International Callsign Handbook v2 Now Available

This blog is supported and sponsored by Teak Publishing, and the sale of its radio hobby publications. We appreciate your support by purchasing our publications that keeps our radio blogs operational.

"I’m impressed. This is a comprehensive collection of worldwide radio identifiers likely (and even some less likely) to be heard on the air. Over the years the Van Horns have earned the well-deserved respect of the monitoring community. Accurately assembling a collection like this is a mammoth undertaking. Congratulations on a job well done." Bob Grove - December 2008 Whats New Column, Monitoring Times magazine

Teak Publishing is proud to announce the release their second eBook – International Callsign Handbook, 2nd edition, by Gayle and Larry Van Horn.

Radio hobbyists interested in receiving and identifying radio stations in the HF/VHF/UHF radio spectrums now have a new whopping 1414 page CD-ROM publication to aid them.

International Callsign Handbook is a concise world directory of various types of radio station identifications covering the military, government, maritime, aeronautical, and fixed radio stations on CD-ROM. Thousands of callsigns and other types of identifiers have been collected from our own personal log book, official sources and dedicated hobbyists who contributed their material.

The 12 chapters of this new eBook cover the following subjects:

● Chapter 1 – Introductory material

● Chapter 2 – Extensive lists of resource information useful in interpreting the individual entries for each identification listed in the book. We have included sections on U.S. Navy ship/squadron classifications; U.S. Coast Guard cutter designators; a massive list of abbreviations and acronyms that appear in the book; a comprehensive country abbreviation list; and the latest Table of Allocations of International Callsigns from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

● Chapter 3 – Special chapter devoted to monitoring ACARS communications. For the aviation buff, we have included an extensive list of the abbreviations and a sample message type used by aircraft when communicating using this digital radio system.

● Chapter 4 – Comprehensive lists of internationally assigned callsigns.

● Chapter 5 – Worldwide listing of airline callsigns and ICAO codes.

● Chapter 6 – Covers the new field of decoding ICAO24 codes from aircraft. Our list in this edition will primarily cover military aircraft.

● Chapter 7 – Provides a large sample of military Selcal codes that have been recently decoded by on-the-air monitoring.

● Chapter 8 – Civilian Marine Vessel Callsigns.

● Chapter 9 – Introductory material on monitoring the marine GMDSS frequencies with coastal and ship MMSI identifications.

● Chapter 10 This chapter covers the new and exciting field of Automatic Link Establishment or ALE monitoring in the HF radio spectrum and includes a very large list of ALE addresses.

● Chapter 11 – The largest chapter in this book is an extensive listing of Tactical Callsign and Code Words. This chapter covers government and military tactical calls and selected code words for services and agencies worldwide.

● Chapter 12 – is a collection of U.S. military call words that change, usually on a daily basis. The call words presented in this chapter are usually used by various elements of the Strategic Forces such as airborne command post, TACAMO aircraft, GEP or ground entry point stations, and other units worldwide.

The International Callsign Handbook is published in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) electronic format and is fully searchable/printable. It can be run on any computer platform and uses the Adobe Acrobat reader program (a free Internet download).

CD-ROM System requirements:
Autorun function supported on Microsoft Windows 98 or later for PCs (Adobe Reader Versions 6, 7 or 8 must be installed to view publication). Publication PDF files can be view on any Apple Macintosh computer that has Preview or Adobe Reader versions 7 or 8 installed (no Autorun function supported on Mac platforms). Vista platform users have special instructions included in order the view the eBook on the CD-ROM.

The book is written by MT QSL Report columnist Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH, and Larry Van Horn, N5FPW, MT's Assistant Editor/Milcom columnist. If you want to identify who you are hearing on your radio, then this book should be on your radio shack shelf.

International Callsign Handbook, 1414 pages. 2nd Edition. © 2008, by Teak Publishing of Brasstown, North Carolina. (ISBN: 978-0-9796311-1-5).

Cost:
United States US$19.95 plus US$3.00 shipping and handling
All International Orders US#19.95 plus US$5.00 shipping and handling

You can order your book directly from Teak Publishing using check (must clear the bank first), money order or via PayPal

If you want to order via credit card, please contact one of our two dealers - Grove Enterprises or Univeral Radio. There are links to these fine companies on our blog resource guide to the right of this article.

To contact Teak Publishing directly write to P.O. Box 297, Brasstown, NC 28902 USA or via email at teakpub@brmemc.net.

If you are a dealer and would like to carry our books we have dealer pricing available. You can see information on our first book at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/world-qsl-book-now-available.html

Observatory's Master Clock Precision Vital to Current Ops

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) formally dedicated its new Master Clock Facility Nov. 7, which will be the repository of the most accurate time-scale available in the world.

Within the walls of the new building, the Observatory's Time Service Department will install and maintain the world's largest collection of "atomic clocks", including three next-generation Rubidium Atomic Frequency Fountain clocks which, together with dozens of Cesium-beam and Hydrogen master clocks, will keep time so accurately that the system will not gain or lose more than one second in 30 million years.

The new facility, built by the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company under the supervision of Naval Facilities and Engineering Command, Washington, incorporates an elaborate environmental control system to keep the clocks in strictly regimented temperature and humidity conditions. The building's temperature will be regulated to +/- 0.1°C and its humidity will be controlled to within a 3 percent tolerance.

John G. Grimes, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration / Chief Information Officer, was the keynote speaker for the dedication.

"As the chairman of the department's senior leadership body on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), I am acutely aware of the importance of precise time for DoD operations. From the onset of locating a threat, to placing a weapon on target, and subsequently evaluating the success of this engagement - all are impacted by the precision of time. And nowhere is this more important than here, where time is generated and maintained. For this reason, I look to the Naval Observatory to be my primary focal point within DoD for all timing-related issues.

"I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we have one time standard within the department; the Naval Observatory Master Clock is this standard," added Grimes. "For without this standard, operations will fail. This time standard is vital for data fusion of intelligence information, proper operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS), reliable network performance, consistent and secure communications, and maintaining the critical national infrastructure."

The U.S. Naval Observatory has been keeping time for the Department of the Navy and for the nation since 1845, when Superintendent Matthew F. Maury first put the Washington Time Ball into operation.

Timekeeping procedures and technology have evolved dramatically since that time, and the U.S. Naval Observatory Time Services Department has aggressively developed new timing methods and timekeeping equipment to meet increasingly rigorous requirements.

The observatory's current master clock ensemble consists of roughly one-third of the world's operational atomic clocks and correspondingly accounts for one-third the weight of universal coordinated time (UTC).

The new Master Clock Facility will house three of the most precise clocks ever built, the USNO's Rubidium Atomic Frequency Fountain devices, which assure the DoD and U.S. global supremacy in time, will be maintained well into the future. USNO will thus remain the gold standard for global precision timing.

Hamburg German Meteo Audible in Btown

I love to work the ute bands during the winter months. Had a nice long path reception this morning of DDH 9 - the Hamburg Meteo on 11039.0 kHz using RTTY 425/50.

Here is a sample of what we copied.

CQ CQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH8

FREQUENCIES 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

RYRYRYRYRYRYRYTRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY

CQ CQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH8

FREQUENNIES 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY

CQ CQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH1

FREQUENCIS 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY

CQ CQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH8

FREQUENCIESN 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

RYRYRYYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY

CQ CQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH8

FREQUENCIES 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRRYRYRYRYRY

ZCZC 765

FQMM6Ø EDZW Ø815ØØ

SEEWERBERICHT MITTELMEER VOM Ø8.11.2ØØ8:

WETTERLAGE VON HEUTE 12 UHR UTC:

TIEF 1Ø13 ROTES MEER, NORDZIEHR TROG 1Ø2Ø SUEDLICHE TUERKEI,

WENIG AENDERND. RUSSLANDHOCHKEIL 1Ø23 GRIECHENLAND, VERSTAERKEND,

SUEDAUSWEITEND. HTCH 1Ø25 WESTLICH VON PORTUGAL, VERSTAERKEND,

OSTWANDERND. KEIL 1823 TUNESIEN, ETWAS VERSTAERKEND. WEITERER

KEIL 1Ø2Ø AZOREN, ETWAS ABSCHLAECHEND. TIEF 991 WESTLICH VON

IRLAND. STARK VERTIEFEND, NORDNORDOSTZIEHEND

(WINDSTAERKEANGABEN IN BEAUFORT)

VORHERSAGE BIS MORGEN ABEND:

KANARISCHE INSELN:

NORDOESTLICHE WINDE 4 BIS 5,8GUTE SICHT.

ALBORAN/GIBRALTAR:

SCHWACHWINDIG, SPAETER OST UM 3, GUTE SICHT.

PAOS ( ZWISCHEN SUEDOSTSPANIEN UND WESTALGERIEN ):

OESTLICHE WINDE 2 BIS 3, STRICHWEISE 4, GUTE SICHT.

BALEARN:

NOERDLICHE WINDE 3 BIS 4, VEREINZELT GEWITTERBOEEN, SONST GUTE

SICHT.

WESTLICH KORSIKA/SARDINIEN:

MEIST SCHWACHWINDIG, SPAETER VEREINZELT GEWITTERBOEEN, SONST

GUTE SICHT.

GOLFE DE LION:

SCHWACHWINDIG, IM WESTTEIL ANFANGS VEREINZELT SCHAUERBOEEN,

SONST GUTE FPCHT.

LIGURIECHES MEER:

SCHWACHWINDIG, VEREINZELT SCHAUERBOEEN, SONST GUTE SICHT.

TYRRHENISCHES MEER:

SCHWACHWINDIG, VEREINZELT GEWITTERBOEEN, SONST GUTE SICHT.

ADRIA:

SCHWACHWINDIG, VEREINZELT GEWITTERBOEBN, SONST GUTE SICHT.

IONISCHES MEER4

NORDOESTLICHE WINDE UM 3, VEREINZELT GEWITTERBOEEN, SONST GUTE

SICHT.

AEGAEIS:

NOERDLICHE WINDE 6 BIS 7, VEREINZELT STURMBOEEN, GUTE SICHT.

TAURUS:

NOERDLICHE WINDE 4 BIS 5, STRICHWEISE 6, IM WESTTET ANFANGS

VEREINZELT SCHAUERBOEN, SONST GUTE SICHT.

BISKAYA:

SUEDWEST 6 BIS 7, STRICHWEISE 8, VEREINZELT GEWITTER,

STURMBOEEN, SONST GUTE SICHT.

SEEWETTERDIENSTHAMBURG

=

NNNN

CQ IQ CQ DE DDH47 DDH9 DDH8

FREQUENCIES 147.3 KHZ 11Ø39 KHZ 14467.3 KHZ

Rcvr: Icom IC-706MKIIG
Antenna: 80 mtr G5RV
Interface: Rigblaster Pro
Software: Multipsk v4.10

CFH CanForces Halifax

Had CFH Halifax on 10945.0 kHz RTTY 850/75 sending the following marker:

NAWS de CFH ZKR F1 2822 3394 4155 6254 8303 12830 AR

Also saught a nice strong RTTY (850/75) signal from Halifax this morning sending meteo info below at 1450 UTC on 10535.0 kHz.

CANADIAN FORCES METOC CENTRE, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

FQCN23 CWHX Ø8Ø85Ø
WAVE HEIGHT FORECASTS FOR THE MARITIMES ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA
AT 5:ØØ A.M. AST SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2ØØ8 FOR TODAY TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED FORECASTS WILL BE ISSUED AT 5:ØØ P.M.
FORECAST VALUES ARE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHTS. WAVE
HEIGHTS MAY VARY CONSIDERABLY DUE TO SHORELINE AND DEPTH EFFECTS.
FUNDY.
SEAS 1 METRE OR LESS.
GRAND MANAN.
SEAS 1 TO 2 METRES.
LURCHER
BROWNS BANK
GEORGES BANK
SOUTHWESTERN SHORE
LAHAVE BANK
WEST SCOTIAN SLOPE
EASTERN SHORE
SABLE
EAST SCOTIAN SLOPE.
SEAS 2 TO 3 METRES SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 2 LATE THIS MORNING.
FOURCHU
BANQUEREAU
LAURENTIAN FAN.
SEAS 1 TO 2 METRES BUILDING TO GI TO 3 LATE THIS MORNING THEN
SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 2 THIS EVENING.
CABOT STRAIT
GULF - MAGDALEN - SOUTHEASTERN HALF.
SEAS 1 TO 2 METRES.
GULF - MAGDALEN - NORTHWESTERN HALF
ANTICOSTI - SOUTHEASTERN HA.
SEAS 3 METRES SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 2 SUNDAY MORNING.
ANTICOSTI - NORTHWESTERN HALF.
SEAS 1 TO 2 METRES BUILDING TO 2 TO 3 THIS EVENING THEN SUBSIDING TO
1 TO 2 SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
END


CANADIAN FORCES METOC CENTRE, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

BUOY REPORTS FOR NS
ID TDDHH LAT LONG WIND CLD VVWX AIR DEW SEA PRESSURE DV WAVEICE
B44258 Ø8Ø8 44.5N 63.4W 11Ø1/Ø3 11.9 1Ø.2 Ø98 ØØ8 Ø 2.2
B44141 Ø8Ø8 43.ØN 58.ØW 1511/11 15.3 12.9 145 Ø17 Ø 1.9
B44139 Ø8Ø9 44.2N 57.1W 1911/13 11.7 9.6 14Ø Ø13 Ø 1.5
B44137 Ø8Ø8 42.2N 62.ØW /ØØ 15.5 13.6 1Ø5 Ø12 Ø 2.2
B44Ø11 Ø8Ø9 41.1N 66.6W 35Ø1/Ø3 13.2 13.1 12.1 Ø76ØØ4 Ø 1.8
END


CANADIAN FORCES METOC CENTRE, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

BUOY REPORTS FOR NE
ID TDDHH LAT LONG WIND CLD VVWX AIR DEW SEA PRESSURE DV WAVEICE
B44ØØ5 Ø8Ø9 43.2N 69.1W ØØØØ/ØØ 1Ø.4 1Ø.6 Ø 1.5
B44ØØ8 Ø8Ø9 4Ø.5N 69.2W Ø2Ø3/Ø5 13.Ø 12.7 12.7 Ø81 ØØ3 Ø 1.7
B44ØØ7 Ø8Ø9 43.5N 7Ø.1W 22Ø1/Ø3 1Ø.9 1Ø.6 1Ø.8 Ø79ØØ5 Ø 1.4
B44Ø13 Ø8Ø9 42.3N 7Ø.7W 16Ø1/Ø3 11.3 11.2 11.Ø Ø8ØØØ6 Ø 1.Ø
B44Ø25 Ø8Ø9 4Ø.3N 73.2W 2ØØ9/11 14.6 14.2 14.7 Ø85 ØØ5 Ø 1.3
END


CANADIAN FORCES METOC CENTRE, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

BUOY REPORTS FOR NF
B44251 Ø8Ø9 46.4N 53.4W 12Ø3/Ø5 9.1 9.2 173 Ø15 Ø Ø.9

Homeland Security Equipment Missing: Worth Millions

Well, the US Government agency I love to hate is in the news again.

So what has the infamous Department of Homeland Security done this time? It is not hard to guess if you have read the stories I have published on this blog in the past. Yes, they have wasted more taxpayer money, and this latest fiasco has now put this country in more potential jeopardy from a terrorist attack.

Television investigative reporter Brian Collister on the WOAI-TV website has uncovered a very disturbing story involving national security, theft of US government property, and the war on terror.

He reported yesterday that agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have lost over $32 million in missing equipment used to fight terrorism that was paid for from taxpayer money. And what makes matters worse is no one knows if the bad guys have gotten a hold of the missing equipment.

The list of missing equipment includes thousands of computers and laptops, some containing sensitive information US Government information; devices to detect explosives, like the ones used to scan your bags at the airport; and thousands of pieces of surveillance equipment, like night vision cameras used along the Mexican border to spot people illegally crossing into the U.S., including potential terrorists.

You can view the complete video story at http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=615825@video.woai.com

You can read the complete story at
http://www.woai.com/content/troubleshooters/story.aspx?content_id=3966ec08-c1a3-4608-83d8-37ba6f804d86

The Btown MP believes if you were one of the individuals within DHS who lost any of this equipment, especially the computer equipment with sensitive information on on it, you should be held criminally responsible and also have to reimburse the taxpayers for these losses.

Also to those jerks in the US Senate that are so concerned about who sees what NFL football games on TV. Time you quit your stupid political games and get to the bottom of this mess. Get the hearings started on what we pay you to do, or we, the taxpayers will have to see about putting someone in office who will do the job.

Who are these idiot senators wasting the taxpayers time and money?

Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, both D-R.I.; Pete Domenici, R-N.M.; Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo.; Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Ken Salazar, D-Colo.; Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent; Wayne Allard, R-Colo.; and John Thune, R-S.D.

Hey gents, DO YOUR JOBS YOU BIG DUMMIES!!!