TOLL HELICOPTER PIC

Love this photo, make a nice wallpaper for computer :)

DONT GO RUNNING ACROSS A RUNWAY IN A STORM

Wicked photo

LIGHTNING JUST DOESNT HIT THE HIGHEST TARGET

Hello and welcome back... I always thought that lightning only struck the highest thing in the striking vicinity..

This photo proves otherwise..

Thanks to Severe Weather Italy for the photo

BUILD YOUR OWN SATCOM ANTENNA

Hello and welcome back... Building your own antenna is both satisfying and interesting and this is an excellent project..

This antenna is a Military Satcom antenna (200-400mhz) that you can build yourself with basic items you may have already in your junk box

Let me know how you go in the comments section..

Top View

Finished Product

I believe it works very well...

INSTRUCTIONS / PARTS  (downloadable 2x pdf files)

PART 1 DOWNLOAD HERE

PART 2 DOWNLOAD HERE

Just save the 2 PDF files to your computer...

Thanks to Radio Reference site for the info...

LINKS

http://forums.radioreference.com/satcom-space-satellite-monitoring-forum/181378-mt-magazine-uhf-satcom-antenna-project.html  (Discussion page)

forums.radioreference.com/attachments/satcom-space-satellite-monitoring-forum/30081d1288492847-mt-magazine-uhf-satcom-antenna-project-satcom-part-1.pdf  (Part 1)

forums.radioreference.com/attachments/satcom-space-satellite-monitoring-forum/30082d1288492863-mt-magazine-uhf-satcom-antenna-project-satcom-part-2.pdf  (Part 2)

*** Please, Don't forget to shout me a coffee (see link top right corner).. Any amount big or small is much appreciated and it keeps this site happening :)***

***UPDATE***

Currently an operation in the U.S called 'Operation Red Flag' is underway with Australian armed forces involved.
Your new antenna would be perfect for this...

FREQ TO TRY
234.325 AM
357.100 AM
225.4500 -- R-4806 Range 65
231.1000 -- Red Flag JICO
234.2500 -- R-4806 Range 62 'Orange 17'
234.3250 -- Coyote MOA
234.9000 -- Red Flag Ops
236.0000 -- 66RQS SAR-B
238.8000 -- R-4806 Alamo
243.0000 -- Guard
246.2000 -- Unknown Range
251.2000 -- 549CTS Green Flag West Ops
251.9000 -- 66RQS SAR-A
252.1000 -- 64AGRS F-16
255.9500 -- Northern Ranges Spare
257.9500 -- Tonopah Tower
259.0000 -- 66RQS Base Ops
259.9500 -- Nellis ALCE AMC
262.7500 -- 64AGRS F-16
268.0000 -- R4806 Range 64
268.2000 -- Elgin MOA
274.8750 -- R-4806 Range 63
281.0250 -- Elgin MOA
282.8000 -- CSAR
283.8000 -- 64AGRS F-16
284.5500 -- 64AGRS F-16
288.2250 -- NTTR Range 71-76
288.8000 -- R-4806 Range 64
289.3000 -- Caliente MOA
291.9000 -- AR625L Primary
293.5000 -- ROULETTE (ECW Ranges)
294.9000 -- Caliente MOA
295.8000 -- AR625H Primary
319.5000 -- AR625 Secondary
319.8000 -- AR625 Exit
320.0000 -- Nellis ACC CP
323.8500 -- 322WPS Base Ops
326.1250 -- 422TES F-35
328.5000 -- Adversary Support
340.2000 -- Nellis AF Ops
341.9250 -- R-4806 Range 61
355.1000 -- 26WPS MQ-1 MQ-9
357.1000 -- Northern Ranges Spare
365.1000 -- Weapons School Duty Desk
361.6000 -- R-4806 Range 63
363.9000 -- R-4807 Range 75
366.1500 -- 549CTS Green Flag
370.8250 -- Coyote MOA
372.2000 -- Pilot-to-Dispatch
375.8000 -- Unknown Range
377.8000 -- BLACKJACK (NTTR Check-In)
379.6000 -- 422TES Base Ops
379.6500 -- ROULETTE (ECW Ranges)
381.3000 -- Nellis Command Post
373.5500 -- 422tes f-16
289.300 -- BANG 91
259.950
266.6000 422TES F-22A
305.6500 422TES F-22A

Thanks to radioreference.com for the info.

ABC SHORTWAVE TURNED OFF

Hello and welcome back... The start of Feb 2017 saw ABC Shortwave transmissions turned off.

With thanks from our Government and ABC boffins, they came to the conclusion that the shortwave service was outdated and 'Cost too Much'

Their solution was to shut off transmissions and direct customers to AM & FM broadcasts, Satellite services (what person living in the outback can afford that?) and online services (again, internet in this country is a joke)

The sad thing is its not just people living in the outback that relies on Shortwave services but those living in the Pacific inc Papua.

The thing that upsets me is that no-one thought to ask the people who rely on this service, not the Government or The ABC.

In the latest news, Senator Nick Xenophon was rallying to introduce legislation to force the ABC to turn on the transmitters and for the government to give the ABC more money..
Read Full Story Here

Another thing that bugs me about this... The crap on ABC... Honestly, how many channels / programs aimed towards kids / teenagers do you need...Its ridiculous, cut back on this stuff.
I have 4 kids who now and then watch the ABC but the thing is, they watch online not on the TV. Surely, its cheaper to put programs online than to transmit, cost savings right there.

Ive had my whinge, I'll go now...

LINKS

http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/shortwave-radio/

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/02/workers-upset-by-abcs-ditching-of-shortwave-radio-told-to-complain-to-senate-inquiry

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/fears-as-abc-plans-to-turn-off-shortwave-radio-in-the-outback/news-story/38d43e7bf110785381a1e9e978042d42

BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER TO HELP FIRE SEASON

Hello and welcome back... This is a sexy beast.

A UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter from America (owner - Timberline helecopters) is being used here in NSW for the current fire season. The first of its kind.

Stationed at Scone Airport (Pay's), the shiny blue chopper has already been used during the recent Goulburn (Tarago) fires.

This Blackhawk can hold up to 3,400ltrs and takes just 30sec to fill.

Thanks to Australian Aviation/Timberline helicopters for the photo.

DISASTER PROOF YOUR RADIO

Hello and welcome back... I thought i would write about something that is important to me. Hopefully it will inspire others to think a little bit like the way i do... not just to see a radio scanner as a hobby, but as a tool to help in case of an emergency.

Disasters happen when we least expect.

A good example was a few years back when a simple task of going out to pick up my kids from school.
I never made it.

It was a hot, windy day and as i was leaving, i could hear a few sirens in the distance. I had an hour to pass before the kids got out so i thought to grab my radio scanner to pass the time. As luck would have it, i also had my camera in the glovebox after taking photos of a helicopter that was buzzing around the previous day.

Half way there i was greeted with the scene below...

A large bushfire had started by wind hitting powerlines.

I was stuck on the side of the road, cars built up behind me and it became clear i wasn't going anywhere fast.
While everyone looked towards their mobile phones to see what was going on, i was listening to my scanner and could hear the carnage happening right in front of me.

Mobile phones in the area then crashed as did the internet, unable to cope with demand...
No one knew what was happening.. except me.

The message of this post?

Be prepared for Anything, Anytime, Any Place.

Its not just Bushfires you have to worry about..
Terrorist Attacks
EMPs (man made or solar flares)
Forces of Nature (Lightning, Wind, Cyclones, Tornadoes)
Earthquakes
Disease outbreaks
Violent outbreaks (Riots)
Floods
Failures caused by Hackers
Volcanoes (we've all seen the movies), etc, etc..

You name it, your radio is the gateway to know whats happening, as it happens... not hours later on social media and considering 95% of what you hear on radios never make it to media outlets thanks to cost-cutting (or other forces).. It may save your life.

The first thing you should have in your arsenal is obvious = a radio scanner capable of receiving Shortwave, Marine, UHF CB, Amateur /Ham radio, FM/AM Radio & Emergency Services.
Consider that electricity may fail so charged battery's are a must.
A solar recharge battery system would be a good investment.
Don't rely on mobile phones or internet as these can fail.

The second item should be a transceiver. Handheld radios that can be programmable to transmit on various frequencies.
Cheap UHF/ AM CB radios.
Chinese radios that can be programed with UHF, Marine & Amateur frequencies and even (if you can get your hands on one) an Aircraft transceiver.
Obviously going around being a dickhead and transmitting on frequencies you are not supposed to will get you into trouble with authority's but having such a radio to use in an emergency may just save your life.

The third thing is to build a Faraday cage. An old microwave oven is perfect for this.
If an EMP (electromagnetic pulse), was to go off, every electronic device in the blast radius will be useless but if you have a backup radio and batteries in a Faraday cage, you will be able to communicate to the outside world.
Something to think about...

So what should your radio scanner be programed with?

Emergency services would be my first place to start.
Rural Fire (includes Fireground, GRN, PMR, UHF CB & Aircraft)... In a major Bushfire, listening to Aircraft frequencies inc Helicopters & Airplanes talk to each other, gives a huge wealth of knowledge... Nothing like a birdseye view to see whats going on.
Ambulance (GRN and even old VHF frequencies)
Police (VHF frequencies as digital may not work)
SES (GRN, PMR)
Fire Brigade/Rescue inc GRN, PMR, Back Chs
Also include = Marine frequencies/radio (they travel good distance)
                         UHF CB / AM CB
                         Amateur Radio
                         Shortwave
                         Local channels inc Council, RTA, Electricity company's

FREQUENCIES TO MONITOR
121.500 - Distress ch
123.450 - Aircraft chat ch
123.100 - Rescue
282.800 - RAAF Search & Rescue
156.300 - Rescue
156.800 - Distress
156.375 - Distress
156.575 - Rescue
476.525 - CH5 UHF CB Emergency (input =Ch 35 - 477.275)

A GOOD SETUP WOULD BE =
BANK 1 - Emergency Services (Fire Brigade / Rural Fire inc Aircraft, Fireground / VHF Police,                          SES/ Ambulance / Search & Rescue)
BANK 2 - GRN / PMR (if you own a digital radio)
BANK 3 - Marine Radio inc Marine Rescue
BANK 4 - UHF / AM CB Radio
BANK 5 - Local Frequencies (Council, Electricity / Water / Gas Companys)
BANK 6 - AM/ FM Radio Stations
BANK 7 - Amateur Radio



Transceivers should be programed with UHF CB, Marine, Fireground (rural fire) & Amateur/Ham radio frequencies.

If you own a Uniden UBCD396T/XT or similar scanner radio and don't know / have time to program your radio... I offer a service to do it for you with emergency frequencies so you will be set in any situation . CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

I am planning to make available, a program for Baofeng, Wouxun, Quansheng, etc, etc... frequencies to program your radio with minimal fuss.. Stay tuned to this website for more. 

No-one knows what the future has install for us, but being one step ahead of the average Joe. is, in my opinion, one of the best things you can do for you and your family.

Have I Missed Anything?

Comment Below....