2011 Guide To The Chicago Air and Water Show Radio Communications

The Chicago Air and Water Show commences this coming weekend, lasting two days. The first day is Saturday, August 20th, 2011. Each year, the VHF aviation service frequencies change along with the UHF through microwave frequencies. There is much to hear at the Chicago Air and Water Show. Since most anyone can remember, CARMA (Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association) has been there the day before and for the full show each of the two days.

The hard work done by CARMA has ensured for many years running, that the casual / serious radio communications monitor and the licensed radio amateur are aware of specific frequencies being used. Monitoring this show from the perspective of the air traffic controllers and the pilots adds an extra dimension to being witness to the biggest and best air show known to man.

Here is your frequency rundown of the 2011 Chicago Air & Water Show, courtesy of the postings in the Chicago Metro section of RadioReference as compiled by chgomonitor, a senior / founding member of CARMA and others: (by way of fair use)

This piece will be updated as new information becomes available and frequencies are verified.
Until then, you can access the CARMA Chicago Aviation Frequency Profiles by clicking the links below which will open the stated PDF Files: Note that you will want to pay specific attention to the Gary, Indiana Tower frequency since the show participants are mostly coming from that airport.

Frequencies confirmed for Saturday Aug 20th 2011

Chicago O'Hare Frequency Profile

Illinois Airports Profile (Pay attention here to Midway Airport, and Rockford Airport)

Illinois Airports Charts (possibly outdated, still a good reference)

Chicago Center Sites

Mid-Air Refueling

MilAir

Tracon

The 2010 Air and Water Show frequencies worth keeping an eye on this year:

134.100 / 353.500 Gary show 2010 Platform
118.400 / 353.875 Gary show 2010 Tracon Arv/Dep
125.200 / 317.500 Chgo show 2009 Platform primary
123.100 / 270.250 Chgo show 2009 Platform alternate
126.800 / 308.400 Chgo show 2009 Arv/Dep
125.600 / 256.700 Gary Tower
134.100 / 253.500 Rockford show 2010 Platform
134.100 / 257.200 Chgo show 2008 Platform primary
134.100 / 398.100 Chgo show 2008 Platform alternate

458.075 (210.7) (FM) Chgo Park Dist Lifeguard Supervisors
460.250 (162.2) CPD Citywide 6
460.350 ( 97.4) CPD Citywide 5

USCG VHF FM Channels & Marine Band in general

Chgo Park Dist - 151.190 151.295

CPD 800 TRS for the CPD Marine Units

Castaways restaurant at North Ave beach house - 469.2625

Search 122.000 -to- 124.000, 25 KHz steps in AM mode for air to air, air to ground and show discrete audio relays.

Refueling possibles - 277.700 305.500 291.900 320.900 346.525 298.775 283.775

2010 Acts (all flying, no static displays at this show);

US Navy Blue Angels
284.250 Delta
275.350 Diamond
237.800 Solos
346.500 Ground Ops
305.900 Fat Albert
255.200 Advance and Spotting
139.8125 (FM) Ground Support
142.6125 (FM) Ground Support

AeroShell - 123.150
Lima Lima - 123.575 123.175
Sean Tucker & Team Oracle
Firebirds
Bill Stein
Red Bull Helo
US Army Golden Knights - 123.475 123.575 123.150
Leapfrogs - 407.500 (FM) 270.000
USAF Viper West - 376.025 384.550 282.800
B1B Bombers - 311.000 321.000 303.000
US Army Blackhawks - 242.400
KC-135 - 277.700
C-17
USAF T6 - 123.150
US Navy F18 Super Hornet
USAFR Pararescue
Heritage Flight - 122.425 122.475 136.500 136.575
USAF T38 - 234.500
USCG Demo - 157.050

123.475 

64.9375 (D532) Channel 1. Event Support Staff primary. This is the largest group of users present, but they weren't always the busiest on the radio, with all the set-up stuff going on. These are the yellow shirt support staff.

461.2750 (D702) Set-up crews primary.  Mechanics and field personnel, etc.

468.8375 (146.2)

464.5000 (D165) Unknown activity (show electrical work?)

464.9125 Scout hit, possibly a rental radio

134.100 (AM) VHF Platform frequency used in multiple radios

458.075 (210.7) Chicago Park District Lifeguard Supervisors

151.295 (114.8) Chgo Park District Repeater / LPZ

151.190 (114.8) Chgo Park District Repeater / LPZ

151.955 (D065) Lincoln Park Zoo Repeater

237.800 (AM) Blue Angels solos.

284.250 (AM) Blue Angels solos. Also some ground activity on site at North Avenue between the platform and their remote site out on the breakwater pier.

275.350 (AM) Blue Angels Diamond.

305.900 (AM) Momentary transmissions by Blue Angels staff.

255.200 (AM) Used a little towards the end by the Angels. Seemed to be coordinating their return to Gary after the practice.

142.6125 (FM) Blue Angels ground support and coordination at the North Avenue show site. Platform to remote site comms.

Hits were also heard on these frequencies last year:

122.850 - 12 Hits
136.500 - 5 Hits
123.150 - 87 Hits
123.475 - 28 Hits
126.800 - 4 Hits
125.600 - 48 Hits (Gary Tower VHF)
123.575 - 5 Hits
284.250 - 2 Hits (Heavily used at the site, though)
275.250 - 4 Hits (same)
237.800 - >100 Hits
122.750 - >100 Hits
122.925 - 2 Hits
123.425 - 51 Hits
123.450 - 56 Hits
311.000 - 1 Hits


134.100 / 353.500 Platform
118.400 / 308.400 Tracon
125.600 / 256.700 Gary Tower

123.575 Lima-Lima Air to Air
123.425 Firebirds Air to Air
123.150 Aeroshell and Golden Knights
122.125 Rob Holland discrete
266.600 A10 UHF Discrete
138.750 A10 VHF Discrete (AM)
47.00 Blackhawk Helos air to air (FM)
376.025 Viper West discrete
469.2625 (D506) Simplex. Castaways F1
464.5750 (000.0) Simplex. Castaways F2

Callsigns:

SLAYER - B1's
RHINO - F18
VIPER - F16
Jesse98 - C130
RAVEN - A10's
Happy - KC-135

Holding points in 2010 were LAIRD to the north east and THOR to the west.

NOTAM For 2011 Chicago Air and Water Show:

Other ways you can watch the show live or otherwise monitor the show are:

Justin.TV LIVE Aircraft Communications Feed from Chicago's John Hancock Center

Aircraft show freqs as well as all marine, and Chicago Police and Fire freqs are now in the mix at Radioman 911 on Justin.TV

Listen to WBBM News Radio 780 and 105.9FM

Channel 7 LIVE webstream

Chicago Air and Water Show Twitter

Chicago Air and Water Show Facebook

The show website also says you can use your cell phone by doing the following:

Text "airshow" to 780780 to get alerts about which act is coming up next
Txt & data rates may apply. Upon joining, you'll also get breaking news alerts from WBBM Newsradio.

Shortwave America Integrates As Part Of Media Network Plus

Shortwave America has been officially contracted to provide the seven day radio propagation forecasts on the weekly edition of Media Network Plus, a program of PCJ Radio / PCJ Media. The first propagation forecast has already been recorded, and is scheduled to air soon. PCJ Radio / PCJ Media is the longest running radio station and media outlet in its genre. Shortwave America is proud to be affiliated with PCJ and all of its members, partner stations, and partner media outlets.

The Media Network Plus Schedule is as follows:
 

Saturday Africa & Asia from 1000UTC to 1030UTC

Saturday Europe from 1300UTC to 1330UTC

Saturday North America from 2100UTC to 2130UTC

Below is the satellite information for each region, for more you can visit www.wrn.org

NORTH AMERICA: Galaxy 19 at 97º West, Transponder 27, 12.177 GHz Vertical Polarisation, Symbol Rate 23,000 Msym/s, FEC 3/4, DVB MPEG2, Choose Audio Channel: WRN1 (English), Service-ID: 13.

Sirius and XM Satellite Radio offer 60 channels of commercial-free music and up to 40 channels of news, sports and entertainment, all broadcast directly to your vehicle, anywhere on the continental United States. Sirius’ and XM's digital satellite delivery system ensures that listeners receive a crystal clear signal from coast to coast.

From May 4th, 2011 WRN will be available on channel 120 on both Sirius and XM alongside other news providers such as CNBC, ABC, Fox News, Bloomberg, and NPR. For further information on subscribing to Sirius Satellite Radio in the USA, please visit the Sirius website: www.siriusradio.com or XM www.xmradio.com.

EUROPE: Sky Digital, Channel 0122 (Eurobird 1, 28.5º East, Transponder C2, 11.224 GHz, Vertical, Symbol Rate 27.500 Mbaud, FEC 2/3, MPEG2 DVB audio stream. Select WRN Europe from audio menu.)

Eutelsat HOT BIRD 6, 13º East, Transponder 94, 12.597 GHz, Vertical, Symbol Rate 27.500 Mbaud, FEC 3/4, MPEG2 DVB audio stream. Select WRN English from audio menu.

ASIA PACIFIC: Intelsat 10 (formerly known as PAS 10) at 68.5 degrees east, Transponder: 14 (C band), downlink frequency: 3808 MHz (Vertical polarization), Symbol rate: 10.340 Msym/sec, FEC: 3/4.

Africa: Intelsat 10 at 68.5 degrees east, Transponder: 14 (C band), downlink frequency: 3805.5 MHz (Vertical polarization), Symbol rate: 6.670 Msym/sec, FEC: 3/4.

You can also receive WRN via DStv. For details contact DSTV on +27 11 289 2222, fax +27 11 577 4901, e-mail: enquiries@multichoice.co.za or visit the DSTV website at www.dstv.com.

 
PCJ Radio only uses microphones exclusively from Marshall Electronics 900 Series. For more information visit www.mxlmics.com.

Artie Bigley, Crystal Ship, and WBNY - Poet Says Bunny Manufactured E-Mails

In a shocking turn of facts involving the FCC's action against John Poet's "Crystal Ship", WBNY has allegedly provided "evidence" that an individual named Artie Bigley was the "Confidential Informant" to the FCC. Poet states that Bigley was already a natural fall guy for this whole scheme due to a history of filling out one FOIA request with the FCC to learn of the WEAK Radio operator's name. This effort is said to have been a failed endeavor because of allegations that the FCC did not have that information available. What is absolutely known is that Free Radio Cafe was not registered anywhere near April 9th as proven by a domain search. We know now that the FCC did not use any direction finding equipment to find John Poet and issue him a notice of unlicensed operation. The FCC got a direct address either from Artie himself or someone else who had a direct address for Poet. Bunny would have been the only person with this information.

The FCC does not have any field agents or other personnel with the e-mail address that Artie supposedly used to communicate with the FCC. A search for "Tesla Motorhome" shows only results for a "Tesla Forum" and other links for motor home related items, but no company with that name.

One good theory that is quite possible is that the FCC used Poet's internet service provider to get his address since Poet used an e-mail address for his QSL cards and other communication with Crystal Ship fans. Poet also used the FRN and Free Radio Cafe and they could have traced him that way.

Here are the respective e-mails to and from the FCC allegedly involving Artie, courtesy of WBNY:

Shortwave America readers can verify the autheticity of these e-mails HERE

are these e-mails REALLY authentic though? the answer is sadly that they ARE NOT and here is further proof:

Here is the LINK TO A WHOIS SEARCH for anyone wanting to verify the authenticity of the captured image above. WHO would fake e-mails to and from the FCC using the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)? Check here for secondary and more detailed verification of the above.

A statement and detailed investigative findings done by the Crystal Ship themselves (maybe John Poet himself)

Commander Bunny has been exposed by Radio Paranoia by way of a show of evidence

Artie Bigley has a Facebook account at which he has not been active or said a peep. . 

There is a MYLife account with the name Artie Bigley on it who claims to be from Columbus, Ohio. See, if THIS IS the right Artie and not someone else with the same name, then Artie still could not have sent that e-mail because FCC personnel have official FCC.gov e-mail addresses.

Examining the alleged return e-mail to Artie, there are two e-mail addresses used. Shortwave America was able to identify James Bridgewater as an FCC Agent and also as the FCC Michigan Office Emergency Contact. Neither of these e-mail addresses could be verified, another sign of a very badly faked e-mail. The only TRUE thing about this whole game is that James Bridgewater is employed by the FCC.

Maybe WBNY should have thought about his actions, but now he joins Kracker in the snitch ranks, never to be trusted again! Pirate operators, DXer's and everyone else take note that Bunny's game is to use his E-Bay sales list as his personal "hit list" in such fashion that he gives his information to the FCC when he wants to win a war he couldn't win otherwise! BAD BUNNY!!! Bad bunnies don't get no carrots, they don't get no trust, and definitely don't get no attention!!!

Shortwave America is proud to help give the Jack Ass Award to WBNY!

Co - signed by Shortwave America!

Barbara Frum - What Did Ya Feed The God Damn Cabbage? CBC Archives

                                                                            

PCJ Radio / PCJ Media, Media Network Plus in cooperation with Shortwave America are proud to present: What Did Ya Feed The God Damn Cabbage?  An interview with the late Barbara Frum of what used to be "Radio Canada International" and is now "CBC". Barbara interviews a Welsh farmer with a severe hearing impairment until she can't deal with him anymore. Here is a little background taken from the CBC website: (Click to enlarge)

Keith Perron explains this whole comedy of errors followed by the actual interview in full below. The interview was taken from the third Media Network Plus program which took place in December of 2010.

Program: As It Happens

Broadcast Date: Dec. 31, 1976

Guest(s): M. McLaughlin

Host: Barbara Frum

Duration: 3:30

Civillian Uses Slain Officer's Radio To Call For Help, The Crystal Ship Has Sunk

Quoting a quick snippet from NBC San Diego:
"SAN DIEGO (NBC San Diego) - Seconds after San Diego Police Officer Jeremy Henwood was shot in his patrol car Saturday, a citizen used his radio to call for help. Henwood, 36, was shot in the head at University Avenue and 45th Street. The 4-year veteran of the department and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves was pronounced dead Sunday morning."



Shortwave America would like to briefly say that this civillian should be held to the same standards as Licensed Amateur Radio Operators. Not very long ago, an amateur was hiking in the U.S. when he fell and broke his ankle. No other means of communications were available, and without help, this hiking radio amateur would have been in serious trouble. He used his modified amateur radio HT to call attention to his situation on a local Law Enforcement frequency and has seen legal consequences despite having fulfilled the legal burden for his actions, so what makes this civillian who rescued the cop any different??


Our next piece of radio related news says that a long running rivalry between John Poet and the crew of The Crystal Ship vs. WBNY also known as "Commander Bunny" has ended in the United States FCC shutting down the primary transmit site for the Crystal Ship after nearly twenty nine years to the day of its first transmission. See the official statement from the Crystal Ship

After examining all of the available data on this matter, Shortwave America can conclude objectively that the preponderance of the evidence shows that Commander Bunny is indeed the FCC SNITCH that did in the Crystal Ship. This was a great station while it lasted. TCS never interfered with broadcasts, never interfered with military radio traffic, never interfered with the amateur service, and had no prior complaints before the FCC took this action. Granted, it IS illegal to "broadcast" without a license, TCS proved over the past 29 years of its operation that low power broadcast without a license on unused frequencies and when practiced with technical proficiency, is absolutely not a threat to anyone or any radio service. The fact is that the FCC wasted time, money, and manpower to pursue TCS! 

 

Jacksonville, Florida Goes Full Time Encryption

JFRD To Keep Scanner Info Secret, Too

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Also Disallowing Media, Public Access To Scanners

POSTED: Friday, July 22, 2011

UPDATED: 9:45 pm EDT July 22, 2011

The trend of encrypting radio traffic on a full time basis is catching on in Florida.  Jacksonville has decided that neither the public nor the media has any expectation of listening in to their radio traffic and their reasons make no sense at all. The Sheriff's Office has first stated cost and then security concerns, unable to keep a straight story. 

The bottom line is that keeping the public from hearing everyday communications is an act of communism, and fosters distrust between the city's Public Safety community and the citizens they serve. Encryption is usually reserved for sensitive operations that could be otherwise jeopardized without it. Full time encryption of all communications is a waste of money, and serves no real useful purpose other than to snub the public who are oftentimes law abiding and serve as the extra eyes and ears of their local, county, and state Public Safety Departments. 

Media outlets make a good argument for public reception of Public Safety Radio traffic in that it allows motorists and other community members to plan alternate routes around emergency scenes and serves to keep the media able to inform the community of safety hazards. When public Safety Departments get to chose how and when to notify the public of important events, the community usually only gets a sanitized version of events that is oftentimes found to be full of disinformation and notification usually only comes many hours or weeks AFTERWARDS. 

Using the argument of "security and privacy" or the now cliche' "9/11" excuse does not an actual homeland security issue make. In the absence of an actual trend of criminal use of Public Safety radio communications or use of such to facilitate criminal acts, and in the absence of a trend of people using communications  to interfere with Public Safety duties / emergency scenes, full time encryption is just an indicator of a Department that has something to hide. This is straight fact, not opinion.

Shame on you Jacksonville!  

Microwave Antenna Suffers Acorn Malfunction

Woodpecker drills hole in microwave antenna, fills it with acorns.
You would be surprised how full a microwave antenna can get when you drop acorns in it!

GMDSS and EPIRBS Communications Systems

Sorry, Part 2 of this was never found! Only Parts 3 and 4 are available at this time. 

Tetra Over IP For Amateur Radio Use

Tetra Radio In The U.K. - Something In The Air?

P25 Technical Tutorial Videos

The Image Of Radio - Operators, Listeners, Content

Radio saw its larger than life popularity from the early 1900s to about the early to mid 90s. Old programs that were innovative, entertaining, comical, and light hearted brought families together. Families used radio as a way to bond in the days before computers gave us a wider audience. Before TV, there was radio.

Before we get to the heart of the matter we'll talk about radio operators. A radio operator in the minds of most people are the old time military men and women who performed voice and morse code duties. Radio ops were thought of along the lines of CB'ers with illegal amps who caused havoc with your home electronics, and Licensed Radio Amateurs who were math and electronics geniuses who erected huge antennas to speak with strangers of the world. As radio became commercialized, radio ops were then thought of in a broader sense as DJ's, on-air personalities, and corporations. 

With the growth of radio came the various audiences with a taste each to their own for different types of radio. The oldest forms of radio being shortwave, SSB (HF),  and AM. Long ago, stations were more than happy to ask for or respond to voluntary reception reports. They used these reports to know about how their antenna systems and transmitters were working. Stations also used these reports to study propagation patterns and gain listeners.

Avid radio listeners became known as SWL's even if they were not into the shortwave scene. It was the mid 90s when stations started to notice the demographic of their various audiences, and they also noticed that this demographic mostly consisted of people who just wanted free swag and had little to no attention span in regards to content. This isn;t to say that audiences are not out here that are interested in content, just that they are largely for whatever reason, unheard from.

This demographic created an image problem. Contributing to the image problem was the fact that stations were now confused as to what their audience is listening to and actually sticking around to enjoy. Not long ago, this publication did a piece on Burt - K1OIK from the Eastern United States, and he talked about the image of amateur radio operators with quite a bit of honesty.

Unfortunately, this same image is what stations have of their listeners, especially the shortwave and AM broadcasters. years ago, economic challenges and the advent of computers meant that stations could actually not have such a big reliance upon "On-Air Personalities". Programming started to suffer from quality issues. The quality issues meant that content was not what it could be. Only a handful of shortwave and AM broadcasters have any idea about what good content is anymore. The image of radio is on the decline and desperately needs saving.

Communication is about content and vice versa. SWL's need to stop worrying about so many technical issues and really start to appreciate these stations for what on-air content they offer.

Crew Of Atlantis STS-135, NASA Space Centers Nationwide Close Out Space Shuttle Program Permanently

July 8th, 2011,  and July 21st, 2011 will forever be bittersweet days for anyone who has ever held a career in aviation or the NASA Space Program. From those who first conceived the final space shuttle design to those who built each and every part of the shuttle and then those who flew the world's most advanced and magnificent space flight machine; those who provided weather services, guidance, and communications as well as the endless list of others involved with the shuttle program, the emotions are wide ranged.

The final shuttle mission did not ONLY bring about the end of our shuttle program, but also made space communications history. There is no space program or space flight operation that can work without a well trained crew of professional communicators who put their hearts into their work just the same as the other people who work within such a huge mega - science program.

Shortwave America will now pay tribute to a dream that became reality by providing the final touchdown video, and select final shuttle mission photos and video. Let's start with CAPCOM Houston in Texas!

CAPCOM Houston guides Atlantis back to earth, acting as their life link

STS-135 says farewell the the Expedition 28 crew

Final touchdown of Atlantis, ending the space shuttle program

STS-135 Crew poses with Atlantis as backdrop for the final time

Final touchdown information directly from NASA: 12 Days/18:27:56 Mission Elapsed Time (MET) – main gear touchdown (days/hours:minutes:seconds)

Final stats for STS-135

Atlantis re-entry as photographed by the Expedition 28 crew aboard the ISS

Atlantis astronaut welcome home party information

The STS-135 Final Flight Facebook Page provided pre-flight, final launch, mission updates, and final touchdown coverage in real time. Just as Atlantis was re-entering earth's atmosphere, "Carbon Flight" also known in real life as Ed Van Cise, who is a NASA Flight Control Director in Houston, joined the live coverage as the 600th member of the page. NASA STS-135 Mission Control Photos

Welcome home, Atlantis! Atlantis' final resting place will be the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "On the shoulders of the space shuttle, America will continue the dream!" - George Diller.

Restatement Of Shortwave America Comments Policy

In the last 24 hours, an anonymous person posted in the comments section on a post more than 14 days old which means that comment moderation is in effect. This comment was the most vile, hateful, and violent this publication has received to date.

Shortwave America and its staff are all completely in favor of free speech with no apologies, however, we will not publish comments that are overtly hateful, violent, or espouse hate based on a person's protected class such as "Disability, sexual orientation, race, gender, ethnicity, faith based beliefs, or protected diplomatic / protected legal immigrant / legal alien resident status." Shortwave America also will not publish material or comments that are defamatory, slanderous, or libelous.

That said, in order to keep Shortwave America a safe place for all visitors, Shortwave America is weighing the possibility of criminal and / or civil prosecution of the person who left the most recent comment. The contents of this comment were so horrible that it will NOT be published here for any reason. All we have to say is that this anonymous commenter should really be ashamed of themselves and consider seeking professional clinical help.

Interval Signals Dot Net - More Than Meets The Eye

                         INTERVAL SIGNALS ONLINE
 
Maintained by David Kernick, in cooperation with Documentary Archives Radio Communications - www.dokufunk.org

Interval Signals Online is a well established website dedicated to what most people know as "station ID's". Usually, it is only the radio professionals, radio enthusiasts and radio geeks who know the value of station ID and station signal tests. The whole goal of sites like ISO, Shortwave America, Shortwave Central, HFRadio.org, Media Network Plus, and the whole long list of other sites dedicated to radio is to let these stations know they are being heard. Stations want to know that they have an audience.

Over the decades that shortwave radio has served the masses, an image problem has come full circle. This image problem is to the detriment of the listening public. CC Radio has, over the recent years, produced commercials bolstering the ability of their radios to receive the two meter amateur radio band where most of the trained Skywarn Spotters make their reports nationwide via various radio repeater systems that receive on one frequency and simultaneously re-transmit that radio traffic on an output frequency. 

The whole idea here is advertising!  ISO posts recorded radio station identification transmissions and station signal tests in the same way an advertisement would be posted for those collectors of commercials from various TV and Radio Networks. 

Going through the ISO archives, Shortwave America found a rather neat gem of a station ID from The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation otherwise known as SBC before the giant of the telephone company had the SBC moniker. 

This recording is from RSR-3 Couleur produced in French, Spanish, and English. As you listen, you can hear a VERY UNIQUE mix of music styles, voices, and cultures that will not ever be heard anywhere else. LISTEN HERE 

Another gem of a recording comes from the ISO "Mainland - China Radio International" archives. What you are about to hear is titled "CNR 9th Program - Story Radio" produced in Mandarin and English. Now, for those of you who remember the Olympics being held in China, here is a collectible item produced in English, Mandarin, and Japanese called "Olympic Radio". 

From Interval Signal Online's OFFSHORE Collection comes items like: 

The Arutz Sheva Foreign Service ID produced in Russian, Hebrew, French, and English. 

Laser Hot Hits, vintage 1987!!!, Radio Caroline North - vintage 1964, Radio Caroline South - vintage 1967, and Skanes Radio Mercur - vintage 1958/59 from Sweden. From the Netherlands, we have the Radio Noordzee International - vintage 1971 produced in Dutch. Recognize the address? It is the old Radio Netherlands International address! 

The ISO Italy Archives has a true GEM of a recording, vintage 1924 in Italian from Unione Radiofonica Italiana. Obviously, Interval Signals Online is not to be missed or easily dismissed. 


Closing out this piece for tonight, here is an ABI Special Broadcast via Tashkent which is both an interval signal and an ID in Japanese, Mandarin, and English.

Chicago Police Arrest Father Of Chicago Police Sgt: Scanner Radio Possession

Illinois does not have any laws against purchasing, owning, or using a radio receiver otherwise known to most in layman's terms as a "Scanner" or "Police Scanner". Illinois law only states that a person shall not use a scanner or other radio communications device to commit a crime or further a crime. Word has recently been received via the Chicago Metro Section of Radio Reference and confirmed via Second City Cop, that Chicago Police have arrested the father of a Chicago Police Sgt. for "possession of a scanner radio" although there is no such city ordinance or state law.

Word of this arrest came about at Radio Reference during a discussion of Illinois Law in these matters from a user stating he is a press member and wanted to be able to comply with any possible laws in place. At Second City Cop, word of this arrest came about during the commenting session about Chicago Aldermen proposing an earlier curfew for children under 12 years old with the article titled "More Curfew Non-Sense". 

Screen shots are provided below. Shortwave America is investigating this incident.

This is the second time in four years that Chicago Police have acted unreasonably towards a person with wide frequency coverage radio gear. The last incident happened in CPD's 14th District when tactical officers attempted the arrest of a person licensed by the FCC as an Amateur Radio Operator, and in possession of a UHF hand-held transceiver who was operating while walking down Milwaukee Ave. That incident triggered a C.R.# and an investigation of the involved officers for misconduct and violation of FCC PR91-36.

Editor's extra note: Prior to these two incidents, Chicago Police were rumored to have acted in a crackdown in 2004 on Chicago's South side, on a large group of radio enthusiasts belonging to a loosely knit group known as "Chicago Listeners" who were accused of unknown radio related offenses, but never charged. At that time, statements from those involved were said to have blamed a group called "CARMA", an established group of radio enthusiasts with no history of radio related misbehavior and overseen by experienced law enforcement professionals.

***UPDATE***

Shortwave America has spoken with News Affairs Officer O'Brien with the Chicago Police Department who states that "there have not been any notifications made at this time regarding an incident like this". However, O'Brien did say that the information given in these screen captures was too vague to even track down accurate verification and that he would need names, times, and location.

Tribute To Marciea Adkins, Chicago Police Dispatcher

Today, Shortwave America learned more about Police Dispatcher Marciea Adkins and more about her death via SCC quoting Assistant Illinois State's Attorney Costello who says that young Mr. Harrison who killed this fine, hard working human being, wife and mother, committed his crime by way of the following facts:

 Quoted word for word:
"Harrison drank vodka, smoked marijuana and took ecstasy before he stole a car and crashed into a 911 police dispatcher, killing her as he tried to elude officers Preliminary tests showed that Marquis Harrison’s blood-alcohol level was .186. Minutes before Adkins was hit, Harrison stole the Range Rover while the 45-year-old owner of the SUV fed a parking meter box on North Michigan Avenue The motorist had left the Range Rover running when Harrison, who told police he drank and took drugs at a party, jumped in, Costello said. Harrison was previously sentenced to probation as a juvenile for two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle in Kane County, Costello said.


He is an honors student at Urban Prep Charter Academy and plays football and basketball, assistant public defender Preston Collins said."

With these horrific details out of the way, we now know that Mrs. Adkins was a dispatcher on CPD Zone 1 as PD61 on the 1st Watch covering CPD's 16th and 17th districts on 460.475Mhz. (PL107.2)

Details about Marciea's final services:
Wake Wednesay: St Josephat Church 2311 N Southport 3-9pm
Funeral Thursday: viewing 9 to 10 and Mass @ 10

To close this out, Shortwave America would like to give a voice to those on Zone 1 by quoting PD41 on 2nd Watch and a few others from Zone 1 who knew her.

"RIP Marciea.

As I walked past you each morning at shift change, you greeted me in your gangsta voice .."morning , keep up da good work protectin my hood". I would thank you for doing the same on 1st watch, for keeping my home and family safe in 016.

We did what we could to get you help that tragic morning, but God called you home.

As my parnter and I stood solemly as were escorted out of the ambulance, I could hear you saying..."morning ladies, you are my bestie friends in the whole wide world". Marciea...YOU were the BESTIE fried to all of us at OEMC!

You will be missed and in our hearts forever.

2nd Watch PD41"

"MARCIEA WITH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT....YOU WILL BE MISSED.....KIDDO....WILL MISS U SAYING "I GOT A PULSE" REST EASY MY SISTER......MY CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY.....

1ST WATCH DISPATCHER"

"Marcia was 1st watch on Zone 1. She relieved us every night by coming up from roll call with a joke and a smile on her face. She
was MJ's partner. She was a bright spot in the day for all of us who work in a place without many bright spots. She will be remembered for the happy and gleeful person she was. Will will all miss her greatly. So sad."

"I was talking to her brother Mark just last week, reminiscing the old days where we all grew up.
If you grew up in South Deering, it wasn't the same place it is today. It was a tough, blue collar neighborhood that had it's share of problems like any other. The challenges were many but so were the opportunities if you had spirit. The steel mills were in full swing and there were many good families that struggled to make a better life for themselves.

The same could be said for growing up in the Trumbull Park Homes. Marci came from there and was always good natured, good humored and always quick with her wit and her lovely smile. She was a scrappy young lady that grew into a beautiful woman in so many ways. Marci's spirit embodied the goodness that overcomes adversity and allows the human spirit to float like the wind and brush the cheek of many as it blows ever so gently past.

I remember her spirit when she worked at Service Merchandise in the East Side Plaza. I knew that once you spoke to Marci, no matter how bad a day you could be having, Marci's twinkle in her eye and demeanor would snap you out of it. The world will be a little duller and a not as bright a place without her in it. My condolences to her husband and the entire Tighe and Adkins family. In my mind's eye, her Irish eyes will always be smiling.
Carlos Medina. #055 "

"All cars stand by for a moment. We changin' voices on the zone." - Anonymous

***UPDATE***

Marciea L. Adkins, nee Tighe, 42 yrs., suddenly July 10, 2011, beloved wife of William J. (CFD); loving and devoted mother of Gillian; fond sister of Michael (Leslie), Margaret (Tony), Mary (Richard) Boyle, Maureen and Mark; dearest aunt of Kristopher and Lauren. Visitation at St. Josaphat Church, 2311 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 on Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Interment St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Chicago Patrolman Federal Credit Union, 1407 W. Washington Ave., Chicago, IL 60607, Attn: Marciea Adkins Fund. 800-326-8814. Funeral Info: Ewald-Barlock Funeral Home 773-549-0098

Credit to the Second City 911 Blog for the information!

Saluting Marciea Adkins - Chicago 911 Police Dispatcher

Marciea Adkins is correctly being remembered as a caring, positive person who loved her city and her job as a Chicago Office Of Emergency Management and Communications 911 Police Radio Dispatcher. Police are remembering her as the voice link that has helped keep them safe on the streets with expert radio communications skills and fast thinking.

A 16 year old accused subject being charged as an adult with 1st degree murder, one felony count of burglary, a misdemeanor of driving under the influence, police said, is in custody after fleeing police after they stopped him for running a red light. At that time, the accused then backed up into a police Sgt.'s vehicle at the traffic stop scene and fled in the stolen Range Rover. "Police had tried to pull over the stolen sport-utility vehicle at Elston Avenue and Blackhawk Street" per Chicago's ABC 7's news report.

The ABC 7 news report goes on to say that "The SUV ran a stop sign while driving north on Hoyne, then struck Adkins’ car, which was headed west on Armitage. The SUV then hit a parked car and the driver fled the scene on foot, but was arrested a short time later."

ABC 7 News Video HERE 

Other news coverage can be seen at the Second City 911 blog

Marci's remains were escorted by a team of Chicago Emergency Responders from both the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Police Department from Illinois Masonic Hospital on the city's North Side to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Marci was a mother of a young child and a wife of a Chicago Fire Department Dispatcher.

Chicago Police are so far refusing to release the defendant's name although he is charged as an adult and Illinois law provides for the names of accused adults to be publicly released. In the video, you will see the defendant on a CFD ambulance gurney from the side view.

Marci, thank you for your service to your city! Thank you for being the voice of Chicago residents and police on the zones. You lived well and you finished well, Marci. Rest in peace! Shortwave America leaves deep condolences to Marci's family and especially her husband and young child who has had her mother unjustifiably taken from her by a remorseless, cold blooded, monster.

***UPDATE*** 11:50AM CDT: Chicago Police have released the name of the offender. He is now identified as Marquis Harrison, of the 200 block of South Lotus Avenue

Final Flight STS-135 Atlantis Lift Off Video

Credit to NASA

Atlantis Mission STS-135 - The Final Flight

                                      

The FINAL Flight of our Space Shuttle program will end when Shuttle Atlantis lifts off from launchpad 39A THIS MORNING at 11:26AM EDT. Along with this historic event, we will also witness space communications history, as CAPCOM will NEVER EVER utter the words "The shuttle has cleared the tower"  again. We will never again hear mission control guide the shuttle around nor will they ever perform their other shuttle duties again. 

George Diller was the distinctive voice behind the countdown and launch commentary at NASA. Quoting a "First Coast News" interview with Diller: ""My first launch commentary was for Atlantis, STS-27, my last, STS-135, is going to be Atlantis on Friday." "I fell in love with it.  It's nice not to have to work for a living," he joked.

"There's a little apprehension.  There's a lot of concentration. You don't have time to be nervous about it because you're so focused on the last 31 seconds. That's where rubber meets the road. You're either gonna launch or you're not." "Everyone wants to know what my lift-off line is," he said. "I've got part of it, not the end of it."

Image Credit: NASA and First Coast News. George Diller Stands By the NASA Countdown Clock

 

Farewell to our shuttle program, and to the astronauts who worked so hard to educate the world about the universe above us and around us. Let us all remember those astronauts who gave their lives in the pursuit of science, education, and understanding. Someone who knew the importance of the space shuttle program to our nation and the world at large has created a Facebook Page that has gone viral over the last day or two, called simply "STS-135 The Final Space Shuttle Flight". You can see the page publicly and join by clicking here.

The STS-135 Final Flight page is full of shuttle history, facts, final mission information updates, videos, photos, and files. Thanks, NASA, for all the years of memories created during the shuttle program!

As for shuttle frequencies for STS-135: 259.700 AM is the main frequency you want to concentrate on. Also try sweeping the HF frequencies from 10.000.00Khz up through the beginning of the ten meter band at 28.300.00Khz.  KU4AY has a huge Space Shuttle Frequency listing here

AMSAT has Amateur Radio shuttle re-broadcast audio freqs here (May be out of date??)

Space Shuttle HF through UHF and higher freq listing (KD4CGA)

Here is the link to George W. Fetter's space shuttle frequency listings.

No chatter has been happening at Space Coast Comms or other groups regarding this final shuttle mission. NASA states that manned spaceflight will indeed resume with a new space transport vehicle, but no date has been announced.

New York Radio Regulation Pirate Bill Runs Afoul Of FCC Part 15 Rules

John Poet tells us about this ominous threat to unlicensed FCC Part 15 rules.

In all of this, one cannot help but smell the foul odor of big broadcasting companies such as WNBC, ABC, CNN, and others trying to silence everyone but their own interests. FCC rules always have and always will take precedence, even if New York has to learn the hard way about how radio communications laws actually work and who actually has sole authority over radio and TV communications.

Plenty of case law is out here to trump New York in an embarrassing manner. Are there are communications attorneys out here who would like to take a shot at a Federal lawsuit before this bill imprisons innocent people using FRS, CB, and local low power broadcast systems? Radio amateurs with proper licensing are also in the cross hairs of this legislation because none of these radio communications are mentioned in the bill!!! John makes a good point when he states that police and prosecutors have no way of differentiating between pirate radio and FCC allowed FM and AM operations with or without a license.

One mistake Shortwave America can see coming is that properly licensed radio operations can be legally pursued because an amateur radio license does not allow broadcasting and none of the city attorneys, state prosecutors, or police are trained to know the difference between a one way broadcast and a two way radio conversation regardless of whether the station is required to be licensed by the FCC or not.

Happy Independence Day!

Shortwave America wishes everyone all over the nation a happy & safe Independence Day!

Florida Law Enforcement Deputy Misuses Department Radio System, Boss Approves?

Ok, so this was original and cute. If any of the Shortwave America readers are Law Enforcement professionals, you can see the danger in using the county wide radio system to do something like this. Both the officers in the field and the callers using 911 depend on this system for life threatening emergencies.

Obviously, the Officer's supervisor is just fine with this type of system use and that is VERY troubling, and if you don't find it troubling, you should! Law enforcement by its very nature means that anything can happen at anytime, anywhere! What IF there would have been an emergency at that time? The air would not have been available for an emergency transmission! An officer or 911 caller could have been put in danger!

The department doesn't see the abuse of the communications system in this case, and that is another troubling issue! See Law Officer for the original story and then see the Miami Herald.

Any other department would have initiated an investigation with expectations of handing down discipline...at least a few days off! Should Florida taxpayers expect such a trivial use of their Sheriff's emergency radio system? Shortwave America will search on-line archives for the complete radio transmissions and see about getting them here. Until then, the media recording should be enough to satisfy the point made.

W9DUP Skywarn Team In Action: DuPage Amateur Radio Club - June 2011 Severe Weather Event

Southwest Airlines Pilot With A Foul Mouth, Sick Attitude Caught On Radio

A Southwest Airlines pilot was suspended from work after he made crude remarks about his flight crew members over the air traffic control radio system. The pilot's radio mic became stuck in transmit, causing his insensitive remarks to be transmitted all over a Texas Air Traffic Control (ATC) frequency.

ABC News has the audio from the incident, although it is censored for foul language. Readers and listeners please use caution, as this pilot's remarks are highly inflammatory.

No date of occurrence was given, and the pilot was not identified. If anyone reading here is also a user of ATC.net, would you please check the audio archives and report back here as a favor? Thanks!

New York Joins States Passing Pirate Radio Legislation

The New York State Assembly passed legislation recently that was usually a Federal only jurisdiction. This legislation targets pirate radio operators and provides that such operation is a class "A" misdemeanor with the absurd claim that major stations are being drowned out by pirates regularly.

The MAJORITY of pirate broadcasts are on the HF bands, not local FM and AM frequencies! States like New York, Florida, etc. are so close to the Atlantic ocean, a wide open space that often provides natural "E" propagation and may not always be due to illegal in-land broadcasters. Suspiciously, the FCC has not chimed in on this and none of the news articles gives any information about how many of these "interference" cases have been determined to come from in-land broadcasters.

This is not to say that in-land pirate stations don't sometimes drift off frequency due to operator error, or that operators aren't sometimes being malicious. The concern here is that these laws duplicate federal laws already on the books and allow states to regulate a federal set of laws. Can these laws be used as precedents to eventually put licensed amateur operators and licensed broadcasters under the jurisdiction of the state? Can these laws set precedent for new manipulations that would affect properly licensed stations and operators?

How far are the states planning in going in radio regulation before the FCC no longer has any jurisdiction and before FCC pre-emptions no longer valid? We are in the slippery slope everyone!

Shortwave America Brings New Ideas

In the effort to keep this publication as an expanding entity in radio communications, from time to time, new ideas come to mind. Some new ideas here are to add postings of some of the more popular and nostalgic radio classics from the golden years of radio, audio montages from the shacks of our readers that fall into the categories of the more humorous & strange moments you have managed to record while listening. Stories of things you have run across while spinning the VFO through the bands (HF through SHF) are another idea.

With this being presented to our audience, we would love to hear what you think of adding features such as this and invite you to post your thoughts in the comments section of this piece. If anyone wishes to submit anything as described above, please contact Shortwave America via e-mail.   

Solar Cycle 24 Shutting Down

Today, a news report was released via Yahoo! News (tm) quoting three recent studies that state this solar cycle may go into hibernation.
 
Quote from this article: "According to three studies released in the United States on Tuesday, experts believe the familiar sunspot cycle may be shutting down and heading toward a pattern of inactivity unseen since the 17th century."

Songs Featuring Radio

At various amateur radio & shortwave listening internet forums, one topic of discussion invariably turns to movies, tv shows, and other productions featuring radio. Shortwave America wanted to present at least a short list of songs that feature radio in some way.

This first song was written & released in the 1980s by an artist named, Sting. "Russians" was basically the story of the cold war, a missile crisis during which a nuclear holocaust was indeed a high possibility. From Wikipedia, and under creative commons license: Sting is quoted as saying In his 2010 interview with World Entertainment News Network, Sting admitted that "the song was inspired by watching the Soviet TV via satellite: I had a friend at university who invented a way to steal the satellite signal from Russian TV. We'd have a few beers and climb this tiny staircase to watch Russian television... At that time of night we'd only get children's Russian television, like their 'Sesame Street'. I was impressed with the care and attention they gave to their children's programs. I regret our current enemies haven't got the same ethics"[4] Creative Commons Share Alike License

In the beginning of this work, you'll hear overlapped radio transmissions in Russian.



This second song is actually a comedy work, and is actually is parody of the SETI program called "Alien Makes Contact - The S.E.T.I. Song" featuring Billy Reid.



Our third song is from StopSocialismUSA and is said to be posted at KB7TBT's website. The song is the MOrse Code alphabet set to music and very simple lyrics. No name of an original artist or band is available, but enjoy anyway!



Fourth up is the ever beloved "Ham Band" Information from YouTube says the following: The Ham Band is a group consisting of Andrew (G3WZZ/OZ1XJ/OZ5E), his wife Lissa and a group of Nashville session musicians. All the songs are about amateur radio and the booklet which comes with the "Seek You" CD tells the whole story of contests, dx-peditions, antennas etc.

The Ham Band has just finished their new song/video which describes the whole process of building a modern amateur radio station and at the same time enables the listener/viewer to learn Morse code - yes all the letters and numbers are in there! The video lasts about 20 minutes and there are 19 musicians playing in three different musical styles (French Musette, Viennese Waltz and German Oompah). The music changes key 24 times which means that this musical work may get into the Guinness Book of World Records!

You can view the first quarter (about 5 minutes) of the video for free at www.hamband.com





Weird Al gave us "UHF" back in the 80s!



Can you think of other songs that feature radio? One other artist back in the 80s who created a hit that spoke about radio was "Tiffany" with her song, "Radio Romance" In the 70s, Donna Summer gave us her hit, called "On The Radio".

Perhaps the most famous song of all time will always be Steve Carlisle's "WKRP"



Thanks for reading today! Shortwave America hopes you enjoyed these videos, and we hope you'll let us know of any other interesting musical works that feature radio.

Massive Sun Flare Avoids Hitting Earth

Media Network Plus Review Tecsun DR920 and more

In this edition of the Media Network Plus review we take a look at the Tecsun DR920. We also pay a visit to Radio For Peace International. Special thanks goes to Jonathan Marks at Critical Distance for this edition.

1978 film on Happy Station's 50th Anniversary

The other day Tom came across a film made by the RN TV department in 1978 on the 50th anniversary of Happy Station. This film is a rare look at the 9 hour special Happy Station Show broadcast that day.

QSL Cards From Shortwave DX Blog

Shortwave America presents to our audience, four new QSL cards on display at the Shortwave DX Blog.First, the "Hit - Mixteam" stating to operate on 43 and 52 Meters. Second, a card from Pirate Radio Malta. Third, Radio Star International. Fourth up is Radio Iceman Shortwave. Enjoy everyone! You can find the link to the Shortwave DX Blog to the right of this publication and just scroll down a bit.

U.N. Declares Internet Access A Human Right

The United Nations has declared internet access to be a human right

Remembering June 4th 1989

A commentary about the 22nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square now available from PCJ. It also include a well known broadcast from Radio Beijing.

www.pcjmedia.com