Article: 1939 of rec.radio.info Xref: news.cs.tut.fi rec.radio.shortwave:22102 rec.radio.info:1939 Path: news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!sunic!pipex!uunet!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet From: ae411@yfn.ysu.edu (Richard Baker) Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave,rec.radio.info Followup-To: rec.radio.shortwave Subject: Speedx World of Utilities Electronic Edition, August 1993 Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1993 22:46:30 MDT Organization: Youngstown State/Youngstown Free-Net Lines: 658 Message-ID: <24sc76$fhb@news.ysu.edu> Approved: rec-radio-info@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca ================================================================= ===== SPEEDX's World of Utilities Electronic Edition ==== ===== Specializing in Utility Signals ==== ========== Vol. 2, No. 4 August, 1993 ========== ================================================================= Electronic Edition edited by Richard Baker ae411@yfn.ysu.edu UTILITIES Logging's, Frequencies, and Schedules Mike Wolfson, Editor 1843 Mifflin Ave. Ashland, Ohio 44805 Hello and welcome to the latest incarnation of SPEEDX's utility column. In case you haven't been around before, I used to edit the QSL REPORT. Because of past indiscretions, I've been asked to take over this column. I'll state flat out that I DO NOT have a technical background and am unable to converse coherently on the technical details of RTTY retransmission/reception or decoding the more esoteric modes. Personally, I use an NRD 535, a Kenwood R5000, an M1000 and a 386/16 compatible. At least to start, I plan on setting up the column as I would prefer to see it from a reader's point of view (as in this is how I would want it if I was reading it). If anyone has any comments or suggestions, PLEASE LET ME KNOW !!!!!! I plan on stressing loggings, frequency lists (for all modes/types of broadcasts) and station information. I would also like to include some equipment reviews/announcements and book reviews as well. Short pieces (1 page or so), written by members would also be welcome; contact me for submission details. I plan on letting the column evolve to meet the needs and desires of you the reader. In other words, if you don't see it and want it let me know. One last point PLEASE make your loggings legible. If I can't read it I won't be able to include it. The more clearly something is written the easier it will be to understand and the accurate it will be. Thanks for the help and for all future contributions. AERO 3413 Honolulu Aero Radio ICAO HF Network US 1312 3/11 USB good (Man working Northwest 92 in EE, primary frequency 5574/secondary frequency 13413 (?)) (Thompson, Ca.) 4397 Many Callsigns Used: USAF US 2308 3/20 USB excellent (wargames, mention of airborne command post intercommunications, refueling activities) (Thompson, Ca.) 5520 New York Aero Radio ICAO HF Network US 0317 3/19 USB (Caribbean Route B working USN LF163) (Lukas, N.Y.) 13457 KCP63: FAA Network US 1914 3/1 LSB (KCP63 working KJK79 w/phone patch test) (Lukas, N.Y.); KLM43: FAA Network Battle Creek Mi. US 3/1 2045 LSB (Lukas, N.Y.) MARINE 4369 WLO: Mobile Radio US 0240 3/3 USB (coast channel 405 working M/V Ocean Nugget) (Lukas, N.Y.) 6510 SPO31: Szezcin Radio Poland 0235 3/19 USB (coast channel 604 ID w/traffic list) (Lukas, N.Y.) 8984 NMN: USCG COMMSTA Portsmouth Virginia US 2142 3/15 USB (USCG SAR of USN F-14 off Cape Hatteras, 2 airmen lost, RESCUE 1501 (HC130) working 5th District RCC) (Lukas, N.Y.) 16921 CLS: Flota Cubana de Pescs Cuba 1916 3/17 CW (ID, VVV, DE CLS) (Lukas, N.Y.) 16948 VCS: Halifax C/G Radio Canada 2029 3/17 CW (ID, VVV (repeat), DE VCS) (Lukas, N.Y.) 17038 WNU55: Slidell Radio Louisiana US 1800 3/25 CW excellent (discussion of cargo, ship location, CW marker) (Thompson, Ca.) 17117.6 WNU45: Slidell Radio Louisiana US 1808 3/25 CW excellent (how to keep bananas fresh) (Thompson, Ca.) 17146.4 NRV: USCG COMMSTA Barrigada Guam 1812 3/25 CW poor (CQ CQ CQ DE NRV NRV NRV loop, bad QRN) (Thompson, Ca.) 17170.4 PJC: Curacao Radio Netherlands Antilles 1518 3/13 CW (ID, message, CQ DE PJC) (Lukas, N.Y.) 17380 WOM: Pennsuco Florida US 0010 3/14 USB good (man w/marine wx, traffic list) (Thompson, Ca.) 22459.6 XSX: Keelung Radio Taiwan 0053 3/22 CW poor (CQ CQ CQ DE XSX XSX XSX QSX loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22460.9 FUJ: French Navy Noumea New Caledonia 0052 3/22 CW fair (VVV DE FUJ) (Thompson, Ca.) 22485 VHP: Canberra Radio Australia 2355 3/14 CW good (VVV VVV VVV DE VHP VHP VHP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22487 WLO: Mobile Radio Alabama US 2015 3/14 CW fair (ARA Free Press-Newspaper of the Sea w/maritme news to 2035, into RTTY) (Thompson, Ca.) 22573 WNU36: Slidell Radio Louisiana US 2006 3/14 CW fair (CQ CQ CQ DE WNU36 WNU36 WNU36 QSX 4 6 8 12 16 22 MHZ OBS?, traffic at 2007) (Thompson, Ca.) 22603 PPR: Rio Radio Brazil 0059 3/22 CW poor (CQ CQ CQ DE PPR PPR PPR loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22646.5 JOS: Nagasaki Radio Japan 0103 3/22 CW fair (CQ CQ CQ DE JOS JOS JOS QSX loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22659.5 JOR: Nagasaki Radio Japan 0105 3/22 CW fair (CQ CQ CQ DE JOR JOR JOR QSX loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22690 XSG: Shanghai Radio China 0115 3/22 CW fair (CQ CQ CQ DE XSG XSG XSG QRS loop) (Thompson, Ca.) 22690.5 JOU: Nagasaki Radio Japan 0107 3/22 CW fair (CQ CQ CQ DE JOU JOU JOU QSX loop) (Thompson, Ca.) PHONE 4007 NNN0VMA, NNN0BSE, NNN0EMV, NNN0WNR, NNN0EQV: USN MARS US 0400 3/20 USB good (MARS traffic) (Thompson, Ca.) 4560 CZW: Halifax Military Canada 0407 3/13 USB (CANFORS calling unknown unit) (Lukas, N.Y.) 4880 ULX: 0102 AM (woman w/ID, 5 phonetic letter groups, messages) (Bellovich, Fl.) 5230 MIW2: Israeli Diplomatic (Phonetic ID) 0416 3/13 AM (no message, *no message if #2 in preamble, if no number, then message) (Lukas, N.Y.) 5820 ????: 0415 AM (woman w/5 phonetic letter groups, messages) (Bellovich, Fl.) 6270 ULX: 0435 AM (woman w/phonetic message, 5 letter groups) (Bellovich, Fl.) 6840 EZI: 0300 AM (woman w/ID, 5 phonetic letter groups) (Bellovich, Fl.) 7445 KPA2: 0418 AM (woman w/ID, signoff at 0420) (Bellovich, Fl.) 8418 314: 0303 AM woman w/ID, Spanish call, 4 Spanish number groups) (Bellovich, Fl.) 11532 617: 0203 AM (woman w/Spanish 5 number groups) (Bellovich, Fl.) 13455.8 United Nations Western Sahara 2110 3/1 USB (man w/station ID and location, repeat, mention of UN observer team) (Lukas, N.Y.) RTTY/FAX 4583 DDK2: Pihhelburg Meteo Germany 2300 2/14 454 400/50 (coded groups of 5, ID, CQ) (Card, R.I.) 7429 TELAM: Buenos Aries Argentina 0100 2/17 444 850/50 (International news and press releases) (Card, R.I.) 10895 LRB39: Buenos Aries Saporitf Argentina 0112 2/20 434 850/50 (Domestic news) (Card, R.I.) 12906 GYA: Whitehall Naval Radio London England 1400 2/20 353 ???? (3 letters 2 numbers, 1 letter) (Card, R.I.) 18188 ZVK7: Rio Aero Brazil 1800 4/6 454 850/75 (coded text) (Card, R.I.) 18230 GFL25: Brachnell Meteo UK 1745 4/6 454 400/50 (code groups) (Card, R.I.) Reid Kelly posted the following information on FidoNet of 4/7. It is a repost of information originally posted by Ken McKenzie on another BBS SM>I am just starting out with FAX receiving, does anyone out there have a SM>list of FAX freq's of any type . I am primarily looking for SM>those that can be received in Brisbane Australia, but would SM>like to try for any Freq's around the world. Hi Steve. These are all center frequency. Depending on the decoder or software you use or the receiver you are using you may have to tune 1.9 khz lower than these frequencies. 8080 would give you a proper printout on 8078.1 or 10865 would be 10863.1 Some are ISB, so you can use USB and LSB. Let's see, we'll start with your own neighbourhood just incase you don't have those. ************************ All frequencies in KHZ ************************ Not all freq's active at the same time. It depends on what time of day it is at the transmitting station. Australia: Canberra Meteo = 2628, 5100, 11030, 13920 and 20469; Darwin Meteo = 5755, 7535, 10555, 15615 and 18060 Canada: CF Vancouver = 4268, 6456 and 12753 (where I live); CF Halifax = 4271, 6330, 10536 and 13510 China: Beijing Meteo = 5527, 8122, 10117, 14367, 16025 and 18237 Germany: Hamburg Meteo = 3855, 7880 and 13882.5 Japan: Tokyo Meteo = 3622.5, 7305, 9970, 13597, 18220 and 23522.9 Kenya: Nairobi Meteo = 7464.5, 9045, 12317, 15527, 16317, 17367 and 22869 Korea: Soul Meteo = 5857.5 New Zealand: Auckland Meteo = 5807, 9459, 13550 and 16340.1 Reunion: Saint Denis Meteo = 8176 and 16335 Saudi Arabia: Jeddah Meteo = 3560, 5452 and 10296 Senegal: Dakar Meteo = 13669.5 and 19751.5 South Africa: Pretoria Meteo = 4014, 7508, 13538 and 18238 Spain: Madrid Meteo = 3650, 6918.5 and 10250 Thailand: Bangkok Meteo = 7394 and 17519 (freq's vary alot!) England: Bracknell Meteo = 2618.5, 4610, 4782, 8040, 9203, 11086.5, 14436, 14582.5 and 18261 USA: USCG San Francisco = 4346, 8682, 12730, 17151.2 and 22527; USN Norfolf = 3357, 8080, 10865, 16410 and 20015; Honolulu Meteo = 9982.5, 11090, 16135 and 23331.5 (try 00:01, 6:01, 12:01 and 18:01 UTC for FULL DISK of earth satellite photo) That should keep you busy for awhile!! Let me know what you hear Steve. Ken ( Repaired and repost of Jim Jowski hf fax freqs by Reid Kelly 11-4-92) kHz LOCATION CALL SIGN TIMES 53 MOSCOW 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 111 PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA OLT21 CONTINUOUS 117 OFFENBACH 2, F.G.R. DCF37 CONTINUOUS 122 HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA CHF CONTINUOUS 134 OFFENBACH 1, F.G.R. DCF54 CONTINUOUS 227 TIKSI BUKHTA, U.S.S.R. VARIOUS 2122 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM 0600-1600 2195 ROGERS CITY, MICHIGAN WLC 0130-0430E 2618 BRACKNELL 2, ENGLAND CFE25 1800-0600 2628 MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA AXM31 CONTINUOUS 2813 NORTHWOOD 1, ENGLAND GYA1 1630-0730 2815 MOSCOW 1, U.S.S.R. 1530-0510 3242 BOSTON, MASS. NMF 0530-0615 3251 IQALUIT, N.W.T. CANADA VFF JUL 1-OCT 15 3251 FT. DE FRANCE, MARTINIQUE FFP VARIOUS 3280 TASHKENT 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 3289 BRACKNELL 1, ENGLAND CFA21 CONTINUOUS 3357 NORFORK, VIRGINIA NAM CONTINUOUS 3365 TOKYO 2, JAPAN JMJ VARIOUS 3377 ANKARA, TURKEY YMA20 1600-0540 3377 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN 1000-2129 3436 NORTHWOOD 1, ENGLAND GZZ6 VARIOUS 3560 JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA HZN 0000-2400 3622 TOKYO 1, JAPAN JMH VARIOUS 3675 NOVOSIBIRSK 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 3690 TASHKENT 1, U.S.S.R. 1300-0130 3855 OFFENBACH (MAIN) F.G.R. DDH3 0600-2300 3865 ULAN-BATOR, MONGOLIA VARIOUS 3875 MOSCOW 1, U.S.S.R. 1700-0510 4014 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA ZRO5 CONTINUOUS 4037 NORRKOPING, SWEDEN SMA4 CONTINUOUS 4055 MURMANSK, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 4223 LEWES, DELAWARE KWX VARIOUS 4228 VALPARAISO, CHILE CBV CONTINUOUS 4236 COM. NUNES RIBEIRO, PORT. CTV4 2000-1100 4247 NORTHWOOD 1, ENGLAND GZZ2 CONTINUOUS 4268 ESQUIMALT, BRIT. COLUMBIA CKN CONTINUOUS 4270 AMDERMA, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 4271 HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA CHF CONTINUOUS 4298 KODIAK, ALASKA NOJ VARIOUS 4346 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. NMC NIGHT 4365 TASHKENT 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 4445 NOVOSIBIRSK 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 4475 NOVOSIBIRSK 2, U.S.S.R. 1425-0245 4516 KHABAROVSK, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 4526 CAIRO 1, EGYPT SUU36 CONTINUOUS 4610 BRACKNELL 1, ENGLAND CFA22 1800-0600 4704 ROTA, SPAIN AOK 1800-0600 4766 SANTIAGO, CHILE CCS CONTINUOUS 4777 ROME, ITALY IMB51 CONTINUOUS 4782 BRACKNELL 2, ENGLAND CFE21 CONTINUOUS 4855 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM CONTINUOUS 4965 MURMANSK, U.S.S.R. 1900-0600 4965 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 4965 GUAM 1, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 4993 NEW DELHI, INDIA ATA55 1430-0230 5013 MOBILE, ALABAMA WLO CONTINUOUS 5090 TASHKENT 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5093 SOFIA, BULGARIA LZJ2 CONTINUOUS 5100 MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA AXM32 CONTINUOUS 5150 MOSCOW 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5185 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA LRO69 CONTINUOUS 5260 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 5260 GUAM 1, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 5285 TASHKENT 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5302 CENT. METRO. ANTARTICO LFB 1530 & 2130 5355 MOSCOW 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5405 TOKYO 2, JAPAN JMJ2 VARIOUS 5450 JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA HZN 1800-0500 5525 BEIJING, CHINA BAF6 VARIOUS 5755 DARWIN, AUSTRALIA AX132 2300-1100 5765 NOVOSIBIRSK 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5785 ROTA, SPAIN AOK CONTINUOUS 5800 BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA YZZ1 VARIOUS 5807 WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND ZKLF CONTINUOUS 5850 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK OXT VARIOUS 5890 TASHKENT 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 5898 ROGERS CITY, MICHIGAN WLC 1030-2230E 6330 HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA CHF CONTINUOUS 6380 AMDERMA, U.S.S.R. 1800-0300 6418 SANTIAGO, CHILE NIGHT 6436 NORTHWOOD 1, ENGLAND GYJ3 CONTINUOUS 6466 ESQUIMALT, BRIT. COLUMBIA CKN CONTINUOUS 6765 BANGKOK, THAILAND HSW69 VARIOUS 6785 MOLODEZHNAYA, ANTARCTICA 1730-1745 6790 ANKARA, TURKEY YMA20 0540-1600 6901 NORRKOPING, SWEDEN SMA6 CONTINUOUS 7305 TOKYO 1, JAPAN JMH2 VARIOUS 7395 BANGKOK, THAILAND HSW64 VARIOUS 7403 NEW DELHI, INDIA ATP57 CONTINUOUS 7475 KHABAROVSK, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 7508 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA ZRO2 CONTINUOUS 7530 BOSTON, MASS. NMF 1730-1815 7535 DARWIN, AUSTRALIA AX133 2300-1100 7570 TASHKENT 1, U.S.S.R. 0130-1300 7580 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN 1400-0059 7670 MOSCOW 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 7708 FT. DE FRANCE, MARTINIQUE FFP VARIOUS 7708 IQALUIT, N.W.T. CANADA VFF JUL 1-OCT 15 7750 MOSCOW 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 7880 OFFENBACH (MAIN) F.G.R. DDH3 CONTINUOUS 8018 HELSINKI, FINLAND OFA83 VARIOUS 8040 BRACKNELL 1, ENGLAND CFA23 CONTINUOUS 8077 NORRKOPING, SWEDEN SMA8 CONTINUOUS 8080 NORFORK, VIRGINIA NAM CONTINUOUS 8120 BEIJING, CHINA BAF36 VARIOUS 8146 ROME, ITALY IMB55 CONTINUOUS 8176 S DENIS/CHAUDRON, REUNION HXP VARIOUS 8334 NORTHWOOD 2, ENGLAND 0200-0700 8454 ATHENS, GREECE SVG4 VARIOUS 8459 KODIAK, ALASKA NOJ VARIOUS 8463 AMDERMA, U.S.S.R. 0300-1800 8494 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM CONTINUOUS 8494 NORTHWOOD 1, ENGLAND GZZ40 CONTINUOUS 8527 COM. NUNES RIBEIRO, PORT. CTW8 CONTINUOUS 8594 SANTIAGO, CHILE CONTINUOUS 8677 VALPARAISO, CHILE CONTINUOUS 8682 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. NMC CONTINUOUS 9043 NAIROBI 1, KENYA 5YE1 CONTINUOUS 9060 NOVOSIBIRSK 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 9090 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM CONTINUOUS 9150 TASHKENT 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 9150 ULAN-BATOR, MONGOLIA VARIOUS 9203 BRACKNELL 2, ENGLAND CFE22 CONTINUOUS 9220 NOVOSIBIRSK 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 9230 KHABAROVSK, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 9280 MOLODEZHNAYA, ANTARCTICA 0845-2345 9340 TASHKENT 1, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 9360 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK OXT VARIOUS 9365 CAIRO 2, EGYPT SUU25 1900-0700 9382 ROTA, SPAIN AOK CONTINUOUS 9396 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM CONTINUOUS 9438 TOKYO 2, JAPAN JMJ3 VARIOUS 9459 WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND ZKLF CONTINUOUS 9498 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN 1000-2159 9875 ROTA, SPAIN AOK ON REQUEST 9970 TOKYO 1, JAPAN JMH3 VARIOUS 9982 HONOLULU, HAWAII KVM70 2335-0112 10105 NEW DELHI, INDIA ATE60 CONTINUOUS 10115 BEIJING, CHINA BAF4 VARIOUS 10123 CAIRO 1, EGYPT SUU2 CONTINUOUS 10130 MURMANSK, U.S.S.R. 0600-1900 10185 ULAN-BATOR, MONGOLIA VARIOUS 10225 BRASILIA, BRASIL PPN9 VARIOUS 10230 MOSCOW 2, U.S.S.R. CONTINUOUS 10255 GUAM 1, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 10255 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 10294 JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA HZN 0500-1800 10536 HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA CHF CONTINUOUS 10555 DARWIN, AUSTRALIA AX134 CONTINUOUS 19860 GUAM 1, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 19860 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 20015 NORFORK, VIRGINIA NAM 1200-2100 20300 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN 0100-1359 21837 PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII NPM 1700-0630 22071 SANTIAGO, CHILE CONTINUOUS 22324 GUAM 1, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 22324 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 22527 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. NMC DAY 22826 NAIROBI 2, KENYA 5YE7 CONTINUOUS 22865 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN 2200-0959 23010 GUAM 2, M.I. NPN CONTINUOUS 23331 HONOLULU, HAWAII KVM70 1755-1929 23522 TOKYO 1, JAPAN JMH6 VARIOUS That's it for this month. Please remember to send me your loggings. Have a Have a good one and see you next month. UTILITY NOTES Richard "RD" Baker, Editor 1352 Cavalcade Dr. Austintown, Ohio 44515-3844 Internet: ae411@yfn.ysu.edu LAST WINTER STORM PROVIDES DRAMATIC SAR ACTIVITY By Richard Baker SAR Operation Underway for Crew of F-14 Tomcat VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (NNS) -- Search and rescue operations are continuing for the third day off the coast of North Carolina for the missing two-man aircrew of a Navy F-14 Tomcat. Wreckage from the F-14 was spotted by a search and rescue helicopter at 4:05 p.m. (EST) March 15 in the Atlantic Ocean, 20 miles east of Nags Head, N.C. The missing aviators are LT William E. Daisley, 27, from Port Allegany, Pa., and LCDR Fred D. Dillingham, 43, of Virginia Beach, Va. Daisley is assigned to Attack Squadron 34 (VA-34) and Dillingham, a radar intercept officer, is assigned to the staff of Fighter Wing One. Daisley, an A-6 pilot and squadron Landing Signal Officer (LSO), was conducting an F-14 familiarization flight as part of his LSO training. The aircraft, assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), took off from NAS Oceana at 10:15 a.m., March 15 and was on a routine two-hour training flight. When the F-14 failed to return at its scheduled time of 12:15 p.m., Navy and Coast Guard aircraft started search and rescue operations. Today (March 17), six Navy and Coast Guard aircraft along with USS Mississippi (CGN 40) and Coast Guard Cutter Aquidneck are on scene searching within an area bounded by Cape Charles, Va., to the north; the Oregon Inlet, S.C., to the south; and 15 miles off the east coast to 120 miles. Story by COMNAVAIRLANT Public Affairs This was the only news item I could find relating to one of the most massive SAR (Search and Rescue) cases I've ever heard. In fact, one of two of the most dramatic. The last major winter storm had just pounding the east coast. Here in Ohio, as in other parts of the country, it was the worst blizzard in ten years or more. So, being stuck in the house, I started checking some of the more popular "storm" frequencies. The first comms I picked up were on 2670 Khz, USCG's schedule marine broadcast and comms with non-Coast Guard vessels channel. At 0013 UTC, the USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7), NOHP, was in comms with USCG Group Key West, NOK, about a SAR case. The Coast Guard air frequencies (5692, 5696 and 8984 Khz) were steady in air traffic, with no less than 7 CG aircraft giving flight status's to various CommSta's. At 0340 on 6501/6200 Khz (USCG 6 Megs SCN) the Cutter Dependable (WMEC-626), NOWK, was in comms with CommSta Portsmouth, NMN, for an ETA in a tug for a distressed vessel. By 0431 UTC, things were getting much more active with Rescue 1717 (HC-130) in a phone patch to Miami Op's reporting Rescue 1431 was already "hoisting" 2 PIW (Persons in water); Rescue 2122 was investigating a vessel associated with a EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon) activation, and he had "many" strobes in the water that could be other life rafts. 1717 requested immediate helo & surface assistance. At 0444, Air Station (AirSta) Clearwater, NOF, made a rare HF appearance to go direct with 1717 to advise the 6516 (HH-65) from Miami, and the 1493 (HH-3F) from Cape Cod would be en-route. This high volume of air traffic went on till after 0700 UTC. The next day, the storm was moving north into Canada, so I started plugging in some extra frequencies. At 2350 UTC on 5718 Khz, CanForces SAR, Rescue 102 was report normal flight op's to Halifax Military, CZW. Then at 0305, the 102 aircraft made a phone patch to RCC (Rescue Co-ordination Center). 102 reported that the M/V Gold Bond Conveyor was at a 18 degree port list, and that it was a "dangerous" situation. RCC replied help was being tasked. At 0355, 102 reported the vessel now at a 23 degree port list. Then just 24 minutes later, at 0419, 102 requested another phone patch to RCC. The pitch of the radio operators voice got my attention. Being a former police dispatcher, I had heard it before. This was confirmed when 102 reported the crew was abandoning ship at this time. Either Halifax or RCC could be heard repeating this to someone in the background. All knew what this meant. Going into the Atlantic Ocean during winter, even in a raft, is a last resort. The time one can be exposed is very little. RCC requested confirmation, 102 advised that their abandoning ship, "they're all going overboard". The vessel had declared a "mayday" after being struck by a large wave. 102 further reported they were unable to tell if the crew made it to lifeboats or not, and that the British M/V Havkong was in the area to assist. Nine minutes later, 102 reported the "vessel is now completely submerged"; that they had dropped flares to illuminate the area; and that the M/V Havkong was on top of the Gold Bond Conveyors position with lights on and lookouts manned, but neither could see anything. You could almost feel the sense of helplessness. Later, CNN showed film of the vessel rolling over, all 35 soul's on board were lost. This sad event led into the next. For all the flurry of activity I had monitored so far, it was nothing compared to what was to come. I started hearing comms at 2113 UTC that night on the USCG air frequency 8984 Khz. Rescue 1501 was in a phone patch to District 5 RCC reporting that a wing and fuselage had been recovered, and confirmed it was aircraft 101. RCC advised the USS Philippine Sea was close and would be assisting. Shortly after, I found out this was a SAR for the crew of a Navy F-14 that had been overdue, and had crashed some 50 miles off the Virginia coast. Almost every frequency was "grid locked" with comms. The search went on for 3 days, and involved dozens of USCG, USAF, and USN aircraft. The HMCS Halifax, USS Philippine Sea, USS Shreveport, and USS Mississippi were naval ships involved. The Coast Guard had at least the USCGC Point Arena (WPB-82346), NJXT, and USCGC Aquidneck (WPB-1309), NBTC. Several Coast Guard HC-130's were rotated as on scene commanders, then the Shreveport, and finally, the USS Mississippi. One HC-130 reported "many helicopters in area" and that on scene air control was being run by Gray Hawk 012, a USN E2C. On another handoff to an arriving HC-130, the departing aircraft warned "many planes, many ships in area, lot's of F-14's buzzing around". In fact, the USN safety of air frequency, 8972 Khz, was almost constant air traffic, as were the USCG air frequencies. Another HC-130 was directed by RCC to climb to 2000' and start a flare search. The pilot stated he could not climb above 1500' "due to traffic overhead", and that the on scene E2C had advised him to stay at 1500' due to F-14's in the area. RCC wanted to know if the F-14's were over flights, as they were not suppose to be in the area. After a pause, the HC-130 pilot reported "if you ask them, they're just flying over, but as they are being controlled by the E2C, I would imagine they're trying to help". He then added "they're a pretty tight bunch". The two crewmen were not found. The shear amount of air traffic this SAR generated was such that I've never heard anything like it, being a veteran of many storm season's. To list all the aircraft involved that were logged would take more space than my hard drive has left. But the main frequencies I found were: 2670 USCG, 4426/4134 USCG, 5320 USCG, 5692 USCG, 5696 USCG, 5718 CanForces, 6501/6200 USCG, 8764/8240 USCG, 8972 USN, 8984 USCG, 9006 CanForces, 11201 USCG, 11233 CanForces, 13089/12242 USCG. To all of these professionals, who risked so much, and performed countless acts of heroism, my hats off to them. Although these acts were remotely reported in the press, I and others know what occured. Many souls were saved, at least 37 were lost. We know all tried the best they could. We know because we're shortwave radio listeners, some of the best informed people in the world. UNITED KINGDOM COLOR CODED WEATHER CONDITIONS Have you ever heard the RAF weather broadcasts and wonder what the colors mean? Well here they are: BASE OF LOWEST CLOUD COLOR LAYER OF 3/8 OR MORE SURFACE VISIBILITY BLUE 2500 Ft AGL 8 km (4.3 nm) WHITE 1500 Ft AGL 5 km (2.7 nm) GREEN 700 Ft AGL 3.7 km (2 nm) YELLOW* 300 Ft AGL 1.8 km (1 nm) AMBER 200 Ft AGL 0.9 km (0.5 nm) RED Below 200 Ft AGL Less than 0.9 km (0.5 nm) BLACK Airfield not usable for other reasons than cloud and/or visibility minima. BLACK when used, will precede weather color code. NOTE* It is common at RN airfields to sub-divide code Yellow as follows: YELLOW 1 500 Ft AGL 2.5 km (1.4 nm) YELLOW 2 300 Ft AGL 1.8 km (1 nm) At RAF airfields under the control of HQ 11 Gp code Yellow is sub-divided as follows: YELLOW 1 500 Ft AGL 3.7 km (2 nm) YELLOW 2 300 Ft AGL 1.8 km (2 nm) This is from a book, "DOD Flight Information Publication (Enroute)" I recieved through a company in Maine. The name of the company is Aerial Development of New England, P.O. Box 661, Bangor, ME 04402-0661 (207) 945-3961. They offer a list of alike handbooks, which are all the "Real McCoy", either new or surplus is available. Prices are very reasonable, and the service was excellent. They also have a selection of air enroute maps. The info contained in these books is too much to absorb in a few days. Theres a LOT of info for UTE's here! Some other handbooks of value: (they have more...) Military Training Routes: Shows all IR "Race Track" numbers. Global Flight Information Handbook: Includes a complete description of the USAF HF System, frequencies for USAF bases. Canadian Forces Flight Supplement: Lists military and civilian airfields, frequencies, many with callsigns. Theres a LOT more in each book, I've been reading for 2 weeks! They offer quite a lot. So, if your into monitoring either military or civillian aero frequencies, these book's are something you want to check out. Tell 'em Speedx sent you! Sorry for the short column this month, we'll be back with the official start of "Utility Notes". --------------------------------------------------------------------- SPEEDX members had this information over two months ago! SPEEDX publishes a monthly DX bulletin of around 43 pages, Shortwave Radio Today (ISSN 0882-8091). Some of the column's include: THE DXperience: Focusing on notes,news,and views of what's happening in the exciting world of Shortwave radio. Edited by Dan Brame WHAT'S ON: A program listing, and some freqs for SW Radio edited by Daniel Sampson. SHORTWAVE TO GO!: A DX column with much DX news copied from the various DX shows, and compiled by Dale Vanderpoel via the SHORTWAVE PARADISE BBS in Fort Lauderdale,Florida USA. (Now featuring Sked Row) WESTERN HEMISPHERE: SWBC logging's column edited by Don Thornton EUROPE: SWBC logging's column edited by Bob Colyard THE COMMONWEALTH: SWBC logging's column edited by Bruce Robinson AFRICA: SWBC logging's column edited by Paul Wakefield ASIA/OCEANIA: SWBC logging's column edited by William Westenhaver QSL REPORT: a QSL reporting column edited by Michael Fanderys UTILITIES: Utlilty DX loggings, frequency lists and schedules, edited by Mike Wolfson UTILITY NOTES: News and information on the world of utilities, edited by Rick Baker SPEEDX AWARDS: A wide variety of awards are available for members DX'ing accomplishments, Harold Woering, Awards Chairman If you would like to learn more about the SPEEDX radio club, (the Society to Preserve the Engrossing Enjoyment of DX'ing), a non-profit volunteer hobby organization founded in 1971, please write to Bob Thunberg Business Manager, SPEEDX, P.O. Box 196, DuBois, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 15801-0196. Club dues are as follows: USA and Mexico $23.00 Canada (AO Airmail) 25.00 Central/South America, Caribbean (airmail) 29.00 Europe (AO Airmail) 33.00 Africa/CIS/Asia/Oceania (AO Airmail) 37.00 Outside North America (Surface Mail) 23.00 All prices are in US funds. Tell Bob you heard about us from the Electronic Edition! -- Rick Baker (ae411@yfn.ysu.edu) Recorded live and direct from downtown Austintown, Ohio