SPECIALIST SURVEILLANCE COMPANIES
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HAVE BEEN MARKETING SLOW SPEED RECORDERS AT FANTASTIC PRICES OFTEN
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IN EXCESS OF <20>125.00 CLAIMING TAPE TIMES OF UP TO EIGHT HOURS .HOW IS
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THIS POSSIBLE, AND WHO MANUFACTURES THESE AMAZING UNITS ?.FURTHER
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INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED ALL. FIRSTLY THE MACHINES START OUT AS <20>35.00
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DOMESTIC CASSETTE RECORDERS AND AFTER SPENDING TIME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
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THEIR VALUE INCREASES FOUR FOLD, YOU MAY ASK EXACTLY WHAT MIRACULOUS
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MODIFICATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT WITHIN TO EXPLAIN SUCH AN INCREASE.WE
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PURCHASED A SIX HOUR SLOW SPEED SURVEILLANCE RECORDER TO FIND OUT.
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FIRSTLY THE SIX HOURS QUOTED TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE USE OF BOTH SIDES
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OF A C120 CASSETTE, THIS OF COURSE MEANS TURNING IT OVER AFTER THREE
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HOURS. THAT'S THREE HOURS CONDENSED INTO ONE HOUR OF NORMAL PLAYING
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TIME, ITS WORTH RAISING THE POINT, YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN.
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IF YOU HAVE ONE AND SEVEN EIGHTS INCHES OF TAPE PASSING THE HEAD
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EVERY SECOND, THEN A SECONDS WORTH OF INFORMATION IS SPREAD NICELY
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OVER ALMOST TWO INCHES OF TAPE. IF HOWEVER YOU SLOW THE DRIVE BY TWO
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THIRDS THEN THE TAPE IS RUNNING AT ABOUT FIVE EIGHTS I.P.S. THUS
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THAT SECOND OF INFORMATION IS NOW CRAMMED UP, THE RESULTANT EFFECT IS
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THAT YOUR RECORDING QUALITY DROPS OFF DRAMATICALLY AND WHAT'S LEFT IS
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RATHER BASSEY OR MUDDY AS IT IS KNOWN IN THE TRADE. VERY FEW COMPANIES
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THAT WE HAVE COME ACROSS ACTUALLY MODIFY THE INTERNAL CIRCUITRY TO
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COMPENSATE THE LOSS OF FREQUENCY RESPONSE OR MODIFY THE BIAS TO
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SATURATE THE TAPE. NOT WITHSTANDING THIS IMPORTANT TECHNICAL OMISSION
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WE WILL NOW EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW THEY DO IT, WHILE TRYING TO KEEP A
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STRAIGHT FACE.THEY FIRSTLY REMOVE THE PULLEY FROM THE DIVE SHAFT, THIS
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SIMPLY CAUSES THE RUBBER DRIVE BELT TO RUN DIRECTLY ON THE METAL SHAFT
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INSTEAD OF THE PULLEY IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR. THIS DOES INDEED
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SLOW THE RECORDER DOWN BUT IT ALSO CREATES A FEW PROBLEMS.THE BELT
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TENDS TO SLIP AGAINST THE METAL SHAFT CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED
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FLUCTUATIONS. THE FREQUENCY RESPONSE IS NOW SO REDUCED THAT ITS
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DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH THE AUDIO FROM THE MUD AND THE BIAS IS NO
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LONGER GREAT ENOUGH TO SATURATE THE TAPE AT LOWER SPEED. SOME
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SUPPLIERS DO NOT EVEN BOTHER TO CAP THE END OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND
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THE BELT MAY COME OFF AFTER A SHORT WHILE. IF THIS DREADFUL APPROACH
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APPEALS THEN WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIT A SMALLER PULLEY AND DRIVE
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BELT THUS RETAINING TENSION.OUR OWN METHOD HOWEVER, IS EVEN EASIER,
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FAR MORE VERSATILE AND WORKS ON MOST PORTABLE BATTERY RECORDERS. ON THE
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SIDE OF YOUR RECORDER IS A MINIATURE JACK SOCKET USUALLY MARKED REMOTE
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OR REM. THIS SIMPLY ALLOWS YOU TO ARREST THE RECORD OR PLAYBACK MODES
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FROM A DISTANCE. FIRSTLY OBTAIN A HALF WATT WIRE WOUND 33 OHM
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RESISTOR AND A MINI JACK PLUG, SIMPLY SOLDER THE RESISTOR ACROSS THE
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TWO TERMINALS OF THE JACK.
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INSERT THE PLUG INTO THE REM. SOCKET, PRESS PLAY AND IF ALL IS WELL
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YOU'RE PLAYER SHOULD NOW BE RUNNING AT A SENSIBLY REDUCED SPEED. ANY
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MATERIAL RECORDED AT NORMAL SPEED AND PLAYED BACK WITH THE RESISTOR
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IN LINE WILL SOUND VERY SLOW. IF, HOWEVER YOUR MACHINE REFUSES TO
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RUN THEN REDUCE THE RESISTOR VALUE BY REPLACING IT WITH, SAY A
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22 OHM UNTIL YOU FIND THE HIGHEST VALUE YOUR PLAYER IS CAPABLE OF
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HANDLING. NOW TRY RECORDING AT REDUCED SPEED, THEN PLAY BACK AND
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THE RESULTS SHOULD BE MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU WISH TO
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EXPERIMENT, THEN TRY INSTEAD WIRING A 50 OHM WIRE WOUND POTENTIOMETER
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ACROSS THE JACK, YOU NOW HAVE A FULLY VARIABLE SPEED RECORDING AND
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PLAYBACK MACHINE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY HANDY IF YOU'VE RECORDED A
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CONVERSATION USING A PHONE TAPPING BUG, THEN BY SLOWING DOWN THE TAPE
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AND A LITTLE PRACTICE, ITS POSSIBLE TO COUNT THE DIALLING OUT PULSES.
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SECURE MODE THIS AGAIN IS VERY SIMPLE. ALL THAT'S NEEDED
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IS A SMALL MAGNET, A GLASS REED SWITCH AND SOME SUPERGLUE. FIRSTLY,
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REMOVE THE MAINS SUPPLY LEAD (SAFETY) THEN CAREFULLY DISMANTLE THE
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OUTER CASING. REMOVE ONE OF THE TWO WIRES CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR AND
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ATTACH IT TO ONE SIDE OF THE REED SWITCH, THEN RUN AN INSULATED WIRE
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FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REED TO THE NOW VACANT TERMINAL ON THE
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MOTOR. BY MOVING THE MAGNET TOWARDS THE REED, THE MOTOR CIRCUIT WILL
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NOW ONCE AGAIN BE MADE AND THE MACHINE WILL OPERATE. TAKING CARE TO
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POSITION THE REED ALONG THE INSIDE REAR LOWER PORTION OF THE HOUSING,
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ALSO MAKING SURE THAT YOU DON'T OR WONT TRAP ANY WIRES OR HINDER
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THE RE-MANTLING OF THE UNIT. NOW ATTEMPT TO OPERATE YOUR PLAYER BY
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SIMPLY PLACING YOUR MAGNET AGAINST THE OUTER CASING, ONCE SATISFIED
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YOU CAN GLUE THE REED INTO POSITION. CHECK THAT YOU'VE NOT LEFT ANY
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BARE WIRES. ONCE YOUR UNIT IS REASSEMBLED IT WILL NOT BE APPARENT
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TO A SECOND PARTY THAT ANY MODIFICATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THIS IN
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COMBINATION WITH THE SPEED DECREASE MOD WHICH MAY ALSO BE INTERNAL
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(SPACE PERMITTED) MEANS THAT ONLY YOU NOW KNOW HOW TO OPERATE YOUR
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MACHINE. ALSO A SECOND PARTY COMING ACROSS YOUR TAPES WILL MAKE NO
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SENSE OF THEM ON ANY OTHER MACHINE.
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NOTE CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO KEEP THE MAGNET AWAY FROM CASSETTE
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TAPES.THIS MODIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE UNDERTAKEN UNLESS YOU
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ARE COMPETENT WITH SOLDERING, AND HAVE AT LEAST A RUDIMENTARY GRASP OF
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ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE DANGERS OF MAINS RELATED
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CIRCUITS. MODIFICATION TO EQUIPMENT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY INVALIDATE
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ANY GUARANTEES OR WARRANTS.
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HERE ARE A FEW MORE FOR YOU 269.950 MHZ FM FLEETSATCOM USN/USAF we heard
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"HAMBURG TEC CONTROL TO HARDTOOTH" also they were calling "ORANGE JUICE"
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and doing 123 number tests, in between the tests were large bursts of
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DVP traffic. 261.600 MHZ FM FLEETSATCOM USN/USAF we heard "TANGO EIGHT
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IN THE PLANE" they were chatting to '30 MIKE' and 'ROMEO 4 YANKEE',
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after a lengthy chat tango was told to hold 30 MIKES (minutes) for
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important traffic. As I type this we await the important traffic.
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269.850 MHz FM FLEETSATCOM USN/USAF we keep hearing dialling tones and
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swedish or german people talking on the telephone, most strange.
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WE ASK YOU TO SEND IN ALL UK/USA SAT. LOGGINGS AS WELL AS ANY SILK PURSE
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TRAFFIC YOU MAY HAVE PICKED UP. FOR THOSE OF YOU NOW HOOKED ON SATCOM
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SCANNING, THE PERFECT ANTENNA IS A CIRCULAR POLARISED BEAM (HELIX)
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ELEVATED AT ABOUT 30 DEGREES POINTING TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
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UNICORN, if heard this means the aircraft with PRINCE CHARLES on board.
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TINKERBELL, TINKERBELL. THIS IS THE NAME GIVEN TO OUR HOME
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OFFICE/TELECOM PHONE TAPPING/INTERCEPTION ESTABLISHMENTS IN LONDON AMONG
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OTHER REGIONAL LOCATIONS. IF PHONE BUGGING INTERESTS YOU, AND IF LIKE
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US, YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF WORTHY OF THE ODD GOVERNMENT PHONE TAP, THEN
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LET US RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING GOOD READ. IT IS REALLY EVERYTHING YOU
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EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PHONE TAPPING, BUT WERE TOO SCARED TO ASK.
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'STRANGER ON THE LINE' by PATRICK FITZGERALD AND MARK LEOPOLD. published
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by THE BODLEY HEAD LONDON. ISBN-0-370-31086-1. #7.95. LARGE FORMAT
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PAPERBACK.
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TANDY PRO-47 CRYSTAL SCANNER MODIFICATIONS.
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The Tandy PRO-47 scanner, although not the hottest product in scanning
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terms, still makes a very handy dedicated unit for mobile, bedside or
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even as a unit to monitor known and interesting traffic at home while
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your synthesised scanner seeks out new stations.
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If you wish to have specific crystals cut, then the following
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information will be required. Your local crystal company should cut
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them for about <20>6.00 a time. (check the radio mags.)
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VHf LOW SETTING = (MHz)=Fr + 10.7 VHf HIGH SETTING = (MHz)=Fr - 10.7
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DIVIDED BY 3 UHf SETTING = (MHz)=Fr - 10.7 DIVIDED BY 9
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If you only wish to monitor freq's in the UHf band, then the overall
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sens. of the unit is very important as losses can be very great above
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300MHz. If this is the case , then the first step is to remove the
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dreadful UHf motorola aerial socket on the rear, and replace it with a
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good chassis BNC socket, that is to say, a silver plated one such as a
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'Coline or Radio spares'. The next step is to defeat the annoying scan
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delay. The logic behind this becomes clear when you see the increased
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scan speed, but more of that later. Firstly disconnect the unit from its
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power source, locate the capacitor 'C116' which is right up at the
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front, just behind the rear of the volume pot, gently remove it and
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replace with another electrolytic capacitor of the value '10Uf'16 volt,
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taking great care to get the polarity correct. The board is marked with
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a '+' and the cap is usually marked with a stripe down the negative
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side. You have now defeated the delay. Now to increase the scan speed.
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Locate resistor 'R117 ' which is just to the r right of 'C116'. Gently
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remove it and replace it with a new resistor to the value '47K' which
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should be coloured YELLOW/MAUVE/ORANGE/GOLD. There is no right or wrong
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way round to fit a resistor. The scan speed should be much faster now.
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The scan can be increased further, but the sens. drops off, and the
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scanner starts to miss active channels.
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Assuming that you don't own a signal generator, then the next best thing
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is to tune by ear. This process is in fact very effective and is not a
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method unfamiliar to radio engineers. You will need some non-metallic
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nylon type trimming tools with spade ends. Connect your unit up and
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lock on to the most active UHf freq. you can find, turn the squelch
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knob fully anti-clockwise and wait for some traffic. It is important
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that the traffic be from a fixed base transmitter and not a mobile.
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When your signal appears, start a ladder tune with the nylon trimmers
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ie. start with the first trim pot as shown, and when your ear tells you
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that it's peaked ie. that you've turned the trim pot until the signal
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is at its clearest, move on to the next. It is important that you don't
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twiddle when there is no signal, and also that the tuning process is
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centred on one freq. and not several. FOR UHF FOLLOW THE LADDER TUNE
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WORKING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE STRIP AS SHOWN FIRSTLY- tune (TC-1)
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then (TC-2) then (TC-3) then (L-9). Repeat the process until you're
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sure that YOU'VE peaked the UHf front end.
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Tuning up the VHf section is less effective. Some pots seem to have
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little effect, and some can be set in several positions, where as in the
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Uhf section as you will have found, some settings are critical, and all
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require a good ear.
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FOR LOW BAND LADDER TUNING FIRSTLY tune- (T8) then (T9) then (T10)
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Repeating the process.
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FOR HIGH BAND LADDER TUNING FIRSTLY tune- (T1) then (T2) then (T3) then
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(L7) Repeating the process.
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YOU MUST RESIST THE GREAT TEMPTATION TO ALTER ANY OTHER POTS OR TUNING
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CANS OTHER THAN AS DIRECTED. NEVER FORCE A POT OR CAN. AND NEVER USE A
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METAL TRIMMER OR SCREWDRIVER AS THIS ACTION WILL NOT ONLY ALTER THE
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CAPACITANCE OF THE CIRCUIT BUT CAN ALSO CRACK THE SOFT IRON CORES.
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FITTING A PRE-AMP. You may wish to fit one inside or outside, which
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ever, the prime consideration is what type. Of all those available,
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Those employing GASFETS are without doubt the best. On the negative
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side, most don't have a very good bandwidth, this fact can work against
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you, as if you have a channel that is way out of the pre-amps range then
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instead of getting gain you will simply get attenuation, which is no use
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at all. Also if you mount it inside the case you have the problem of
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intermodulation. Also gain is a factor. About 13Db is as much as you
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would need. In our opinion the best bet is the Microwave Modules
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external BBa wide band pre-amp, it has good bandwidth, adequate gain,
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and can be removed when not required. One final point. It is possible to
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link the VHf input across to the Uhf input with some light gauge 50 OHm
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coax, thus all three bands can be tuned with only one antenna.
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----------------------
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The long awaited USA origin Bearcat BC-200 is now here with a slide off
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battery pack, 200 memories etc. Very useful is the warning given if you
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try entering in a duplicate frequency into any of the memory channels.
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Aor have yet another H/Held scanner on the way. It is a re-work of the
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USA model AR900, We understand that as well as the usual bands we have
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come to expect from AOR, this model may well have the entire UHF
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airband. Sounds impressive, let's hope it works better than their last
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model which we bought, used, hated and finally sold on. YUK! more
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synthesiser noise than a sewing machine, too thick, and the squelch was
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very poor, the best thing was the battery life which was extremely good.
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Find a gap in your memory bands and enter 259.400 MHz A.M. this is the
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UK favourite for USAF PMSV METRO and ALPHA status reports to air bases.
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A certain USA company is now marketing a rolling code scrambled
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hand/held which you can re-program or remotely destruct the scramble
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codes over the air if some bugger makes off with it. Pretty neat we
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think.
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If secret bases,tapping,USAF bases in the UK,SILK PURSE and a host of
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other interesting things that go on around us are of interest to you
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then the SSC book club recommends you purchase the following. 'THE
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UNSINKABLE AIRCRAFT CARRIER' by Duncan Campbell, it is published by
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Paladin, ISBN 0-586-08626-9 it costs #3.95 and represents the best
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radio related read currently available. It includes a picture of our
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favourite flight SP, as well as a wealth of info on sites and
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operations that the powers that be would rather we knew nothing about.
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Although we don't agree with Duncans left wing views that seem to verge
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on outright communism, you have to give him credit for publishing such
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an informative book. We strongly recommend you check it out.
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-----------
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With regard to speech encryption, the move in both the military and pmr
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sections is now away from digital and on to the assorted analogue
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methods that are available. The reasons are threefold. (1) cost. (2)
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recovered speech quality and recognition are significantly better. (3)
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the analogue allows for real time, or near real time encryption which is
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not possible with digital methods, vital if the secure speech system is
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to be incorporated into an existing true duplex radio network as in the
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case of the cellular lad network. The only other approach that the digital
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camp offer as an alternative is the soon to be introduced CT2 ZONEPHONE
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method known as ping-pong digital. This is a method whereby a near true
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telephone duplex phone conversation can take place on a single
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frequency. This is achieved by extremely fast digital switching between
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one station and another. The change-over is so fast and silent that
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callers are said to not be aware that any switching is taking place.
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After months of little activity, our old favourite FLEETSATCOM 261.675
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has once again fired up with a vengeance. Firstly two infantry divisions
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are sharing the channel. The first is KILO 22 ALPHA believed to be in
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SICILY. And the second users are the Third infantry US-ARMY peace keeping
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force, call sign EAGLE BASE in the SINEI desert area between ISRAEL and
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EGYPT. Morale is said to be at a very low ebb, judging by the
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conversations that have been heard. Much Fax traffic is also passed on
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this channel as well as secure FAX on 261.800MHz.
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HINTS AND TIPS. If you scan mobile and the noise of your car at high
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speed seems to drown out your scanner, then the CD CASSETTE ADAPTOR
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(12-1951) from TANDY priced at #14.95, might be the answer. You simply
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cut off the stereo jack plug and replace it with a mono one to match
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your radio, you now have much greater amplification and sound through as
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many speakers as your car has fitted. Also you could run it through a
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graphic equaliser to really tailor the audio to remove hiss or deaden
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annoying pip-tones.
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Recent 'RARE DX' From SSC contributors are as follows> 'TAILPIPE DELTA
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23', said to be the SR-71 BLACKBIRD. Very nice logging. 'PURPLE TRAIN'
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The queens train was heard talking on local force network.
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The SSC book club is at it again. Yet another book on spying bugging MI5
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MI6 SIGINT COMINT locations of the dirty tricks dept and a host of
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charts and related maps and graphs. We all found it a really good read.
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This copy was kindly loaned to us by a budding new contributor. Now here
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comes the rub, this hardback is only about one inch thick, so off we
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trot to the bookshop to order a copy. #28.50 she says, do what we say.
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and so on and so forth. So we suggest you head off to the local library
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and get a copy ordered. In fact, page for page it is cheaper to
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photocopy it than buy it (not that we wish to encourage any breach of
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copyright). I almost forgot to tell you the title. THE TIES THAT BIND by
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JEFFREY T RICHELSON AND DESMOND BALL. published by BOSTON ALLEN AND
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UNWIN. ISBN 0-04-327092-1.
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87.3875 MHz AM. This is the French national nuclear alerter frequency,
|
||
any one on the south coast should be able to receive it on a good day,
|
||
also some of you should be able to get it under conditions of lift. If
|
||
you are in France and the tones, which are very powerful, suddenly
|
||
change pitch and then stop. We suggest you either find a local
|
||
confessional or alternatively commence the thorough whitewashing of all
|
||
nearby windows! We are trying to hunt down the USAF paging frequencies
|
||
in east anglia, anybody near 'THE HALL' or similar please keep a keen
|
||
ear out for them. A large number of friends and customers are now
|
||
sending in reports of USA based traffic skipping onto our shores from
|
||
about 32.00 to 40.00MHz NFM, we have logged all manner of signals from
|
||
the east coast, have you ?
|
||
|
||
We have just received from Japan, a brand new pre-amp. It covers 1MHz to
|
||
2000MHz. We shall let you know in due course if all this goes to our
|
||
heads, or alternatively goes into the front end of the ICOM and does
|
||
more harm than good, over pre-amping can do that you see.
|
||
|
||
The USAF are having yet another custom job done on the trusty BOEING
|
||
707, this time two are being converted to CRUISE MISSILE MISSION CONTROL
|
||
AIRCRAFT, and they will be known as EC-18D'S.
|
||
8/12/88 WE LOGGED ON 261.450 'LINSAY TO USAFE'. Any ideas who linsay is
|
||
???
|
||
|
||
7/12/88 WE LOGGED ON 261.750 'This is comm 4 testing this satellite
|
||
communications link between tac command post and radio maintenance. Yes
|
||
we have a beautiful day here at Langley, and we are trying to see if
|
||
this link will work pointing to the sun. The sun is beautiful here
|
||
today, shining radiantly down on the earth, providing great warmth for
|
||
all of this great nation of ours BREAK. How did you get that over. I
|
||
guess it's about the best were gonna get it over'. I DEFY ANY OF
|
||
YOU TO PRODUCE A BRITISH ARMED FORCES RADIO CHECK WITH THAT MUCH SPARKLE
|
||
!!!!
|
||
|
||
WHO IS USING THE BUTTERNUT SC-3000, OR MORE TO THE POINT, WHO HAS PAID
|
||
THE MONEY AND IS STILL AWAITING IT'S ARRIVAL ?
|
||
|
||
Hello again, Well if you must just have the best, then start saving
|
||
hard. This summer should see the new ICOM R9000. It covers 50KCs to 2000
|
||
MHz without gaps. There are 1000 memories, set up in banks of 100. In
|
||
the centre will be a proper TV screen panadaptor display. The 9000 comes
|
||
complete with a built in TV demodulator, this means that you can watch
|
||
TV on the internal TV screen should you feel the need, but at about
|
||
#2,750 it strikes me as a pretty overpriced portable TV. Either way, if
|
||
you live and breath th this hobby, then start arranging to sell the
|
||
children and re-mortgage the house, because August is not far away!
|
||
|
||
SILK PURSE flights appear to be on the increase, with about five flights
|
||
a week. They don't always initiate 'conference call' by switching on the
|
||
megga powerful WFM links, but clearly they can be heard as 'AXE 10' on
|
||
both the command post and Croughton H.F. frequencies. If you are hunting
|
||
an Alconbury TR1-A recon plane, then forget about the HI-FI callsign
|
||
because it has been dropped. Now it's 'ROOK or HELIO'. If you really
|
||
fancy yourself as an ACE operator, then SR-71 BLACKBIRD hunting will
|
||
almost certainly be up your street. Forget HABU, instead listen for
|
||
their current tactical callsigns 'ABBOTT and SKIPPY'. We know where to
|
||
look, but even we must even admit that BLACKBIRD radio traffic in 'THE
|
||
CLEAR' is as rare as rocking horse droppings!
|
||
|
||
24 hours before the Libyans blew a raspberry at the Yanks, and got blown
|
||
out of the sky for their trouble, two SSC contributors took an
|
||
unofficial tour around Upper Heyford. They had lunch in the base food
|
||
hall, changed pounds to dollars and then bought cigarettes,food and beer
|
||
in the base tax free american supermarket. This was followed by a
|
||
leisurely stroll around the main base complex. All this just goes to show
|
||
that security is not worth a damn at some of these bases. It makes one
|
||
wonder how the serviceman sleep at night, not knowing who or what is
|
||
lurking about yards from their beds. The contributors encountered the
|
||
base police, who pulled up in their Fairmont hill street blues type
|
||
patrol car, with low band Motorola h/helds in hand, they wandered into
|
||
the supermarket currently being patronised by the two nervous
|
||
englishmen, they walked straight past them, hand/helds blaring out
|
||
instructions. and headed straight for the junk food section. Well they
|
||
do say, 'an army marches on it's stomach'.
|
||
|
||
Who read the recent nationally published magazine article in which the
|
||
infamous Duncan Campbell quoted specific police/customs/US embassy/MI5
|
||
watcher and cruise missile frequencies, together with callsigns. Well
|
||
you could have knocked me down with a feather at reading such specific
|
||
and important discretes being flaunted about in the press.
|
||
|
||
We recently logged a call from a C-135 PREFIX ECHO, that seems to make
|
||
it an EC-135. This aircraft lives normally at Wright Patterson in
|
||
America, and is part of their special test wing. The tail number was
|
||
8026, and it stated to a curious command post radio man who had no
|
||
knowledge of the flight, that they were inbound from Iceland where they
|
||
had run a test mission for the British satellite SKYNET. They had 23
|
||
crew, 5 on packs manifest and 18 on flight orders, also all passengers
|
||
were duty passengers. The question is, how does a commercial satellite
|
||
company manage to rope in a very special USAF aircraft, and what kind of
|
||
tests would they carry out? Anyone having a TV dish in the back
|
||
garden...Answers on a postcard please!
|
||
|
||
There is as yet an unsupported rumour that Kenwood,pleased with the
|
||
response to their first step into the scanner scene (THE RZ-1), are now
|
||
working on a fully blown model to rival the Icom flagship. Added to the
|
||
soon to be released Uniden wonder model, one wonders who else from the
|
||
far east is going to step into the breech? Maybe there is a Nissan
|
||
DX-1000 with a ten year rust and parts guarantee on the way!
|
||
|
||
Lowe Electronics have imported a Japanese mobile scanner pre-amp. It is
|
||
made by Maldol and connects in line with the antenna lead. It comes
|
||
wired already to accept a PL259 and has a curly lead to connect direct
|
||
to your cigar lighter socket. It has a claimed range from 20 to 1300
|
||
MHz. The price is under <20>30.00, and they are in stock now. No gain
|
||
figures are known.
|
||
|
||
Last night we logged the return of a very late night TR1-A (tactical
|
||
recon) mission from who knows where back to Alconbury. The time was
|
||
00.45 AM, and the flight used a new discrete callsign not previously
|
||
heard, this linked to the much increased AWAC,SR-71 and COMMAND POST
|
||
activity makes one assume that the political waters are considered by
|
||
the Americans, to be a bit muddy at the moment.As a footnote, most
|
||
military flights are halted after 22.30, this is known as 'QUIET TIME',
|
||
and is done for the benefit of the locals. A recent AUTOVON call from
|
||
SILK PURSE was traced to the Ravensbrook Medical Centre in downtown
|
||
Chicago, another private call on the $50M flying phone.
|
||
|
||
Does anybody know why Halifax military say 'DO NOT ANSWER'. strange as
|
||
USA SAC transmissions always prefix that statement with a 'SKYKING'.
|
||
|
||
We have a cracking signal on 49.860 MHz NFM, it is a baby alarm, the
|
||
family seem to be Chinese. The transmissions go on all night. We would
|
||
guess that these are illegal over here, have a look tonight and see if
|
||
there is an epidemic of screaming infants breaking the wireless
|
||
telegraphy act at such a tender age.(we think wired or mains carrier
|
||
current are only legal types)
|
||
With luck the April issue of Practical Wireless (out march 9th) will
|
||
have the first full colour picture of the forthcoming ICOM R-9000, a
|
||
product still denied it's existence by some quarters. The picture is so
|
||
clear that most of the functions can be worked out from a quick visual
|
||
scan across the cover, but don't expect to find a single word of
|
||
explanation on the inside, because rumour has it, there wont be any.
|
||
Projected price now creeps up to around the #3000 mark! With regard to
|
||
the 9000, you might like t o know it has two clocks two sleep timers/an
|
||
optional satellite converter, yellow screen,video input and the ability
|
||
to tag up to eight alphanumeric characters to each memory (as with the
|
||
RZ-1) finally it comes in a completely new case, which is a surprise
|
||
coming from the Icom stable who cobbled the R-7000 into the H.F. box,
|
||
thus the reason the record jack is on the front and the SSB mode switch
|
||
is on the rear and NOT software controlled, but all this should change
|
||
when the megga overpriced 9000 appears. Personally I would like a Rohde
|
||
and Schwarz ESM-1001, but the price of that makes the Icom look like a
|
||
steal!
|
||
|
||
Our Butternut SC-3000 is up, it looks a bit flimsy and even the lightest
|
||
breeze has the top half whipping about. As to it's operation, low band
|
||
is very good. High band is good. Uhf is pretty good. Uhf air comes out
|
||
as rather poor, and cellular is dreadful. This just goes to confirm the
|
||
makers claims that operation is good up to 500MHz. Windwise we give it
|
||
six months!
|
||
|
||
The Guardian Angels use an 800MHz trunked pmr radio scheme in New York,
|
||
although 800MHz trunking is a few years off here, London folk should
|
||
keep a keen eye out in case the Angels get a radio system up and
|
||
running.
|
||
|
||
USAFE or SAC listeners might pick up 'PIREPS' or 'INBOUND-REPORTS' if so
|
||
then the phrase 'I HAVE SIX PACKS' must have been heard. Well they
|
||
actually spell it 'PAXS' and it does not refer to cargo or luggage, it
|
||
simply refers to passengers. i.e. I have six passengers. PIREPS stands
|
||
for pilots report.
|
||
After the well received Black Jaguar MK's 1/2/3, this year will see one
|
||
or possibly two new models. One h/held (BJ3000) with cellular coverage
|
||
and an economically priced mobile version with selectable AM/FM and a
|
||
high first I.F. which not only peaks up the performance but reduces
|
||
falsing due to automobile induced ignition and image problems. More news
|
||
nearer the date.
|
||
|
||
The forthcoming Standard scanner is still set for about May delivery,
|
||
the price seems to be close to #590.00. We understand that Standard are
|
||
reluctant to increase coverage to 950MHz so the cellular channels are
|
||
out, also respraying the case is not favoured by the Japs who don't get
|
||
excited unless you place an order for over 10,000! Out of interest we
|
||
have the first production AX-700, as I type it's sat in front of me, and
|
||
very tasty it looks too. The first I.F. is a poor 10.7MHz, but it is
|
||
very sensitive wi th superb scanning functions and a truly great looking
|
||
LCD screen, in fact I have a cricked neck through keeping an eye on the
|
||
spectrum. I will write a review soonest.
|
||
|
||
Once again Japanese scanner retailers are fuming that AOR have put
|
||
another stop in the 3000 mass production date, out of interest Lowe's
|
||
have one of the production 3000's and very pleased they are with it. In
|
||
a recent Japanese scanning mag. the reviewer gave it 95 out of 100,
|
||
which says a lot for it.
|
||
|
||
Lowe's are said to be working on an import deal for the Yupiteru MVT-500
|
||
super wide band scanner, the problem lies in two areas, (1) Yupiteru are
|
||
not over keen on exporting, and (2) there may be some patent problems
|
||
with Uniden USA with regards some of the circuitry which seems very
|
||
similar to Uniden's own handiwork. We will keep you informed, but it's
|
||
early days yet.
|
||
|
||
The great portable wide band pre-amp we told you about has now evolved
|
||
into a mark two. We found problems with H.F. breakthrough due to the
|
||
unit starting to amplify from 100Kcs, so the new model due here in about
|
||
three months will have built in band passing from 25MHz upwards. To
|
||
answer another popular question with regards to another new product we
|
||
were asked to test prior to production.
|
||
|
||
Fairmate in Japan who make the AOR H/Held scanners for example, have
|
||
decided that the next new all singing all dancing H/Held to come out of
|
||
the factory in mid-89 will have the FAIRMATE name on the front for a
|
||
change. It seems they don't like AOR taking all the praise and money for
|
||
a product they designed and built. I think they call it QUDOS !
|
||
|
||
Those of you who are thinking of purchasing a BEARCAT 200XLT, please
|
||
note that as well as the official UK imports, there appear to be a great
|
||
number of USA market models appearing on the shelves, the only
|
||
difference is the low band. The UK one will cover 66-88MHz but only in
|
||
NFM, and the USA model covers the 29-54MHz also only in NFM area, so
|
||
decide whether you want pmr or cordless phones. Also the much needed
|
||
spare battery packs are due in this month, priced at about #30.00
|
||
(STRUTH). The May issue of SWM should have a pretty picture of the
|
||
Standard AX-700 LCD panadaptor scanner on the front cover. This issue is
|
||
due on your newsracks about the 27th of April. We have now got our
|
||
sweaty hands on the worlds best h/held scanner, the YUPITERU MVT-5000,
|
||
as mentioned many times in these sheets. The sensitivity is so good that
|
||
we can easily receive 261.675MHz FLEETSATCOM traffic just with it's own
|
||
bnc terminated telescopic whip. Why no rubber ducky I hear you ask, well
|
||
the makers obviously gave up trying to get 25-550 and 800 to 1300MHz
|
||
down one helical. It runs on four supplied AA nicads which may be
|
||
changed to dryfits. T here is an 8V charge socket and a handy 12V d.c .
|
||
supply socket. The only gripe is the really crappy display which is weak
|
||
and hard to read, also the illumination is one of those dreadful little
|
||
pixie lights.
|
||
|
||
Imitation being a high form of flattery, it seems that HEMBRO, NEVADA
|
||
and others are now selling top loaded sixteen element discones in
|
||
stainless steel that look rather similar to the DIAMOND and ICOM models
|
||
from Japan that has found much favour over here. (we still think they
|
||
are all poor UHF performers).
|
||
|
||
SSC FREE INFORMATION #21 [19/04/89]
|
||
A little birdy tells us of a new mobile scanner nearing completion at
|
||
the impressive ICOM works in Japan. Icom UK as usual are not committing
|
||
themselves at present. Did you see last Sundays Observer newspaper
|
||
article on scanning and the so-called menace they represent to the
|
||
authorities. SSC were contacted and asked to represent the public view,
|
||
we were happy to put our case, because of the football tragedy that
|
||
happened the day prior to publication, 90% of the article was axed by
|
||
the editor. Maybe next time! This week we logged a rare SR-71 mission
|
||
bird homerun, aircraft "QUID 80, DESCENDING TO 60" (60,000 feet to the
|
||
unconverted).
|
||
RAF/USAFE Alconbury has two interesting visitors at the moment. Firstly
|
||
a gleaming white U-2 spyplane (ala Gary Powers). And secondly a flight
|
||
of F-4 phantoms from the Alabama National guard. Alconbury will close
|
||
for seven months soon to allow runway resurfacing and a different camber
|
||
to be laid. If you intend to purchase a new AOR-3000, and you intend to
|
||
run it barefoot, i.e. non computer control. Then we suggest you try
|
||
before you buy, because even a usually simple task such as changing
|
||
modes is a real bitch on the 3000. HATE THOSE BUTTONS! PMR business
|
||
scanner buffs should not forsake the wide open spaces of the fairly new
|
||
175 to 225MHz BAND3 segment. An increasing number of the big boys are
|
||
giving up their old systems in favour of national coverage and an
|
||
advanced infrastructure, even if getting a call through in central
|
||
London is a bit of a joke. Users include-Bass Charrington/
|
||
RSPCA/DYNO-ROD etc etc <too exciting I hear you say. We welcome reports
|
||
on any traffic heard on 174.275 mode unknown 261.500MHz NFM (well
|
||
military nfm anyway). This fleetsatcom channel has sprung into life with
|
||
much chat between Whitehouse and military VIP flights, all prefixed with
|
||
a 'SAM' callsign. These airborne units are talking through 'ANDY ONE'
|
||
this is Andrews AFB switch control. Lots of SAC generals on the line.
|
||
Rightly or wrongly, we understand that Uniden USA are currently shipping
|
||
out 50,000 BC-200XLT H/Held scanners a month, and that is just the
|
||
domestic market. The US OF A sure is a big market. Ray Withers of RAYCOM
|
||
(BIRMINGHAM) has evidently ordered a test batch from Japan of the new
|
||
YUPITERU MVT-5000 H/Held scanner, wonder where he got the notion from
|
||
that it could be a winner? Cirfolk in Japan have just released a new
|
||
dual band amateur radio with 'NEGATIVE TYPE FIVE COLOURED LCD' God only
|
||
knows what one of those is. And as a new twist to eye-catching
|
||
advertising, the advert has colour shots showing how to open the radio
|
||
up and perform easy frequency expansion mods by snipping indicated
|
||
wires. All good stuff we thought. E@OE
|
||
|
||
SSC FREE INFO #22 [26/04/89]
|
||
There is a rumour currently passing around USAF bases here, that last
|
||
saturday an SR-71 mission bird was lost, of course it is just
|
||
speculation but we think that there's little smoke without fire. If it
|
||
was SAMMED let's hope it fell on our side! If Leica cameras start
|
||
appearing with superb lens technology we will know the worsed.
|
||
|
||
Did you see the recent First Tuesday TV programme on bugging? It remains
|
||
a mystery to us why Mr Goughlan (a so called MI-5 sub contractor) would
|
||
appear on a programme and parade his rather basic bugging equipment for
|
||
all and sundry. The eagle eyed among you will have seen that apart from
|
||
his well dated Tandy scanner and cheap Corona (Japan) receiver, he was
|
||
bugging his subject on 139MHz, We hope you all note that this popular
|
||
bugging band is clearly stated as such in our conf/plan #9. Finally the
|
||
phonebug he used was a basic retail CONY variant.
|
||
|
||
Word has it that the Home Office plans to rolling code encrypt certain
|
||
sensitive channels, are not going too well. It seems that apart from the
|
||
poor recovered speech quality, the operating range has been cut down due
|
||
to the need to pass good sync pulses from radio to radio in order to
|
||
keep the net on the same scrambling sequence. Me thinks they Should have
|
||
gone to Motorola in the first place who have long since ironed out all
|
||
these problems. But then you can't tell the H.O. anything! Still no news
|
||
as to when our Yupiteru is so be joined by a delivery so that all you
|
||
hungry techno-heads can rush out and buy one for yourselves. And still
|
||
no AOR3000 yet!
|
||
You all want to know about this wonderful new YUPITERU MVT-5000 h/held
|
||
scanner that we have been carping on about for months. As usual other
|
||
publications rumour it's existence while we have one in the flesh. It
|
||
covers 25 to 550MHz and 800 to 1300MHz no gaps, in am or nfm. There are
|
||
100 memories that will scan at 8 or 20 ch/per/sec. There are ten
|
||
preprogrammed bands for vhf police/uhf police/marine/carphones/vhf
|
||
air/uhf air etc, a very good point is that you can write over the
|
||
Japanese bands and put in the UK limits. It has a 13.8 DC socket, 3.5mm
|
||
speaker socket. A good chunky case with plastic carry wallet and 600MAH
|
||
nicads included. It features AF SCAN,CHANNEL LOCKOUT,AND SLEEP MODE. As
|
||
already mentioned the sensitivity is superb as is the coverage and
|
||
scanning speed. On the negative side, the display is near impossible to
|
||
read in any position other than at a forward slant, the display
|
||
illumination is equally useless. And the telescopic whip is a bit
|
||
cumbersome, but all in all it's one hell of a unit. Ours is believed to
|
||
be the second in the UK, and is not for sale before you ask.
|
||
|
||
On London mil. 250.600MHz, we keep hearing late night chat from aircraft
|
||
flying under the callsigns 'FYY' i.e. FYY57/58 etc ?? SILK PURSE has
|
||
gone completely quiet for almost three weeks ?? We have sensitivity
|
||
graphs for the AOR-3000 available now. We hear rumours about DTI plans
|
||
to take one or more portions of the 70cm amateur band away from it's
|
||
current users on a national basis. Also it appears the DTI made a long
|
||
standing error in allocating voice on the first 100KCs of the 169MHz
|
||
band. Under the WARC arrangement, this should only be signalling, so
|
||
things may be on the move in months to come. Our AX-700 now has an HF
|
||
converter available in Japan. The super over the top ICOM R-9000 is set
|
||
now for a <20>3,995.0 tag.
|
||
|
||
SSC FREE INFO #24 [30/05/89]
|
||
Well maybe I didn't see you at the Mildenhall airshow, but judging by
|
||
the amount of choc-ice AR900 weilding spectators I spotted trying to
|
||
work out just exactly what kind of h/held I was toting. It was of
|
||
course the Yupiteru, and very handy it turned out to be. Thanks to the
|
||
welcome press pass I was afforded, I managed to collar the pilot and
|
||
navigator of SILK PURSE for an in depth discussion. The press officer
|
||
told me the SR-71 could not fly because of operational constraints!
|
||
About a month ago we told you about one possibly ditching. Now four
|
||
weeks later it is announced in the press that one was lost over the
|
||
South China sea, both men bailed out safely. OLD NEWS ! I bought a
|
||
rather different tee-shirt from the Upper Heyford aircrews, it depicts
|
||
a nuclear mushroom with an F-111 exiting the scene, and featuring the
|
||
slogan 'GOOD MORNING IRAN', living in a town with so many Arab
|
||
students, I think the chances of me getting stoned in the streets are
|
||
pretty good! Motorola have now managed to stuff 9.6K/BIT/SEC digital
|
||
encryption down standard phone lines, which is pretty damn good as all
|
||
mil-spec radios only manage 16K/BIT/SEC down a 25KCs wide radio
|
||
channel, and many need 50KCs. The TR1-A recon planes from Alconburys
|
||
17th Recon. Wing are now living at Sculthorpe, but are still to be
|
||
found on their Eastern radar discretes, so if you live near that area,
|
||
listen out for ROOKS etc calling 'SCULLY OPS'. Out of interest we hear
|
||
that A-10's are still taking off using the taxiways at Alcon. We have
|
||
now been given among other things, the national frequency bands for
|
||
BIOTRACK animal tag radio trackers, so we think it's about time to
|
||
start the long job of compiling a conf/allo number ten. But don't hold
|
||
your breath just yet. I recently had the privilege to operate a
|
||
<EFBFBD>300,000.00+ disguised mobile D.F. (direction finding) vehicle, apart
|
||
from some very comfy aircraft type seats and air-conditioning, there
|
||
was 50KHz to 2.4GHz complete DF coverage with scanning/ panadaptors/
|
||
planar D.F. screens and a very tasty azimuth waterfall colour occupancy
|
||
display. With not one visible antenna and bi-directional adcocks I
|
||
thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Also on display was a terrestrial
|
||
microwave system capable of 1 to 30GHz coverage. The operator was
|
||
beaming the dish across an invisible B.T. microwave point to point
|
||
link, and by watching the panadaptor was able to resolve with great
|
||
clarity, any private phone call currently being relayed on the link. Is
|
||
nothing sacred I ask myself. No I think is the answer. After seeing a
|
||
fax from Japan which informed us that our friends contact within the
|
||
AOR factory had more bad news. It appears they now have some serious
|
||
software bugs in their all singing all dancing built in logic, so no
|
||
AOR3000 this week. Did anyone get any pics of last years secret
|
||
deployment of the super stealth F-117A 'WOBBLIN-GOBLIN', they are said
|
||
to have been stationed at Binbrook and only flew night sorties flanked
|
||
by lightnings to disguise their shape and radar signature.
|
||
|
||
SSC FREE INFO #25 [19/06/89] WANT TO KNOW THE FAVOURITE FREQUENCY FOR
|
||
LOOK OUTS IN BANK JOBS AND OTHER ASSORTED CRIMES ? if so then read on.
|
||
The criminal element are all around us, some are smart but many don't
|
||
have the brains they were born with. Simplex two way hand held to
|
||
handheld communications have always been a valued asset to the would be
|
||
crim. But where does Eddie the Wire go to get such an item? not his
|
||
local PMR supplier that's for sure, and filling in the DTI licence form
|
||
would cause a few problems, as to intended use and geographical
|
||
location. Anyway, so some months ago this bright spark noticed that
|
||
most TELCOM engineering vehicles had a black antenna stuck on the rear,
|
||
and inside sat a Motorola base set and a bank of tasty MT-700 H/helds
|
||
all charged up and ready to go. Now common sense leaves a man who steals
|
||
a pair of h/helds and then stakes out the local bank on this most used
|
||
of national TELCO simplex allocations. Nobody thought of changing the
|
||
frequency. The end result is that they got collared. We cannot enlarge
|
||
upon the case, but our information is that many of these h/helds have
|
||
walked over the last year, and many are being used for the same
|
||
purpose, so make a space in your memories for 168.2625MHz NFM and
|
||
possibly you could assist your local neighbourhood watch. But please
|
||
don't phone in everytime you hear chatter, because it's probably two GPO
|
||
cablelayers discussing the next tea break!
|
||
|
||
SSC FREE INFO #26 [13/07/89]
|
||
Prospective h/held scanner buyers beware. If you are looking around for
|
||
an AOR AR-900, then accept that and no substitutes. We say this because
|
||
a UK importer has bought in a large quantity of identical looking units
|
||
under the ATRON brand name. They are not identical inside! The ATRON has
|
||
low band, but no uhf airband, whereas the genuine AOR has no low band
|
||
but does have UHF/AIR. Out of interest ATRON is a favourite badging name
|
||
in the Netherlands, where many scanners found in the UK under the REVCO
|
||
brand name, can be found there under the ATRON label. The reason that
|
||
the Yupiteru has not appeared as yet is for the following reason. Uniden
|
||
corp of America owns an impressive string of patents covering the inner
|
||
workings and operating features of scanners. All other producers of
|
||
scanners use to a greater or lesser degree, some of Unidens patented
|
||
circuitry, and as such pay a 2% royalty on each and every scanner sold
|
||
in Europe and the States. Now for some reason Yupiteru refuse to pay the
|
||
royalty, Uniden say they will sue the first retailer who advertises
|
||
this product. Lowe's and Raycom have therefore lost their enthusiasm for
|
||
bringing them in. The plot thickens. AOR are trying to iron out the
|
||
software bugs in their 3000. The Icom R-7000 comes factory set with AM
|
||
on the wide setting. We found that lifting the top cover and simply
|
||
moving the well marked jumper from wide to narrow, really improves weak
|
||
traffic, especially distant aircraft. Why not try it yourself!
|
||
|
||
A.R.E. are advertising the new Standard AX-700 as a 'REALLY PROFESSIONAL
|
||
RECEIVER, praise indeed. Our considered opinion after months of use with
|
||
this extremely poor front end performer is that ARE wouldn't know a
|
||
Rohde and Schwarz from a Russian Vega ! Waters and Stanton are now advertising
|
||
the Yupiteru's arrival as August. They have set the price at a very fair
|
||
<EFBFBD>299. So we suggest you offer up your credit cards because demand will
|
||
no doubt outstrip supply. Javiation had on display at the Fairford
|
||
airshow the first five examples in the UK of the ACE USA 2002
|
||
conversion, known as the AOR AR-2515. The asking price is <20>650.00.
|
||
Anyone at Fairford would have been pleased to see the wide and
|
||
interesting variety of aircraft including two very special 'HERC'
|
||
variants. These were the VOLANT SOLO and the well appointed COMBAT
|
||
TALON. Also the SR-71 flew on Sunday and chatted away to the tower using
|
||
the c/s 'BLACKBIRD ZERO ONE', not the most startling of HABU's public
|
||
performances, but a most welcome and popular guest anyway. Did you know
|
||
that the MET Police have 2,532 armed officers, and these include Special
|
||
Branch, Flying Squad, Diplomatic Protection Group, and PT17 (the blue
|
||
berets) who seem to appear more often in episodes of the popular tv
|
||
series 'THE BILL' than they actually do on the streets of London. A
|
||
three year FBI operation has just concluded with the arrest of over 100
|
||
people, many of whom are USAF servicemen serving at 12 different bases
|
||
across the USA. The operation centred on the disappearance of three F-16
|
||
jet engines, assorted avionics hardware and numerous bonedomes. The
|
||
sinister destination of this tasty kit was not revealed.
|
||
A USAF C23-A SHERPA is called 'POKEY' and not POPEYE. And the
|
||
old SR-71 callsign was 'HABU' and not HUDU. Now it's usually QUID.
|
||
|
||
Eastern radar is moving to West Drayton this year. The 436 MAW brought
|
||
in a C-5 GALAXY to remove the cruise missiles from Greenham common. 1990
|
||
will probably see the same amount of warheads return configured for
|
||
F-111 airborne launching. FYY-47 is an RAF DOMINIE. CHAPS is an EF-111.
|
||
RUFUS is a B1-B. The term 'VICTOR FREQ' is the USAFE term referring to
|
||
a VHF backup for the main UHF air to air refuelling frequency in use.
|
||
FAIRFORD UPDATE...
|
||
On Saturday The Vulcan did a 200ft flypast instead of the instructed 500Ft,
|
||
the tower wanted an explanation. The canberra pilot was sent home in
|
||
disgrace because he took off and then proceeded to bank so hard, the
|
||
ground crew thought the wings were going to come off. 'AXE ONE ONE' is a
|
||
new second flight of the day C/S for SP. We hear that apart from the
|
||
super new ICOM h/held on the way with vast amounts of receive coverage
|
||
built in, another fairly well known maker from the far east is about to
|
||
show off their new mini-dualband h/held. Possible tx/rx Coverage from
|
||
100 to 179.9875, 320 to 479 with a little gap around 400, and last but
|
||
not least receive only coverage from 820 to 980 MHz. It will act as a
|
||
crossband repeater and has twin displays. We will get shot if we tell
|
||
you more, but the coming months will see this item arriving on our
|
||
shores. It just has to be the ultimate dualband transceiver with a built
|
||
in scanner. Spectators at the thirty-eighth Paris airshow were given a
|
||
treat on the last day. The departing static display SR-71A which was
|
||
rotationally assigned to the 9th SRW at Mildenhall, took off using most
|
||
of the runway, made a leisurely bank to turn around, then flew the
|
||
length of the runway at an altitude of 250 feet and a speed of mach .5.
|
||
While the plane was still picking up speed, the crew of Maj. Jim
|
||
Greenwood and Capt. Steven Grzebiniak banked around off the other end of
|
||
the runway, flew back down the runway at a speed of mach .8, pulled
|
||
the nose up, made a steep climb, and, for all intents and purposes,
|
||
disappeared. It stole the show needless to say. We still hear rumours
|
||
about not one but two new ICOM scanners ! Glad to see that two of our
|
||
listening posts now have the JUPITER TWO, I still think it's a real con
|
||
that W+S took out the crappy plastic case and belt clip, and are selling
|
||
them for an extra <20>9.95. It's just a cheap(or expensive) marketing ploy.
|
||
|
||
A recently retired undercover policewoman is suing her local
|
||
constabulary for quote 'permanent high frequency deafness caused by the
|
||
prolonged wearing of a covert induction earpiece. The mafia in Italy has
|
||
recently apologised to a 25Yr old pizza waiter for mistakenly sending
|
||
him a death threat. Recently Giuseppe Bruno found a fistful of
|
||
unexploded bullets on the seat of his car, a traditional mafia warning.
|
||
Later Bruno received an anonymous letter saying,' sorry we got the wrong
|
||
car'. I pity the poor sod in the right car ! The UK is soon to see
|
||
another scanner from the small but innovative Japanese producers,
|
||
Yupiteru. The MVT-4000 is basically a mobile/desktop version of the 5000
|
||
h/held, or should I say, the jupiter 2. The 4000 has extra features, a
|
||
very sloping front and controls almost the same as the h/held.
|
||
I got to play with the very first Standard TRI-BAND amateur radio in the
|
||
UK last week. The mini H/held covers VHF/UHF/800-900 MHz. To say the
|
||
coverage was wide is somewhat of an understatement. Also it had a short
|
||
and very fat rubber duck. The king is dead(JUPITER 2) long live the
|
||
king(NEW ICOM). After reading Japans confidential specs on the new Icom
|
||
scanner models, we feel sure it will easily outclass the Jupiter and
|
||
become the NO1 UK h/held scanner.
|
||
I have been asked by friends, out of the thousands, what's your
|
||
favourite aircraft freq? It has to be 307.800 'BANNER CONTROL' this is
|
||
Mildenhall flight ops. Now bearing in mind that this base plays host to
|
||
SILK PURSE/SR-71/RC-135/KC-135Q/US-NAVY/MAC etc, and as this freq is for
|
||
aircraft to alert operations of mission status, crew numbers, vip's on
|
||
board, arrival times and the condition of the aircraft (most
|
||
illuminating), therefore a great deal of info can be gained. The pilots
|
||
usually call this freq, SAC OPS, and during the week it can get pretty
|
||
busy with QUIDS and AXE ONE ZERO'S. So sit on it for a while and see
|
||
what pops up, it's the best way to get the inside story from afar. An
|
||
SSC listening post on a recent guided tour round Memphis state police
|
||
communications centre, was surprised to hear of their turned down
|
||
request for three new ICOM R-9000's. Price didn't come into it,simply
|
||
that they were 'NIH' or not invented here. It's not much different over
|
||
here.
|
||
The Department of Transport who manage the motorcycle tests have decided
|
||
to make it a radio controlled affair. From now on riders will wear a
|
||
receive only radio on a belt with a velcro earpiece attached to the
|
||
inside of the bone dome. The instructor through his Phillips h/held will
|
||
pass instructions. Of course you ALL expect the frequency now! Well its
|
||
456.575 MHz NFM SIMP. A most strange choice, alright UHF low powered
|
||
h/helds have limited ranges, but this particular freq is used by
|
||
literally dozens of people for compound security, from Chase
|
||
Manhattens UK headquarters in Bournemouth to Loughborough University etc
|
||
etc. Got access to your works computer/modem or just don't give a stuff
|
||
about your phone bill? If so, then check out Northrops B-2 stealth
|
||
bomber job vacancy bulletin board. Yes if you have 'THE RIGHT STUFF'
|
||
you could be working on the most hi-tech but financially crippling
|
||
boomerang currently in the skies. Dial 0101-213-938-5532 bit settings
|
||
are DATA-7, STOPS-2, NO PARITY, FULL DUPLEX 4300/1200 BAUD, 'CR' UPON
|
||
ENTRY. It appears that a pre-production sample of the new Icom scanner
|
||
h/held might well appear at the forthcoming leicester show. Icom are
|
||
furious that SSC and then PW PUBLISHING spilled the beans months before
|
||
ICOM UK were ready to tell all. TOUGH ! Motorola have sent us details of
|
||
a rather nifty new product nearing production, it's a pager built into a
|
||
digital watch, so all you yuppies will soon be able to say 'PAGE ME NOW
|
||
SCOTTIE'. We have been given a long list of new eastern radar freqs,
|
||
said to become active about the 5th of October, rumours still abound
|
||
about a move to possibly West Drayton in the near future. Our man in the
|
||
Memphis police dept has sent us a super full colour police supply
|
||
catalogue, everything from actual patrol vehicles (ala the blues
|
||
brothers) through swat team outfits, to leather gloves where the knuckle
|
||
is filled with powdered lead. sock it to me officer seems in order here!
|
||
SIJAN is an F4 from Spangdahlem. DAFFY is a TR1-A. We heard a ROOK
|
||
pilot tell the ground that he just passed Concorde the other day. There
|
||
are currently eight USAF B-52G nuclear bombers over here on exercise,
|
||
All called 'HEAD-DANCER'. 5 are at Fairford, 2 are at St Mawgan and 1 at
|
||
Lossiemouth, mostly to be heard on HF THAT'S ALL FOR NOW......E@OE...NIGEL.
|
||
|