I have had several questions regarding what HomePatrol will and will not monitor from the Radioref database. Paul Opitz from Uniden recently wrote the following:
HomePatrol-1 includes all systems and channels in Radio Reference database with the following exceptions:
-- Channels function tagged as Data
-- Channels that are not function tagged
-- Channels function tagged as Deprecated
-- Channels with a mode of "E" (encrypted)
-- Digital channels on system types that cannot be monitored (i.e. ProVoice)
-- Channels in deprecated systems
-- Unmonitorable Systems (i.e. OpenSky / Nextel / etc)
HomePatrol-1 can automatically select for scanning any channel that is properly geotagged. Channels not geotagged can be manually selected (easiest by using the included Sentinel PC software). The geographic selection process is unique to Uniden (and patented, to boot).
At some point, Joes (scanner geeks), will have the ability through the Uniden software to program the HomePatrol-1 with their own frequency list, but this won't happen with the initial release of the unit.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Uniden HomePatrol Update
Recently some question on the Scan-DC newsgroup came up on the new Uniden HomePatrol scanner. here is a portion of my comments regarding this new scanner.
My initial testing of the unit is pretty cool. The manuals aren't done yet, but if you have every programmed any scanner you don't need one, it is that simple. So folks who do not want to become radio engineers (Uniden calls them Bob and Mabel) will want to purchase this scanner. There will be additional features for advanced users that will be activated in the near future so that power users (Uniden calls them Joe) will have some interesting features they will like in HomePatrol. On the Friday before the Uniden Open House during our formal intro of the product, I had the scanner in my hands about one hour and during that time I master the basica operations and menuing system (actually it took about 20 minutes).
Saturday during the Uniden Open House in Dallas, an 8 year old grandson of one of the hobbyists at my table (I was a table host), programmed the HP scanner for DFW in literally seconds. Yes, Bob and Mabel, it is really that easy.
You can read some of my additional thoughts on my personal blog at
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/06/revolution-in-scanning-is-coming.html
You can get my exclusive HP spec sheet (based on the testing of the unit we
have in hand) on the Grove Ent website at http://www.grove-ent.com/homepatrol.html
More to come including a full review in Monitoring Times magazine soon.
My initial testing of the unit is pretty cool. The manuals aren't done yet, but if you have every programmed any scanner you don't need one, it is that simple. So folks who do not want to become radio engineers (Uniden calls them Bob and Mabel) will want to purchase this scanner. There will be additional features for advanced users that will be activated in the near future so that power users (Uniden calls them Joe) will have some interesting features they will like in HomePatrol. On the Friday before the Uniden Open House during our formal intro of the product, I had the scanner in my hands about one hour and during that time I master the basica operations and menuing system (actually it took about 20 minutes).
Saturday during the Uniden Open House in Dallas, an 8 year old grandson of one of the hobbyists at my table (I was a table host), programmed the HP scanner for DFW in literally seconds. Yes, Bob and Mabel, it is really that easy.
You can read some of my additional thoughts on my personal blog at
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/06/revolution-in-scanning-is-coming.html
You can get my exclusive HP spec sheet (based on the testing of the unit we
have in hand) on the Grove Ent website at http://www.grove-ent.com/homepatrol.html
More to come including a full review in Monitoring Times magazine soon.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
This Week on the Radio July 15, 2010
From the ARRL : This week, the North American QSO Party (RTTY), the DMC RTTY Contest and the CQ Worldwide VHF Contest are July 17-18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is July 19. Next week, there is another running of the NCCC Sprint Ladder on July 23. The RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest is July 24-25 and the SKCC Sprint July 28. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page, the ARRL Contest Update and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Events Station Web page.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
SSTV from ISS on 145.800 MHz FM during July 15-16
ISS Amateur Radio Status: July 13, 2010
SpaceCam planed for July 15-16 By Miles Mann WF1F
MAREX-MG News www.marexmg.org
Manned Amateur Radio Experiment
Notes from the Ariss blog http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/
SpaceCam planed for July 15-16 By Miles Mann WF1F
MAREX-MG News www.marexmg.org
Manned Amateur Radio Experiment
Notes from the Ariss blog http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/
MAI-75 activation planned for July 15-16 (updated)
An activity to support SSTV activation (MAI-75) has been schedule on July 15 and 16. Times fall between 12:00-15:00 UTC on the 15th and 10:00-12:00 UTC on the 16th . The system will be operating space cam in slide show mode and is expected to use the Martin 1 format. The times are just over 1 orbit each day (two passes over Moscow) so opportunities will be very limited.
Tips for Working Slow Scan TV:
Tips for Working Slow Scan TV:
Will I be able to receive images from SpaceCam1?
Yes! SpaceCam1 will transmit and receive images on amateur radio frequencies, using standard SSTV formats. Although SpaceCam1 is capable of operating in several modes, the recommended format while in Slide Show mode is Robot 36. This format offers the best standard compromise between image quality and transmission time and heat stress.
In addition to two-way "interactive" operation, SpaceCam1 provides the following fully automatic functions:
-- Transmission from a live camera or disk at specified intervals
-- “Slide Show" operation from a set of images stored on the system
-- SSTV Repeater
What equipment will I need to receive the images?
Radio receiver with an outdoor antenna. The radio receive will need to be able to receive FM signals on 145.800 MHz radio band. A PC with SSTV software or a dedicated SSTV scan converter.
For information on how to receive SSTV images from the International Space station, check out the MAREX link: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html
Over the next few weeks we maybe receiving images from the International Space station via Slow Scan TV (SSTV). The MAREX team will be collecting these images from the amateur Radio and SWL community and we will post the best.
We would like to collect all images received. However in order to properly catalog the images we request you use the following image naming format. After you receive you images; please rename the images using the following format, All Lower case letters
Year 06, Month 07, Day 31, (UTC time), Call sign, Short text description, .JPG
Example:
New format: 0607311905wf1f.jpg
I removed the first two numbers of the year and the “Z” for UTC time. All dates are assumed to be in UTC dates. The images coming down from ISS will also have a time stamp embedded into the image. You can also use these numbers to generate you file names. If you are a Short Wave listener and do not have a call sign, just place your Initials after the time (0607311905abc.jpg)
If we break this down
Year =06
Month = 07
Day = 31
Time = 1905 UTC
Call sign = wf1f
Description (optional) = Windows shot
Image format = jpg
Image Quality
Please do not put any text over lays on the images, Example, do not put web page or advertisements in the image. Your own call sign and date are acceptable.
Send all images directly to MAREX at Marexmg@comcast.net
We would also like to know the following information in your email.
Name or Call sign
Country / State
Receiver
Software decoding tool
Elevation or range of ISS when you decoded the image.
Slide Show Mode:
The MAREX SpaceCam1 software contains a feature called “Slide Show” mode. It allows the crew to preload a directory full of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth. The crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images. In theory the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement. The SpaceCam project will be able to transmit over 200 SSTV images per day (Robot 36 format).
Ariss has not announced any plans for a SSTV Uplink frequency.
SSTV Decoding Software http://www.barberdsp.com/
There are many choices in SSTV software, some Free, others with more features cost a few bucks. http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sstvlinkpage.html
So have fun, find your best setup and start practicing (on Earth) how to decode SSTV on 2-meters.
Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org/
ARISS Web page and other great Space projects
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/
73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG
Yes! SpaceCam1 will transmit and receive images on amateur radio frequencies, using standard SSTV formats. Although SpaceCam1 is capable of operating in several modes, the recommended format while in Slide Show mode is Robot 36. This format offers the best standard compromise between image quality and transmission time and heat stress.
In addition to two-way "interactive" operation, SpaceCam1 provides the following fully automatic functions:
-- Transmission from a live camera or disk at specified intervals
-- “Slide Show" operation from a set of images stored on the system
-- SSTV Repeater
What equipment will I need to receive the images?
Radio receiver with an outdoor antenna. The radio receive will need to be able to receive FM signals on 145.800 MHz radio band. A PC with SSTV software or a dedicated SSTV scan converter.
For information on how to receive SSTV images from the International Space station, check out the MAREX link: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html
Over the next few weeks we maybe receiving images from the International Space station via Slow Scan TV (SSTV). The MAREX team will be collecting these images from the amateur Radio and SWL community and we will post the best.
We would like to collect all images received. However in order to properly catalog the images we request you use the following image naming format. After you receive you images; please rename the images using the following format, All Lower case letters
Year 06, Month 07, Day 31, (UTC time), Call sign, Short text description, .JPG
Example:
New format: 0607311905wf1f.jpg
I removed the first two numbers of the year and the “Z” for UTC time. All dates are assumed to be in UTC dates. The images coming down from ISS will also have a time stamp embedded into the image. You can also use these numbers to generate you file names. If you are a Short Wave listener and do not have a call sign, just place your Initials after the time (0607311905abc.jpg)
If we break this down
Year =06
Month = 07
Day = 31
Time = 1905 UTC
Call sign = wf1f
Description (optional) = Windows shot
Image format = jpg
Image Quality
Please do not put any text over lays on the images, Example, do not put web page or advertisements in the image. Your own call sign and date are acceptable.
Send all images directly to MAREX at Marexmg@comcast.net
We would also like to know the following information in your email.
Name or Call sign
Country / State
Receiver
Software decoding tool
Elevation or range of ISS when you decoded the image.
Slide Show Mode:
The MAREX SpaceCam1 software contains a feature called “Slide Show” mode. It allows the crew to preload a directory full of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth. The crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images. In theory the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement. The SpaceCam project will be able to transmit over 200 SSTV images per day (Robot 36 format).
Ariss has not announced any plans for a SSTV Uplink frequency.
SSTV Decoding Software http://www.barberdsp.com/
There are many choices in SSTV software, some Free, others with more features cost a few bucks. http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sstvlinkpage.html
So have fun, find your best setup and start practicing (on Earth) how to decode SSTV on 2-meters.
Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org/
ARISS Web page and other great Space projects
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/
73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG
Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference
Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will be giving a presentation on South Africa's first CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, England, July 31- Aug 1
The world has experienced a long solar minimum which means that ionospheric communication had been very limited and for a few years was almost exclusively the domain of the commercial broadcasters running Megawatts.
HF radio communication is very susceptible to noise levels that are created by power lines, electrical installations and overhead lines used by trains and busses and power line telecommunication systems. If fact today there are many installation that do not necessarily comply with internationally agreed emission standards. With increasing solar activity interference signals are propagated over large areas and will interfere with HF communication.
The important mission of the SA AMSAT CubeSat is to measure the High Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report these measurement back to a ground station for analysis and action to reduce these unwanted signals. The information from the tiny satellite will identify the areas where the HF frequency polluters are situated and will help in reducing or eliminating the source.
It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear transponder and an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) in the CubeSat.
I want one. After the South Africans have done their mapping maybe they can swing it up here to help locate our local power line interference.
The world has experienced a long solar minimum which means that ionospheric communication had been very limited and for a few years was almost exclusively the domain of the commercial broadcasters running Megawatts.
HF radio communication is very susceptible to noise levels that are created by power lines, electrical installations and overhead lines used by trains and busses and power line telecommunication systems. If fact today there are many installation that do not necessarily comply with internationally agreed emission standards. With increasing solar activity interference signals are propagated over large areas and will interfere with HF communication.
The important mission of the SA AMSAT CubeSat is to measure the High Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report these measurement back to a ground station for analysis and action to reduce these unwanted signals. The information from the tiny satellite will identify the areas where the HF frequency polluters are situated and will help in reducing or eliminating the source.
It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear transponder and an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) in the CubeSat.
I want one. After the South Africans have done their mapping maybe they can swing it up here to help locate our local power line interference.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Mississippi Deploys Wireless Radio System To Aid Oil Spill Cleanup
From the Gov Monitor website:
Governor Haley Barbour announced today the distribution of more than 200 radios capable of operating through the Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network to help in the oil spill cleanup along Mississippi’s shoreline and barrier islands.
The MSWIN system, which provides interoperable communication for emergency responders, was created under the direction of Governor Barbour after Hurricane Katrina exposed a critical need.
“Immediately after the storm, we were unable to exchange critical information between various law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel,” Governor Barbour said. “The ability to communicate can make a huge difference in our ability to fight the oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill now, and in the future, it could mean the difference in our ability to save lives in an emergency.”
The MSWIN system allows users to speak through a secure digital radio system operating under the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission. The Mississippi National Guard, United States Coast Guard and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will use the hand-held radios to guide cleanup vessels to oil in the water sighted by aircraft.
“This will help streamline response time to any reports of oil from Mississippi National Guard air operations,” said MEMA Director and WCC Vice Chairman Mike Womack. “The vessels assigned to a particular area will now have the capability to communicate directly with the resources in the air.”
“Interoperability is about breaking down communication barriers,” said WCC Chairman Chris Epps. “This is what the system is designed for, and we are proud that we can assist with and improve the response efforts in the oil disaster.”
The MSWIN system was established with $157 million in federal funds and $57 million in state bond funds. The MSWIN system is currently fully operational in the southern third of the state and is scheduled to be complete throughout the entire state of Mississippi by December of 2011.
Governor Barbour has asked for nearly $84 million more in federal funding to expand the MSWIN system’s broadband capacity beyond voice-only communications. The upgraded system could include photo and ambulance-to-hospital data transmission abilities.
Col. Lee Smithson, who oversees the Mississippi National Guard’s response to the oil spill as commander of Task Force Vigilant Horizon, said the radios will enable National Guard personnel to guide crews to the oil and allow ground crews to document the sightings.
“The radios enable us to fully leverage the capabilities of all supporting agencies. We tie in air, marine and shore activities using one system. It is a game changer in our favor.”
Governor Haley Barbour announced today the distribution of more than 200 radios capable of operating through the Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network to help in the oil spill cleanup along Mississippi’s shoreline and barrier islands.
The MSWIN system, which provides interoperable communication for emergency responders, was created under the direction of Governor Barbour after Hurricane Katrina exposed a critical need.
“Immediately after the storm, we were unable to exchange critical information between various law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel,” Governor Barbour said. “The ability to communicate can make a huge difference in our ability to fight the oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill now, and in the future, it could mean the difference in our ability to save lives in an emergency.”
The MSWIN system allows users to speak through a secure digital radio system operating under the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission. The Mississippi National Guard, United States Coast Guard and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will use the hand-held radios to guide cleanup vessels to oil in the water sighted by aircraft.
“This will help streamline response time to any reports of oil from Mississippi National Guard air operations,” said MEMA Director and WCC Vice Chairman Mike Womack. “The vessels assigned to a particular area will now have the capability to communicate directly with the resources in the air.”
“Interoperability is about breaking down communication barriers,” said WCC Chairman Chris Epps. “This is what the system is designed for, and we are proud that we can assist with and improve the response efforts in the oil disaster.”
The MSWIN system was established with $157 million in federal funds and $57 million in state bond funds. The MSWIN system is currently fully operational in the southern third of the state and is scheduled to be complete throughout the entire state of Mississippi by December of 2011.
Governor Barbour has asked for nearly $84 million more in federal funding to expand the MSWIN system’s broadband capacity beyond voice-only communications. The upgraded system could include photo and ambulance-to-hospital data transmission abilities.
Col. Lee Smithson, who oversees the Mississippi National Guard’s response to the oil spill as commander of Task Force Vigilant Horizon, said the radios will enable National Guard personnel to guide crews to the oil and allow ground crews to document the sightings.
“The radios enable us to fully leverage the capabilities of all supporting agencies. We tie in air, marine and shore activities using one system. It is a game changer in our favor.”
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
New Monitoring Times Staff Blog Newsfeeds Now Available
There is a new service for radio hobbyists from the No. 1 radio listening hobby magazine - Monitoring Times.
When you need to know what is happening now in the monitoring world, MT's staff blog news streams will keep you informed on the latest news in the radio spectrum.
So point that browser at and bookmark the new spot on the net for radio news at
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/blogs.html.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
10 Russian Spies Arrested in US - Used Shortwave for Spy Comms
Blog Note: These suspects were allegedly highly trained in shortwave radio operation and the use of codes and ciphers, including the use of encrypted Morse code messages. These were probably Enigma M8A spy number station broadcasts.
Here is a link to the actual criminal complaints:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/28/world/main6627393.shtml?tag=topnews
* * * * * * * * * *
Ten alleged Russian spies have been arrested in the United States, the result of a multi-year investigation in four states, the FBI said Monday.
Eight of the 10 arrested were "carrying out long-term, 'deep-cover' assignments" the FBI said, while two had lesser roles in the Russian intelligence program. The arrests took place Sunday in Montclair, N.J., Yonkers, N.Y., Manhattan, Boston, and Arlington, Va.
The New York and New Jersey defendants were expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan Monday. The Virginia defendants were to make court appearances in Alexandria.
One additional defendant has been charged but remains at large.
Their job, according to the court papers in the case, was "to search and develop ties in policymaking circles" in the United States.
Criminal complaints state that the defendants had an overarching goal of becoming highly "Americanized" so as to be able to freely gather intelligence in the U.S. and to "recruit sources who are I, or are able to infiltrate United States policy-making circles."
The U.S. government intercepted a message from Russian intelligence headquarters in Moscow to two of the defendants, Richard and Cynthia Murphy.
"You were sent to USA for long-term service trip," the message from Moscow. "Your education, bank accounts, car, house etc. - all these serve one goal: fulfill your main mission, i.e. to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and sent intels," the message added.
The complaint states that such agents - known as "illegals" - are highly trained in "foreign languages; agent-to-agent communications, including the use of brush-passes; short-wave radio operation and invisible writing; the use of codes and ciphers, including the use of encrypted Morse code messages; the creation and use of a cover profession; counter-surveillance measures" and more.
A "brush pass" is a covert hand-off of secret information, made as two agents brush past one another in public.
All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. All but two of the defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
">
Here is a link to the actual criminal complaints:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/28/world/main6627393.shtml?tag=topnews
* * * * * * * * * *
Ten alleged Russian spies have been arrested in the United States, the result of a multi-year investigation in four states, the FBI said Monday.
Eight of the 10 arrested were "carrying out long-term, 'deep-cover' assignments" the FBI said, while two had lesser roles in the Russian intelligence program. The arrests took place Sunday in Montclair, N.J., Yonkers, N.Y., Manhattan, Boston, and Arlington, Va.
The New York and New Jersey defendants were expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan Monday. The Virginia defendants were to make court appearances in Alexandria.
One additional defendant has been charged but remains at large.
Their job, according to the court papers in the case, was "to search and develop ties in policymaking circles" in the United States.
Criminal complaints state that the defendants had an overarching goal of becoming highly "Americanized" so as to be able to freely gather intelligence in the U.S. and to "recruit sources who are I, or are able to infiltrate United States policy-making circles."
The U.S. government intercepted a message from Russian intelligence headquarters in Moscow to two of the defendants, Richard and Cynthia Murphy.
"You were sent to USA for long-term service trip," the message from Moscow. "Your education, bank accounts, car, house etc. - all these serve one goal: fulfill your main mission, i.e. to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and sent intels," the message added.
The complaint states that such agents - known as "illegals" - are highly trained in "foreign languages; agent-to-agent communications, including the use of brush-passes; short-wave radio operation and invisible writing; the use of codes and ciphers, including the use of encrypted Morse code messages; the creation and use of a cover profession; counter-surveillance measures" and more.
A "brush pass" is a covert hand-off of secret information, made as two agents brush past one another in public.
All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the U.S. Attorney General, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. All but two of the defendants are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
">
Saturday, June 26, 2010
A Revolution in Scanning is Coming
A Revolution in Scanning is Coming
Uniden Releases a New Revolutionary Scanner
by Larry Van Horn, MT Assistant Editor
Fort Worth, Texas -- A major revolution in our hobby is on the way and it will forever change the very nature of the scanner radio hobby. Today, June 26, 2010, Uniden America held an open house here at their corporate offices in Fort Worth, Texas, for the public and the media. At this open house they unveiled a new revolutionary scanner called the "HomePatrol."
So what is so revolutionary about this new scanner? Simply put, it is simplicity! There has never been one like it before. To say that it will be easy to program by the user is to totally understate the facts.
The only thing you will need to know to program a "HomePatrol" scanner is – wait for it – the Zip Code where you are currently located. Yes, you punch in your zip code on the LCD touch screen, press enter, and you will instantly start hearing local scanner communications (conventional and trunked, analog and digital). No other operator interface is needed and it is truly just that simple.
Maybe you don't want to monitor civilian or military air comms that got loaded when you punched in your zip code, just police, fire and EMS. No problem: touch the screen to set up what you want to hear and it is done. No banks, no systems, no groups, no programming of frequencies: your location is all you need to get you started. And did I mention that all the controls for this scanner is via a full color touch screen?
If you are traveling and you have a GPS, plug that puppy into the "HomePatrol" scanner and it will ensure that your unit has up-to-date frequencies for the area you are traveling in. You don't have to do anything except to make sure that the GPS is working and plugged into the "HomePatrol." Of course you will have to supply the GPS unit since it is not included with the "HomePatrol" scanner.
That is why I think that the Uniden "HomePatrol" has the potential to create a major revolution in the scanner world.
Since the unveiling is still taking place as this is being posted, the full details and specs are not yet available. I will be bringing a test unit home from Fort Worth and will be conducting a full blown MT First Look review of the "HomePatrol." I will also post some of my first impressions on the "HomePatrol" scanner on the Monitoring Times website at http://www.monitoringtimes.com or on my personal blog, the BTown Monitoring Post at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com. You can also check out a new website that Uniden has setup for their new unit at http://www.homepatrol.com/ for everything "HomePatrol."
We will have a full detailed First Look review of this revolutionary new scanner in the October issue of Monitoring Times magazine, but check back here for future updates.
Uniden Releases a New Revolutionary Scanner
by Larry Van Horn, MT Assistant Editor
Fort Worth, Texas -- A major revolution in our hobby is on the way and it will forever change the very nature of the scanner radio hobby. Today, June 26, 2010, Uniden America held an open house here at their corporate offices in Fort Worth, Texas, for the public and the media. At this open house they unveiled a new revolutionary scanner called the "HomePatrol."
So what is so revolutionary about this new scanner? Simply put, it is simplicity! There has never been one like it before. To say that it will be easy to program by the user is to totally understate the facts.
The only thing you will need to know to program a "HomePatrol" scanner is – wait for it – the Zip Code where you are currently located. Yes, you punch in your zip code on the LCD touch screen, press enter, and you will instantly start hearing local scanner communications (conventional and trunked, analog and digital). No other operator interface is needed and it is truly just that simple.
Maybe you don't want to monitor civilian or military air comms that got loaded when you punched in your zip code, just police, fire and EMS. No problem: touch the screen to set up what you want to hear and it is done. No banks, no systems, no groups, no programming of frequencies: your location is all you need to get you started. And did I mention that all the controls for this scanner is via a full color touch screen?
If you are traveling and you have a GPS, plug that puppy into the "HomePatrol" scanner and it will ensure that your unit has up-to-date frequencies for the area you are traveling in. You don't have to do anything except to make sure that the GPS is working and plugged into the "HomePatrol." Of course you will have to supply the GPS unit since it is not included with the "HomePatrol" scanner.
That is why I think that the Uniden "HomePatrol" has the potential to create a major revolution in the scanner world.
Since the unveiling is still taking place as this is being posted, the full details and specs are not yet available. I will be bringing a test unit home from Fort Worth and will be conducting a full blown MT First Look review of the "HomePatrol." I will also post some of my first impressions on the "HomePatrol" scanner on the Monitoring Times website at http://www.monitoringtimes.com or on my personal blog, the BTown Monitoring Post at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com. You can also check out a new website that Uniden has setup for their new unit at http://www.homepatrol.com/ for everything "HomePatrol."
We will have a full detailed First Look review of this revolutionary new scanner in the October issue of Monitoring Times magazine, but check back here for future updates.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Enroute to Big D
Well tomorrow morning I will be enroute to a very special radio hobby event in the DFW Metroplex. Uniden America will be holding an Open House on Saturday, June 26, 2010, from 10 am to 2 pm CDT at their corporate headquarters in Fort Worth. Uniden will be unveiling their new revolutionary scanner at this Open House.
I will have a full report on this blog and on the Monitoring Times website upon my return from the event. in the meantime if you are attending this event, I look forward to meeting you on Saturday. I will be making some brief remarks during the open house and you may hear something about Milcom monitoring you haven't heard before.
Until Saturday, 73 and good hunting. CU on the flip side.
I will have a full report on this blog and on the Monitoring Times website upon my return from the event. in the meantime if you are attending this event, I look forward to meeting you on Saturday. I will be making some brief remarks during the open house and you may hear something about Milcom monitoring you haven't heard before.
Until Saturday, 73 and good hunting. CU on the flip side.
Monday, June 21, 2010
New National CAP Command Net Freq Found
Jon in Florida discovered last weekend a new CAP National Command ALE Net frequency:- 29.894 MHz. The frequency was also confirmed by Monitoring Times magazine Utility World columnist Hugh Stegman out in California.
The nationwide set of CAP ALE freqs for the "National CAP Command Net" are as follows:
2011.0 3204.0 4477.0 4585.0 5006.0 5447.0 6773.0 6806.0 7602.0 7665.0 8012.0 9047.0 10162.0 11402.0 12081.0 13415.0 14357.0 15602.0 17412.0 19814.0 29894.0 kHz (all USB/ALE)
Here is some background information I have on the current state of the CAP HF network(s). Any additional information on frequencies is sincerely appreciate and you can contact me offlist via the email address published in the header of my blogs" http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/ or http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/.
The National Command Net operates in the Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) mode. It is composed of stations specifically approved by the NTC using equipment provided for this purpose. Most of these stations are “message center” stations which relay message traffic between the national and region levels of the CAP net structure.
The National Command level of the HF-ALE system, the "top level" of the CAP radio system, uses Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) radios to which a "suite" of frequencies is assigned, each with different radio propagation characteristics, and the radios automatically monitor which frequency is best to communicate with each other station in the net. Each region operates two ALE radios, serving as "message center" stations (see below), plus additional radios for Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. The ALE stations at the National Technology Center (NTC) and the National Operations Center (NOC) serve as the net control stations for the National Command level of the HF-ALE system. There are no scheduled formal National Command net meetings. Rather, ALE station operators are expected to attend their radios regularly and be ready for messages, as they may be received.
The mission of the National Command level of the HF-ALE system is to provide a survivable, commercial infrastructure-independent command and control communication (C3) link among regions and between regions and higher headquarters.
The specific functions of National Command level stations are:
• Provide a strategic communications tier of the communications network available for adaptive communications during high-level missions.
• Provide decentralized contact points to relay traffic between incident command posts and the NOC or other national CAP office.
• Conduct and report regular confidence checks, in accordance with the current CAP Communications Alert Level, and no less than once per week.
• Be available, as needed, for training.
Pending activation of region ALE frequency suites (see below) the following guidance applies to all stations operating on the National Command frequency suite (ALE Net #1):
1. Other than the two region stations and nationally designated stations, any CAP station may monitor the ALE suite, but should not sound in routine operations.
2. Pending release of region ALE channels, wings may use the national ALE suite (ALE NET #1) for actual missions and specific training events with the understanding that this use and active sounding will be for relatively limited periods of time. For ALE use during a training exercise, place a request several days in advance, but for actual missions, coordinate with the NOC.
3. Only NTIA compliant equipment with Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) certification may transmit on National and Region ALE suites of frequencies.
4. The NTC and National Headquarters determines and standardizes all ALE parameter settings, such as sounding interval.
To Jon and Hugh, nice job. Now if we can find the missing freqs I belive are there around 18 MHz and from 20 to 28 MHz.
The nationwide set of CAP ALE freqs for the "National CAP Command Net" are as follows:
2011.0 3204.0 4477.0 4585.0 5006.0 5447.0 6773.0 6806.0 7602.0 7665.0 8012.0 9047.0 10162.0 11402.0 12081.0 13415.0 14357.0 15602.0 17412.0 19814.0 29894.0 kHz (all USB/ALE)
Here is some background information I have on the current state of the CAP HF network(s). Any additional information on frequencies is sincerely appreciate and you can contact me offlist via the email address published in the header of my blogs" http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/ or http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/.
The National Command Net operates in the Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) mode. It is composed of stations specifically approved by the NTC using equipment provided for this purpose. Most of these stations are “message center” stations which relay message traffic between the national and region levels of the CAP net structure.
The National Command level of the HF-ALE system, the "top level" of the CAP radio system, uses Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) radios to which a "suite" of frequencies is assigned, each with different radio propagation characteristics, and the radios automatically monitor which frequency is best to communicate with each other station in the net. Each region operates two ALE radios, serving as "message center" stations (see below), plus additional radios for Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. The ALE stations at the National Technology Center (NTC) and the National Operations Center (NOC) serve as the net control stations for the National Command level of the HF-ALE system. There are no scheduled formal National Command net meetings. Rather, ALE station operators are expected to attend their radios regularly and be ready for messages, as they may be received.
The mission of the National Command level of the HF-ALE system is to provide a survivable, commercial infrastructure-independent command and control communication (C3) link among regions and between regions and higher headquarters.
The specific functions of National Command level stations are:
• Provide a strategic communications tier of the communications network available for adaptive communications during high-level missions.
• Provide decentralized contact points to relay traffic between incident command posts and the NOC or other national CAP office.
• Conduct and report regular confidence checks, in accordance with the current CAP Communications Alert Level, and no less than once per week.
• Be available, as needed, for training.
Pending activation of region ALE frequency suites (see below) the following guidance applies to all stations operating on the National Command frequency suite (ALE Net #1):
1. Other than the two region stations and nationally designated stations, any CAP station may monitor the ALE suite, but should not sound in routine operations.
2. Pending release of region ALE channels, wings may use the national ALE suite (ALE NET #1) for actual missions and specific training events with the understanding that this use and active sounding will be for relatively limited periods of time. For ALE use during a training exercise, place a request several days in advance, but for actual missions, coordinate with the NOC.
3. Only NTIA compliant equipment with Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) certification may transmit on National and Region ALE suites of frequencies.
4. The NTC and National Headquarters determines and standardizes all ALE parameter settings, such as sounding interval.
To Jon and Hugh, nice job. Now if we can find the missing freqs I belive are there around 18 MHz and from 20 to 28 MHz.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
New Release of MultiPSK (4.18) Now Available
Multipsk is my absolute favorite digital decoder for the computer soundcard and the author, Patrick, F6CTE, just keeps making it better. This morning he has just announced the release of a new verson of MultiPSK (v4.18). His announcement is present below in its entirety
Hello to all Ham and SWL,
The new release of MultiPSK (4.18) is on my Web site (http://f6cte.free.fr/). It is not yet on Earl's and Terry's WEB sites.
The main modifications of MULTIPSK 4.18 are the following:
1) Decoding of the NWR SAME mode
NWR (National Weather Radio) SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is simply a method of identifying the local area to which an alert message applies. It utilizes a digital data stream that contains the alert message with information about the type of event expected, its timing, duration, and location. The NWR SAME system is used in USA and Canada, in VHF (162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550 MHz).
To listen NWR SAME messages: the NWS tests the NWR and SAME alerting technology weekly. These tests normally occur on Wednesday between 10 AM and Noon with some variations to accomodate local requirements.
This mode is available for licencied copies, only (otherwise, the decoding is stopped after 5 minutes). See specifications further on.
2) Transmission/reception of ARQ FAE QSP (indirect) mails through a "mails Server"
Differences between a direct mail and a QSP mail (indirect). A mail is direct if you can transmit it directly to the final addressee: A -->B.
If you can't transmit the mail directly because the final addressee can't be directly reached due to the link conditions, the mail can be forwarded by the connected station, which acts as a "mails Server": A-->C (mails Server)-->B.
For this, you must use a QSP mail.
A paper based on snapshots presents this new system:
http://f6cte.free.fr/QSP_mails_forwarding_easy_with_Multipsk_in_ALE_and_ALE400.doc
3) New macros:
-permits to ask to the other Ham or to the SWL monitoring your QSO to send you a reception report by e-mail. Your address must be specified in the "WEB ADDRESS" of your personal data ("Personal" button). It will be transmitted the following command "RPRT@LENemail addressCRC" which is the report demand. If correctly decoded, a reception report will be transmitted to the e-mail address that you specified, through Internet.
Examples of use of this macro
1) The main objective is to ask the other Ham with whom you are in QSO to send you a reception report by e-mail.
2) But it can be also done by a SWL monitoring your QSO.
3) This macro can be used in conjuction with a Multipsk beacon which mode can be controlled by a RS ID. For example, you can switch the beacon in BPSK31 and asks the beacon for a reception report. Afterwards, the beacon can be switched in Olivia by a new RS ID and a new reception report can be asked...
Note: this macro can be used for all digital modes (except JT65), CW included.
A paper based on snapshots presents this new system:
http://f6cte.free.fr/How_to_use_thehttp://f6cte.free.fr/How_to_use_the_«RPRT@»_email_reception_report_with_Multipsk.doc
The source code (in Pascal/Delphi and in English) to code/decode this command is available for the coding/decoding software developpers, by making the demand to F6CTE by e-mail.
-permits to send a Tune (non modulated carrier) with the command: . For example: (5% of power at 4000 Hz for 1 sec)
This function can be used for transmission tests or, perhaps, to create his/her personal "jingle" (short musical sequence).
- 's' gives the Signal to Noise ratio (in dB) obtained about 4 seconds before the switching to transmission.
- 'quality' for PSK modes only, gives the signal quality from 1/5 to 5/5 obtained about 4 seconds before the switching to transmission.
4) Improvements
Addition of a filter possibility in the SELCAL mode. Addition of 6 new memories of frequency and mode in the Transceiver window, for a total of 10 memories.
Some improvements for contesters: addition of a manual control of the QSO number, proposition of standard HF QRGs for the "Freq MHz" field, possibility to double the size of the "QSO->log" or "DXKeeper" buttons (in the "Logbook" window).
Note about translation of Multipsk.exe and Clock .exe: the 4.17 version of Multipsk/Clock has been completly translated to Spanish by Joachin (EA4ZB), from French. The translation file is on my Web site (http://f6cte.free.fr/Translation_files.htm).
NWR SAME (VHF)
The NWR (National Weather Radio) SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a digital system for transmission in USA and Canada, in VHF, of warning messages. There are, in fact, other agencies that NWS (National Weather Service) which use the SAME system. There are also many other messages that warning or watch messages.
Description :
Baud rate: 580.83.
Modulation : Logic 0 at 1562.5 Hz and logic 1 at 2083.3 Hz
Reception mode: FM
Character set : ASCII characters (8 bits)
Shape of pulse : rectangular
Bandwidth : about 1 KHz
Demodulation : non coherent
Bit synchronization : automatic using the signal
Character synchronization : automatic using predefined strings of characters (« ZCZC » and « NNNN »)
Lowest S/N: +4 dB
Each NWR/SAME message contains:
* 3 same digital messages containing (on a coded form) the event, the concerned areas, duration and broadcast station (for example: ZCZC-WXR-TOW-039173-039051-139069+0030-1591829-KCLE/NWS-). These messages are decoded by Multipsk.
* possibly a 1050 Hz warning alarm tone for 8 to 10 seconds,
* possibly a verbal spoken oral text of message,
* 3 digital messages « NNNN » for end of message.
Hello to all Ham and SWL,
The new release of MultiPSK (4.18) is on my Web site (http://f6cte.free.fr/). It is not yet on Earl's and Terry's WEB sites.
The main modifications of MULTIPSK 4.18 are the following:
1) Decoding of the NWR SAME mode
NWR (National Weather Radio) SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is simply a method of identifying the local area to which an alert message applies. It utilizes a digital data stream that contains the alert message with information about the type of event expected, its timing, duration, and location. The NWR SAME system is used in USA and Canada, in VHF (162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550 MHz).
To listen NWR SAME messages: the NWS tests the NWR and SAME alerting technology weekly. These tests normally occur on Wednesday between 10 AM and Noon with some variations to accomodate local requirements.
This mode is available for licencied copies, only (otherwise, the decoding is stopped after 5 minutes). See specifications further on.
2) Transmission/reception of ARQ FAE QSP (indirect) mails through a "mails Server"
Differences between a direct mail and a QSP mail (indirect). A mail is direct if you can transmit it directly to the final addressee: A -->B.
If you can't transmit the mail directly because the final addressee can't be directly reached due to the link conditions, the mail can be forwarded by the connected station, which acts as a "mails Server": A-->C (mails Server)-->B.
For this, you must use a QSP mail.
A paper based on snapshots presents this new system:
http://f6cte.free.fr/QSP_mails_forwarding_easy_with_Multipsk_in_ALE_and_ALE400.doc
3) New macros:
-
Examples of use of this macro
1) The main objective is to ask the other Ham with whom you are in QSO to send you a reception report by e-mail.
2) But it can be also done by a SWL monitoring your QSO.
3) This macro can be used in conjuction with a Multipsk beacon which mode can be controlled by a RS ID. For example, you can switch the beacon in BPSK31 and asks the beacon for a reception report. Afterwards, the beacon can be switched in Olivia by a new RS ID and a new reception report can be asked...
Note: this macro can be used for all digital modes (except JT65), CW included.
A paper based on snapshots presents this new system:
http://f6cte.free.fr/How_to_use_thehttp://f6cte.free.fr/How_to_use_the_«RPRT@»_email_reception_report_with_Multipsk.doc
The source code (in Pascal/Delphi and in English) to code/decode this command is available for the coding/decoding software developpers, by making the demand to F6CTE by e-mail.
-
This function can be used for transmission tests or, perhaps, to create his/her personal "jingle" (short musical sequence).
- 's' gives the Signal to Noise ratio (in dB) obtained about 4 seconds before the switching to transmission.
- 'quality' for PSK modes only, gives the signal quality from 1/5 to 5/5 obtained about 4 seconds before the switching to transmission.
4) Improvements
Addition of a filter possibility in the SELCAL mode. Addition of 6 new memories of frequency and mode in the Transceiver window, for a total of 10 memories.
Some improvements for contesters: addition of a manual control of the QSO number, proposition of standard HF QRGs for the "Freq MHz" field, possibility to double the size of the "QSO->log" or "DXKeeper" buttons (in the "Logbook" window).
Note about translation of Multipsk.exe and Clock .exe: the 4.17 version of Multipsk/Clock has been completly translated to Spanish by Joachin (EA4ZB), from French. The translation file is on my Web site (http://f6cte.free.fr/Translation_files.htm).
NWR SAME (VHF)
The NWR (National Weather Radio) SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a digital system for transmission in USA and Canada, in VHF, of warning messages. There are, in fact, other agencies that NWS (National Weather Service) which use the SAME system. There are also many other messages that warning or watch messages.
Description :
Baud rate: 580.83.
Modulation : Logic 0 at 1562.5 Hz and logic 1 at 2083.3 Hz
Reception mode: FM
Character set : ASCII characters (8 bits)
Shape of pulse : rectangular
Bandwidth : about 1 KHz
Demodulation : non coherent
Bit synchronization : automatic using the signal
Character synchronization : automatic using predefined strings of characters (« ZCZC » and « NNNN »)
Lowest S/N: +4 dB
Each NWR/SAME message contains:
* 3 same digital messages containing (on a coded form) the event, the concerned areas, duration and broadcast station (for example: ZCZC-WXR-TOW-039173-039051-139069+0030-1591829-KCLE/NWS-). These messages are decoded by Multipsk.
* possibly a 1050 Hz warning alarm tone for 8 to 10 seconds,
* possibly a verbal spoken oral text of message,
* 3 digital messages « NNNN » for end of message.
If you don't already have MultiPSK, it is a most have program in any radio hobbyist shack. The registered version opens up a whole new world of radio listening and worth every penny of the inexpensive registration fee. If you pick up Patrick's program, be sure to tell him that The BTown MP sent you.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mystery Canadian HF ALE Net
Time for our friends up north to have a mystery ALE network to work on. If you would like to have some of ours, I will be happy to share a few.
As posted to this website yesterday, Jack monitored a new Canadian HF ALE net on 9295.0 and 12115.0 kHz (ALE/USB) with the following stations:
EDMONTOEXLONGW Edmonton AB, Canada
OTTAWAEXLONGW Ottawa, PQ, Canada
STJOHNSEXLONGW St. Johns, NF, Canada
YELLOWKEXLONGW Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
So who do you folks up north think we have here. One guess is a CanForce net. I'm not convinced. Email me at the address above if you have any ideas.
As posted to this website yesterday, Jack monitored a new Canadian HF ALE net on 9295.0 and 12115.0 kHz (ALE/USB) with the following stations:
EDMONTOEXLONGW Edmonton AB, Canada
OTTAWAEXLONGW Ottawa, PQ, Canada
STJOHNSEXLONGW St. Johns, NF, Canada
YELLOWKEXLONGW Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
So who do you folks up north think we have here. One guess is a CanForce net. I'm not convinced. Email me at the address above if you have any ideas.
Friday, May 14, 2010
MT Annual Airshow Guide Released Online
The 2010 Monitoring Times Airshow Guide has been released in Adobe Acrobat PDF format this afternoon on the MT website. Now in its 11th year, the Airshow Guide is one of the most anticipated references published each year in Monitoring Times. As a way to give back to the monitoring community, whose field reports help produce the guide, the editorial staff of MT post it to the Internet each Spring to help scanner monitors from all over the country enjoy monitoring their favorite flight demo team.
In return we do ask that if you attend an airshow and use the guide, please file a report of what you heard or didn't hear with the author, MT assistant editor Larry Van Horn. It is these on site reports that help us produce the next edition of the guide that will appear in the March 2011 Monitoring Times. Even if the frequency is listed in our guide, we use that information to keep active frequencies on our list.
You can download your free copy from the MT website at the link below.
http://monitoringtimes.com/MT_Air_Show_Guide_2010.pdf
In return we do ask that if you attend an airshow and use the guide, please file a report of what you heard or didn't hear with the author, MT assistant editor Larry Van Horn. It is these on site reports that help us produce the next edition of the guide that will appear in the March 2011 Monitoring Times. Even if the frequency is listed in our guide, we use that information to keep active frequencies on our list.
You can download your free copy from the MT website at the link below.
http://monitoringtimes.com/MT_Air_Show_Guide_2010.pdf
Uniden Open House 2010 in the DFW Metroplex!
Uniden America has just released this announcement.
You Are Invited!
"Uniden invites you to attend the 2010 Uniden Open House on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Uniden America Corporation Headquarters.
"We are firing up the grill this Summer, and want to invite you over for some burgers, hot dogs, and other treats. We'll be announcing a revolutionary new scanner product on July 1, but attendees will get a sneak preview and introduction to the product from Uniden's Scanner Product Manager, Paul "UPMan" Opitz. Plus, hear from other guests including Lindsay Blanton, owner of RadioReference.com, the source for radio system information as well as other special guests.
"We'll be opening the doors at 10:00 AM and starting the program at 11 AM. This is an event that you will not want to miss.
"Because we want to be sure to have plenty of food and other goodies, we are asking you to register for this event. To do so, please go to: Open House Registration and fill out the form.
"Looking forward to seeing you there!"
Definitely an event you want to attend and you may even see ye ole blog editor at this major scanner event.
You Are Invited!
"Uniden invites you to attend the 2010 Uniden Open House on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Uniden America Corporation Headquarters.
"We are firing up the grill this Summer, and want to invite you over for some burgers, hot dogs, and other treats. We'll be announcing a revolutionary new scanner product on July 1, but attendees will get a sneak preview and introduction to the product from Uniden's Scanner Product Manager, Paul "UPMan" Opitz. Plus, hear from other guests including Lindsay Blanton, owner of RadioReference.com, the source for radio system information as well as other special guests.
"We'll be opening the doors at 10:00 AM and starting the program at 11 AM. This is an event that you will not want to miss.
"Because we want to be sure to have plenty of food and other goodies, we are asking you to register for this event. To do so, please go to: Open House Registration and fill out the form.
"Looking forward to seeing you there!"
Definitely an event you want to attend and you may even see ye ole blog editor at this major scanner event.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Out-of-control satellite threatens other nearby spacecraft
Article from FloridaToday.com
PARIS - An adrift Intelsat satellite that stopped communicating with its ground controllers last month remains out of control and has begun moving eastward along the geostationary arc, raising the threat of interference with other satellites in its path, Intelsat and other industry officials said.
In what industry officials called an unprecedented event, Intelsat's Galaxy 15 communications satellite has remained fully "on," with its C-band telecommunications payload still functioning even as it has left its assigned orbital slot of 133 degrees west longitude 36,000 kilometers over the equator.
Galaxy 15 stopped responding to ground controllers on April 5. The satellite's manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corp. of Virginia, has said an intense solar storm in early April may be to blame. It was launched into space in 2005.
The first satellite likely to face signal interference problems from the adrift Galaxy 15 is the AMC-11 C-band satellite owned by SES of Luxembourg and stationed at 131 degrees west, just two degrees away from Galaxy 15's starting position.
Rob Bednarek, chief executive of the SES World Skies division, which operates AMC-11, said Intelsat and SES have been meeting since April 5 to coordinate how to minimize the Galaxy 15 impact on AMC-11's media customers.
Adrift in space
In an interview Friday, Bednarek said that while it remains unclear whether SES World Skies will be able to avoid a signal interference problem as Galaxy 15 enters the AMC-11 orbital territory, the company has benefited from full disclosure on the part of Intelsat, SES's biggest competitor.
"The cooperation with them really has been very good," Bednarek said. "We all realize that we could be in the same position tomorrow. We are neighbors in space."
Alan Young, chief technology officer at SES World Skies, said the company's best estimate is that Galaxy 15 will enter AMC-11's neighborhood — meaning one-half of one degree distant — May 23. It will continue traveling at its own pace through the AMC-11 slot, exiting on the east around June 7.
You can read the rest of the story at http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100503/NEWS02/100503027/1086/Out-of-control+satellite+threatens+other+nearby+spacecraft
PARIS - An adrift Intelsat satellite that stopped communicating with its ground controllers last month remains out of control and has begun moving eastward along the geostationary arc, raising the threat of interference with other satellites in its path, Intelsat and other industry officials said.
In what industry officials called an unprecedented event, Intelsat's Galaxy 15 communications satellite has remained fully "on," with its C-band telecommunications payload still functioning even as it has left its assigned orbital slot of 133 degrees west longitude 36,000 kilometers over the equator.
Galaxy 15 stopped responding to ground controllers on April 5. The satellite's manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corp. of Virginia, has said an intense solar storm in early April may be to blame. It was launched into space in 2005.
The first satellite likely to face signal interference problems from the adrift Galaxy 15 is the AMC-11 C-band satellite owned by SES of Luxembourg and stationed at 131 degrees west, just two degrees away from Galaxy 15's starting position.
Rob Bednarek, chief executive of the SES World Skies division, which operates AMC-11, said Intelsat and SES have been meeting since April 5 to coordinate how to minimize the Galaxy 15 impact on AMC-11's media customers.
Adrift in space
In an interview Friday, Bednarek said that while it remains unclear whether SES World Skies will be able to avoid a signal interference problem as Galaxy 15 enters the AMC-11 orbital territory, the company has benefited from full disclosure on the part of Intelsat, SES's biggest competitor.
"The cooperation with them really has been very good," Bednarek said. "We all realize that we could be in the same position tomorrow. We are neighbors in space."
Alan Young, chief technology officer at SES World Skies, said the company's best estimate is that Galaxy 15 will enter AMC-11's neighborhood — meaning one-half of one degree distant — May 23. It will continue traveling at its own pace through the AMC-11 slot, exiting on the east around June 7.
You can read the rest of the story at http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100503/NEWS02/100503027/1086/Out-of-control+satellite+threatens+other+nearby+spacecraft
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Vietnamese Numbers Station Monitored on West Coast
"Original Token" out California way has reported reception of a Vietnamese language numbers station again on the UDXF newsgroup.
First reported by Leif Dehio, T! first monitored the broadcast on February 21, 2010. He posted a four and a half minute recording here: http://home.mchsi.com/~token_radio/unklang_numbers_10255U_1608_02212010.mp3
Yesterday T! posted the following update to the UDXF group:
"The reception on 21 Feb was a female voice with 5f groups, the 7 March reception was a male voice and 5f groups.
"Today at 1614:20 the station was again on the air on 10255 kHz USB, male voice, Vietnamese, and 5f."
1614:20 UTC Announcement, several portions repeated.
1615:40 UTC Numbers start. 5f, 30 groups total.
1618:13 UTC last number sent.
1618:50 UTC short announcement.
1619:23 UTC numbers start again, again 5f.
"Unfortunately I had heavy QRM (OTHR) that started just after the first 30 five figure groups were sent. I was unable to get a clear recording of the short announcement or the last part of the transmission. By the time the QRM was clear the station was off the air," said T!
Recording of the first part here:
http://token_radio.home.mchsi.com/UnkVTN_10255USB_1614z_03082010.mp3
First reported by Leif Dehio, T! first monitored the broadcast on February 21, 2010. He posted a four and a half minute recording here: http://home.mchsi.com/~token_radio/unklang_numbers_10255U_1608_02212010.mp3
Yesterday T! posted the following update to the UDXF group:
"The reception on 21 Feb was a female voice with 5f groups, the 7 March reception was a male voice and 5f groups.
"Today at 1614:20 the station was again on the air on 10255 kHz USB, male voice, Vietnamese, and 5f."
1614:20 UTC Announcement, several portions repeated.
1615:40 UTC Numbers start. 5f, 30 groups total.
1618:13 UTC last number sent.
1618:50 UTC short announcement.
1619:23 UTC numbers start again, again 5f.
"Unfortunately I had heavy QRM (OTHR) that started just after the first 30 five figure groups were sent. I was unable to get a clear recording of the short announcement or the last part of the transmission. By the time the QRM was clear the station was off the air," said T!
Recording of the first part here:
http://token_radio.home.mchsi.com/UnkVTN_10255USB_1614z_03082010.mp3
Sunday, February 28, 2010
20m ROS frequencies are moved
Courtesy of the Southgate ARC website at
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros_frequencies_moved.htm
José Alberto Nieto Ros, the originator of the new amateur radio data mode ROS, has agreed to move the suggested 20m frequencies for ROS to 14.0972MHz and 14.102MHz.
This takes them further away from the 14.100MHz international beacon chain frequency as the originals had been 14.098MHz and 14.1011MHz.
“This is good news,” said Steve Nichols, secretary of the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee. “I am grateful to José for acting so quickly.
“It is important that we keep 14.100MHz clear as the beacon network (the only one on 20m) is used worldwide.
Some reports of interference by ROS may have actually been Olivia, which sounds very similar. And today we have heard packet signals on 14.100MHz too.
“It looks like we still need to educate some data users about keeping away from the beacon frequency,” he said.
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros_frequencies_moved.htm
José Alberto Nieto Ros, the originator of the new amateur radio data mode ROS, has agreed to move the suggested 20m frequencies for ROS to 14.0972MHz and 14.102MHz.
This takes them further away from the 14.100MHz international beacon chain frequency as the originals had been 14.098MHz and 14.1011MHz.
“This is good news,” said Steve Nichols, secretary of the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee. “I am grateful to José for acting so quickly.
“It is important that we keep 14.100MHz clear as the beacon network (the only one on 20m) is used worldwide.
Some reports of interference by ROS may have actually been Olivia, which sounds very similar. And today we have heard packet signals on 14.100MHz too.
“It looks like we still need to educate some data users about keeping away from the beacon frequency,” he said.
New Weak Signal Digital Mode not Legal in US
There has been a lot of chatter on various groups about a new mode called ROS. You can see the initial details on the Southgate ARC website at
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros_proving_popular.htm
More information and the program can be found at:
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/
http://www.box.net/shared/s3ytmqcadu
ROS v1.6.3.zip
Frequencies (Mhz) USB: 3.600 , 7.053, 14.101 , 28.300 (so far no place selected on the 30 meter band..suggestions would be above 10.143)
Download "ROS v1.6.3 beta Windows Vista Compatible"
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/#comments
According to one ham the performance is equivalent to the Olivia mode. But the bad news is that US hams will not be able to use this new mode. One ham recently wrote the ARRL in regards to the ROS mode and received the reply below from Dan Henderson, N1ND:
From: Henderson, Dan N1ND
Subject: RE: Spread Spectrum
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 7:13 AM
I ran this by our technical experts. They concur that ROS is a spread spectrum mode and as such is not allowed by the FCC on bands below 222 MHz. Remember that approved emissions vary from IARU Region at times as well as between countries. So while the IARU Band Plan for Region 2 would allow it, SS is not permitted on the HF bands by the FCC.
Thanks and 73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™
860-594-0236
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros_proving_popular.htm
More information and the program can be found at:
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/
http://www.box.net/shared/s3ytmqcadu
ROS v1.6.3.zip
Frequencies (Mhz) USB: 3.600 , 7.053, 14.101 , 28.300 (so far no place selected on the 30 meter band..suggestions would be above 10.143)
Download "ROS v1.6.3 beta Windows Vista Compatible"
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/ros/#comments
According to one ham the performance is equivalent to the Olivia mode. But the bad news is that US hams will not be able to use this new mode. One ham recently wrote the ARRL in regards to the ROS mode and received the reply below from Dan Henderson, N1ND:
From: Henderson, Dan N1ND
Subject: RE: Spread Spectrum
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 7:13 AM
I ran this by our technical experts. They concur that ROS is a spread spectrum mode and as such is not allowed by the FCC on bands below 222 MHz. Remember that approved emissions vary from IARU Region at times as well as between countries. So while the IARU Band Plan for Region 2 would allow it, SS is not permitted on the HF bands by the FCC.
Thanks and 73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™
860-594-0236
Friday, February 19, 2010
Legislative Alert: New Anti-Scanner Streaming Bill in Illinois General Assembly
This piece of legislation, if passed, is detrimental to that portion of the radio hobby that streams Public Safety audio streams on the Internet. As a result, other agencies and states that have reservations now about the hobby streaming Public Safety audio on the Internet will be able to point to this law and pass similar legislation. Illinois state scanner enthusiast should contact their state representatives and oppose this bill.
Illinois General Assembly HB5194
Short Description: STATE POLICE RADIO-REBROADCAST
House Sponsors: Rep. Dan Brady
Link: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5194&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=50142&SessionID=76
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the State Police Radio Act. Provides that a person receiving public safety voice or data communication transmitted via the facilities of the State's public safety radio system by wire or radio shall not, without the written authority of the originator of the communication, rebroadcast the communication via any means, including radio or Internet, or otherwise divulge or publish the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning thereof. Provides that this provision does not apply to the public safety radio communication transmitted by any system station for the use of the general public, including Amber Alerts and other communications specifically intended for rebroadcast to the public. Provides that radio access to the public safety radio system within the State may only be accomplished upon receipt of written authorization granted by the appropriately licensed authority. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.
Illinois General Assembly HB5194
Short Description: STATE POLICE RADIO-REBROADCAST
House Sponsors: Rep. Dan Brady
Link: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5194&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=50142&SessionID=76
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the State Police Radio Act. Provides that a person receiving public safety voice or data communication transmitted via the facilities of the State's public safety radio system by wire or radio shall not, without the written authority of the originator of the communication, rebroadcast the communication via any means, including radio or Internet, or otherwise divulge or publish the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning thereof. Provides that this provision does not apply to the public safety radio communication transmitted by any system station for the use of the general public, including Amber Alerts and other communications specifically intended for rebroadcast to the public. Provides that radio access to the public safety radio system within the State may only be accomplished upon receipt of written authorization granted by the appropriately licensed authority. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective immediately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)