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A Sneak Peek At What’s
Coming In Our February 2005 Issue of
By Harold Ort, N2RLL |
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Sixty-plus years ago Hitler’s army was marching through Europe, and his radio intercept operators were busy day and night monitoring for signals they deemed unauthorized; those who would do the Nazis harm. In 1941 the Germans, using the latest direction-finding techniques were hot on the trail of PTX, dubbed, “The Red Orchestra” – mysterious signals that defied logic. Be sure to read Bob Sturtevant’s article, “Catching The Red Orchestra” beginning on page 6. Click on this link to read more about Catching The Red Orchestra Approved for land use, Personal Locator Beacons are certainly a high-tech lifesaving tool, but there are things you need to know before plunking down your hard-earned money. Read Gordon West’s “Personal Locator Beacon Update” beginning on page 10 for complete details. Click on this link to read more about Personal Locator Beacon Update The Kurds. Their very name has become synonymous with despair and war. With your trusty shortwave radio, a decent antenna and a hefty dose of patience, you can hear this Middle East group from the comfort of your living room. This month, Gerry Dexter has done a superb article, “Kurdish Waves” telling you when and where to tune, beginning on page 12. Click on this link to read more about Kurdish Waves Whether or not you’re new to shortwave listening or DXing, you’ve undoubtedly encountered propagation bulletins either from Uncle Sam or the various online services. But chances are you’re confused about some of the terminology. This month, Tomas Hood, Mr. Propagation, changes all that with his column, “The Propagation Corner” in which he reviews those space weather terms, helping us get the most out of our radio monitoring. Click on this link to read more about The Propagation Corner One of the best software programs on the market today for radio enthusiasts is SkySweeper. I’ve had the opportunity to use SkySweeper Standard V. 3.07 for a few months and believe me; it’s worth the $99.95! Be sure to read my review beginning on page 22 and learn the ins and outs of this fantastic program that decodes a multitude of digital modes. It’ll keep you busy nearly forever! Click on this link to read more about The SkySweeper What were you doing five, 10 or 20 years ago? If you were into radio, chances are you were reading Pop’Comm, so each month we give you a quick look back at those “good old days” and a full page of radio trivia, courtesy Bob Sturtevant, KD7KTS. Check it out this month on page 25. Click on this link to read more about our Trivia Radio Australia has got a shot in the arm; a long overdue financial boost, and the US psyops broadcasts for Afghanistan, originally known as Information Radio, has a new schedule. Get this information and a whole lot more international shortwave news – and tons of reader-submitted loggings in this month’s Global Information Guide beginning on page 26. Click on this link to read more about Global Information A top communications priority remains interoperability between agencies and properly, aggressively maintaining the watch on emergency, calling and what are known as “common” frequencies. That’s where you come in as a radio monitor. Keeping watch on those frequencies, especially in our changed world, can help your family – and greater community – stay abreast of emergencies that affect us all. Be sure to read this month’s On The Go column beginning on page 33 for details. Click on this link to read more about On-The-Go The nuclear power industry tells us everything is contained, so to speak, and that those looming nuclear power plants are as safe as ever. But the fact remains there are 103 of them scattered throughout the US; and there are no guarantees in life. Emergency communicators are constantly working with local, state and plant officials to ensure your safety should the worst occur. Check out Rich Arland’s Homeland Security column this month beginning on page 44 for details on how one Pennsylvania plant drills with ARES and RACES members to be as ready as possible. If you’re involved with any kind of emergency communications group, from CB and GMRS to amateur radio, you’ll want to read his special report! Click on this link to read more about Homeland Security Has trunking come to your area? What do you need to monitor these systems? This month Ken Reiss, in his ScanTech column cuts right to the core of trunking, explaining this new communications standard in a way we can all understand the lingo. ScanTech begins on page 52 this month. Click on this link to read more about ScanTech Help wanted: Your broadcast DX loggings and QSL reports are needed by our new Broadcast Technologies columnist, Dave Schmidt. E-mail him at TheRadioColumn@aol.com or send them to Dave via regular postal mail to him at Popular Communications, 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801. Dave’s column this month, on page 58, is an excellent overview of how the hobby has changed over the years and a basic primer on getting started in a fascinating hobby. Click on this link to read more about Broadcast Technology It took 9/11 victims’ families to get the 9/11 Commission in the first place, and now that the report is out there’s naturally some fallout. Read about this and much more in this month’s Utility Communications Digest by Steve Douglass beginning on page 60. And yes, Steve also needs YOUR utility loggings. Reach him with those loggings, questions and comments at webbfeat@1s.net. Click on this link to read more about Utility Communications If the words “Assembly Language Programming” scare you into a corner or under the bed, don’t despair because one of our loyal Pop’Comm readers, Joseph Roby, Jr. has worked with our Computer-Assisted Radio Monitoring columnist, Joe Cooper, presenting an outstanding look at how he homebrewed software for his radio. As he explains, you can do it too! Check out the column beginning on page 66. Click on this link to read more about Computer-Assisted Radio Oops, what a difference two letters can make; in this case “in” is missing before the word, “expensive” in The Wireless Connection column’s first sentence. Those ESR meters that Pete Bertini covers this month are actually pretty INexpensive (his cost around $179) and are VERY helpful for your radio restoration projects. Check out The Wireless Connection beginning on page 69 for more information! Click on this link to read more about Wireless Connection How about a show of hands: How many of you remember WINB, Red Lion, Pennsylvania? This powerhouse – at the time – was beaming signals everywhere, reaching millions. But there’s more to WINB than just being a powerhouse shortwave outlet and “reliable verifier.” Read Shannon’s story this month beginning on page 73! Click on this link to read more about Shannon I’m sure Bill Price’s garage and toolbox is a little more cluttered than yours or mine, and it’s also a good bet that he’s always prepared – even if being prepared at the microwave uplink means eating with Kleins Tools. Please don’t invite Bill for a REAL cookout! |
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