Calling all HAM/CB/Radio Nerds/Geeks, Advice needed.

Kenwood TS 2000

Id like a cheap budget rig set up i could do this kind of shit with.

Ill check that out now, TY.

Do you have much experience with this stuff? Im a total noob myself, although i have enjoyed listening to aircraft and stuff over the years, since the advent of computers ive been behind on the developments.

It seems with software you can decode allsorts of signals that only really expensive equipment could decode 10 years ago.

I found out about Radio Tele Type a few years ago, and its facinating that real time text conversations go on over the radiowaves 100s/1000's of miles.

I thought the airwaves had mostly gone quiet since the internet, but i guess people just use radios for different things now.

Nice TS, but i wanted a receiver with a better range really.

Last Edited by HannibalTheCannibal on 05/17/2009 08:19 AM

May I ask.
Is your HAM radio a leg or shoulder HAM?

LOL.

I don't have as much time as I used too, but I have a couple of Drake's including a pristine SSR-1 I also bought an NRD-535
when they were being discontinued, if you can get a good clean one you will not be disappointed.

However if you want true computer control The Icom IC-PCR1500 may be more to your liking and can be had for less than $500, (hint: try and order the PCR1500-30 from OS, it has more "features")

I like to do a lot of manual scanning, If the PCR's have a scope that shows a freq bracket like the higher end base recievers im sold.

My major problem is going to be finding software that will decode signals.

And how do i know exactly what type of digital signal something is?

I suppose i could find a chart that lists what is broadcasting on which specific frequency and go from there.

Ive seen radios decode 2.4ghz Wireless camera signals from unencrypted wireless cameras and all sorts.

Im not expecting miracles from a 1000ish dollar budget, but ive been led to beleive you can do some pretty amazing things nowadays.

I can't really offer any help on the computer controlled aspect, but I can comment on the quality of Icom...I have an older R7100 and it is really built like a battle ship...If I'm trying to pull in even a distant FM broadcast station even, this baby beats all my other receivers...

It was Omega I think who posted the following...might come in handy:

Top 150 VHF/UHF Military Frequencies

Frequency (kHz) Channel/Station/Service
=============== =======================

3341.0 FEMA Spec. Berryville, VA
4585.0 WWJ74 w/SHARES tfc.
4780.0 Ch. 14, FEMA
5140.0 Oklahoma Operation Secure Net
5211.0 Ch. 15, FEMA Night Primary. FEMA/DOE/NRC
5236.0 FEMA Madison, WI, USA 1707 USB clg
6049.0 Ch. 19, NRC/FEMA
6107.0 Ch. 20, NRC/FEMA
6108.0 Ch. 21, NRC/FEMA
6151.0 Ch. 22, NRC/FEMA
6176.0 Ch. 23, NRC/FEMA
6809.0 FEMA Region 1, Maynard, Ma
7309.5 FEMA, Cascade, MD
7348.0 DOE/FEMA
7533.5 FEMA
7552.1 FEMA Maynard, MA logged
9023.0 FEMA Thomasville GA
9064.0 FEMA, Berryville, VA
9106.0 FEMA MERS Denton, Tx
9462.0 FEMA WGY 908 & WGY 998.
10194.0 FEMA 2VI, St. Croix
10493.0 Ch. 28, FEMA daytime primary, FEMA
10588.0 Ch. 29, FEMA
10590.2 FEMA RTTY(75bd), Berryville, Va
10891.0 FEMA Denton, TX, logged
11181.0 FEMA, Reg.4, Balboa Hts, Panama
11494.0 FEMA MERS, Denton, Tx.
11721.0 Ch. 30, NRC/FEMAFEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)

CIVIL DEFENSE NATIONAL RADIO SYSTEM HF NETS

2.3210 FOXTROT 06 (SIMPLEX)
2.3610 FOXTROT 07 (SIMPLEX)
2.3750 FOXTROT 08 (SIMPLEX)
2.4460 FOXTROT 09 (SIMPLEX)
2.6590 FOXTROT 10 (SIMPLEX)
3.3420 FOXTROT 11 (SIMPLEX)
3.3800 FOXTROT 12 (SIMPLEX)
3.3890 FOXTROT 13 (SIMPLEX)
4.7810 FOXTROT 14 (SIMPLEX)
5.2120 FOXTROT 15 (SIMPLEX) (NIGHT EMERGENCY)
5.4030 FOXTROT 16 (SIMPLEX)
5.8220 FOXTROT 17 (SIMPLEX)
5.9620 FOXTROT 18 (SIMPLEX)
6.0500 FOXTROT 19 (SIMPLEX)
6.1070 FOXTROT 20 (SIMPLEX)
6.1090 FOXTROT 21 (SIMPLEX)
6.1520 FOXTROT 22 (SIMPLEX)
6.1770 FOXTROT 23 (SIMPLEX)
6.1800 FOXTROT 24 (SIMPLEX)
7.3490 FOXTROT 25 (SIMPLEX) (FIXED STATIONS)
9.4630 FOXTROT 26 (SIMPLEX)
10.1950 FOXTROT 27 (SIMPLEX)
10.4940 FOXTROT 28 (SIMPLEX) (DAY EMERGENCY)
10.5890 FOXTROT 29 (SIMPLEX)
11.7220 FOXTROT 30 (SIMPLEX)
11.8020 FOXTROT 31 (SIMPLEX)
11.9580 FOXTROT 32 (SIMPLEX)
12.0100 FOXTROT 33 (SIMPLEX)
12.2170 FOXTROT 34 (SIMPLEX)
14.4510 FOXTROT 35 (SIMPLEX) (FIXED STATIONS)
14.7770 FOXTROT 36 (SIMPLEX)
14.8370 FOXTROT 37 (SIMPLEX) (FIXED STATIONS)
14.8860 FOXTROT 38 (SIMPLEX)
14.9000 FOXTROT 39 (SIMPLEX)
14.9090 FOXTROT 40 (SIMPLEX)
16.2020 FOXTROT 41 (SIMPLEX)
16.4310 FOXTROT 42 (SIMPLEX)
17.5200 FOXTROT 43 (SIMPLEX)
17.6500 FOXTROT 44 (SIMPLEX) (EMERGENCY)
18.7450 FOXTROT 45 (SIMPLEX)
19.7580 FOXTROT 46 (SIMPLEX)
19.9700 FOXTROT 47 (SIMPLEX)
20.0280 FOXTROT 48 (SIMPLEX)

CIVIL DEFENSE NATIONAL RADIO SYSTEM VHF NETS

164.8625 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)
165.6625 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY TRAINING CENTER

163.1000 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)
166.2250 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)
168.3500 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)
169.6000 NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (SIMPLEX)

FEDERAL EMERGENCY NET - PORTABLE REPEATERS

142.3750 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
143.0000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
142.2300 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
142.9750 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
142.4250 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
143.0000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
142.9750 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
143.0000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
142.3500 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
143.0000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
166.6125 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
168.4000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
170.4250 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
168.0750 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
170.4500 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
168.1000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
170.9750 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
168.7000 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM

173.1875 REGIONAL EOC NET 1 CONTROL/MOBILE (REPEATER INPUT)
167.9750 REGIONAL EOC NET 1 REPEATER/MOBILE RELAY (REPEATER OUT)
167.9750 REGIONAL EOC NET 2 (SIMPLEX)
169.8750 REGIONAL EOC NET 3 (SIMPLEX)
167.9250 REGIONAL EOC NET 4 (SIMPLEX)

COORDINATION

266.0500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
273.8000 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
399.7500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
305.5500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
322.7500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
336.8000 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
382.3500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION
397.0500 FEMA/USAF COORDINATION

VHF CHANNELS REPORTED IN USE BY FEMA

27.6500 VHF (LOW)
27.8500 VHF (LOW)
27.9000 VHF (LOW)
138.2250 VHF
138.5750 VHF
139.1000 VHF
139.8250 VHF
139.4500 VHF
139.2250 VHF
139.9500 VHF
140.0250 VHF
140.9000 VHF
141.7250 VHF
141.8750 VHF
141.9500 VHF
142.0250 VHF
142.2300 VHF
142.3500 VHF
142.3750 VHF
142.4000 VHF
142.4250 VHF
142.9250 VHF
142.9500 VHF
142.9750 VHF
143.0000 VHF
143.0500 VHF
143.2500 VHF
143.6000 VHF
143.6250 VHF
163.1000 VHF
164.8625 VHF
165.6625 VHF
166.2250 VHF
167.9250 VHF
167.9750 VHF
168.3500 VHF
169.2500 VHF
169.6000 VHF
169.8750 VHF
170.2000 VHF
173.1875 VHF
409.1250 VHF

OPERATION SECURE NATIONWIDE HF NETS

2.3260 SIMPLEX
2.4110 SIMPLEX
2.4140 SIMPLEX
2.4190 SIMPLEX
2.4220 SIMPLEX
2.4390 SIMPLEX
2.4630 SIMPLEX
2.4660 SIMPLEX
2.4710 SIMPLEX
2.4740 SIMPLEX
2.4870 SIMPLEX
2.5110 SIMPLEX
2.5350 SIMPLEX
2.5690 SIMPLEX
2.5870 SIMPLEX
2.8010 SIMPLEX
2.8040 SIMPLEX
2.8120 SIMPLEX
5.1350 SIMPLEX
5.1400 SIMPLEX
5.1920 SIMPLEX
5.1950 SIMPLEX
7.4770 SIMPLEX
7.4800 SIMPLEX
7.8020 SIMPLEX
7.8050 SIMPLEX
7.9320 SIMPLEX
7.9350 SIMPLEX
11801.0 Ch. 31, DOR/NRC/FEMA
11957.0 Ch. 32, NRC/FEMA
12070.0 FEMA
12216.0 Ch. 34, FEMA Net
13247.0 FEMA
13446.0 FEMA, Dist.8 Denver, CO
14360.0 FEMA/SHARES tfc.
14396.5 FEMA, Golden, CO
14450.0 Ch. 35, FEMA Net
14776.0 Ch. 36, FEMA net
14837.0 NRC/FEMA
14886.0 NRC/FEMA
14899.0 NRC/FEMA
14908.0 NRC/FEMA
15016.0 FEMA Denver, CO
16201.0 FEMA
18023.0 FEMA
18889.9 FEMA
19290.0 FEMA evacuations, etc.
19757.0 FEMA
20027.0 NRC FEMA Net
21272.0 FEMA
28091.0 FEMA

I have a lot of those types of threads in my favourites, my equipment at the moment cannot pick up anything bellow 25mhz or above 1300mhz.

I dont have my external ariel connected anymore either, so it has to be a pretty strong signal for me to pick it up.

Get an aldis lamp.

I guess it would be safe to say that my interests and yours are similar....I've been checking out the WinRadio series....

[link to www.winradio.com]

Have a look here for some ideas.

[link to www.hard-core-dx.com]

Thanks guys, checking that shit out now!

Because im an attention whore and want some help and advice, GLP was dead when i posted this.

The Icom 'black box' series are good units.

But you really need a dedicated decoder, like the M6000 ( [link to www.universal-radio.com] to get the best performance. The crappy computer software just doesn't cut it.



.

Some of the higher end radios decode all that in the box, be nice if i could find some software that decoded tv signals though.