Black Horizon: Search results for UHF SATCOM

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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

How to build a $5,000 dollar UHF SATCOM antenna for under $20 Part 3

DIY: Military UHF SATCOM antenna
PART THREE
By Steve Douglass

By now you might be wondering when I’m going to finally write about the nuts & bolts of building my DIY UHF SATCOM antenna.

I mean – isn’t that why you tuned in?

To recap, I wrote (and you patiently read) about my motivation and my rant about the high cost of new and surplus antennas, not to mention a little about the cool Uniden receiver(s) (Uniden BCD-998T/BCD-396XT) I intend to use(said) antenna with.

So without further delay –

I once reasoned that if I ever came across one of the Dorne & Margolin antennas again – if I could just take some photos and (maybe) some measurements I might be able to reverse-engineer one and possibly build my own version.

Heck, I had (on many occasions) built home-brew UHF Yagi beams and in fact sold quite a few in the past, offering them for sale on my now (long defunct) Intercepts Newsletter – with many of them still in use today.

All it would take (I figured) was some educated-best guess-photogrammetric analysis (with something in the image to indicate scale) and I could probably Yankee-engineer a decent-working-prototype with the final goal selling (either antennas or the plans to build their own) to like-minded UHF MILCOM aficionados like myself.

As fate would have it, at an open house (air show) at Cannon Air Force Base I finally (after quite a few years wait) was able to inspect (up close) and take a few photos of another D&M antenna.

It was part of a military PR –display – connected to a DAMA portable (man-pack) UHF SATCOM transceiver. I again pumped the airman (in charge of the display) for information about the system and took a few close-up photos. I couldn’t help but notice his raised eyebrows at my more-than-passing curiosity and intense interest in his radio rig he but didn’t say anything.

I try to reassure him by saying I was a communications-technology-enthusiast, which (from his reply) he took to mean ham-radio-operator. He tells me (in civilian life) he is a ham.

My reply apparently put him at ease as he proceeded to fill me in on more technical details about the DAMA system, even going so far as to show me how to find the elevation and azimuth of the military satellite his rig was communicating through.

Later (as I examined my photos) I came to the (false) realization that the antenna must be a simple X-beam design. I guessed (incorrectly) they weren’t much more complicated than the Yagi’s I had constructed.

The driven elements looked much like two folded dipoles, attached to a short boom (six feet) situated behind a series of x-shaped directors with a wire-mesh reflector at the back. How hard could that be to replicate?

Using the photos as my guide, I experimented and over the years I built many antennas. Although they all worked (as good UHF MILAIR antennas) I was never able to monitor the UHF satellites with any real success. The most I could ever manage were choppy or weak, static filled brief intercepts. My assumption was I just didn’t have the element measurements figured out right.

Then one day while doing some research on the Internet I stumbled across this: http://www.marlboroughcomms.com/MCL/Product.aspx?proId=65

Marlborough Communications Limited is a British Company that builds military-communication gear under various government contracts, for both her Majesty’s special armed services as well for us Yanks.

Like other companies of this type, seeking lucrative government bid-approval, specifications of all their products are (SOP) posted online in downloadable Adobe Acrobat .pdf form.

However, standing out clearly among the usual obtuse list of equipment specifications, frequency ranges and MilSpec nomenclature was something I had never seen - a simplified three-view drawing of their manpack foldable UHF SATCOM antenna known as the AV2040-2 – complete with metric dimensions.

CLICK TO ENLARGE:

Dimensions! Was this the missing data I needed? I quickly downloaded the .pdf and printed it out.

I then took it to my computer guru, Wilhelm Scream (not his real name) since he is to math what Lance Armstrong is to cycling.

He took a long look at the three-view and the dimensions posted, produced a set of digital calipers and placed them on the drawing.

After a few minutes of caliper(ing) calculating and re-calculating, Scream said, “This drawing is to scale. Within a small degree of error – we could upscale it and use them as blueprints to build your antenna. “

Over the next few minutes, Scream produced the measurements that had eluded me for so long. A slow grin spread across my face when I realized that it was very possible to build a working UHF SATCOM antenna, an esoteric passion to be sure, but one that had been floating around in the back of my consciousness for a very long time.

After several brain- sessions with Scream, we drafted up a laundry list of parts we would need, which included: several sections of various-sized PVC piping, aluminum rods of various length, copper wire, RF connectors, RG-6 coax feed-line and flat aluminum bar-stock for construction of the driven elements.

Most of the tools we would need to cut, drill and shape our parts, Scream already had – which included electric saws, a Dremel and a drill press.

Armed with our list we went to the only place that had everything an Interceptor could need to build a UHF SATCOM antenna system – Home Depot.

It took several trips – but soon we had everything we needed – and incredibly I paid something in the neighborhood of $20.00.

To be continued in PART 4.

READ PART ONE HERE!

READ PART TWO HERE!

You might also like: The Interceptors Club & the Secret of the Black Manta

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

How to build a UHF SATCOM antenna for under $20 FINAL PART

I received many e-mails about my UHF SATCOM antenna article, some of them asking nicely and some downright obscene. I have many reason whey I didn't finish the article, which run the gamut from starting a new career to getting divorced, but looking back I should have not left you hanging.

That said, if you follow the directions in the post on Radio Reference you'll find out how to build the phase harness for the radiating elements. It's fairly simple to do and will take you less than a day to build if you have the proper tools and patience.

Use my dimensions but use the phasing instructions on THIS THREAD and you'll succeed. I built a version using a large magnet and made me a mobile SATCOM antenna and it works amazingly well, even without amplification.

I also replaced the reflector at the rear of the first antenna I built with an old parabolic dish from a discarded DISH network antenna and turned it into a permanent UHF SATCOM base antenna and can now listen to UHF SATCOM from anywhere.

Currently I am working on a small handheld version. I will post a how-to article on it as soon as I get it done.

To the many who followed this series of articles and were patiently waiting for the other shoe to drop, thanks for your missives and overwhelming patience. To the other guy who just told me to go fuck myself, fuck you too.

-Steve Douglass

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

How to build a $5,000 dollar UHF SATCOM antenna for under $20 Part II

DIY: Military UHF SATCOM antenna
PART Two
By Steve Douglass

Is it just me (probably) or do antennas cost way too much? Sure that’s an odd statement to make.

I mean-how often does the average Joe think about the costs of antennas – right?

But I have never been an average Joe – and never wanted to be one.

I’ll admit - I’m an odd duck.

My idea of relaxing entertainment is to sit back with the headphones on, listening to emergency action messages on HF or scanning the MILAIR bands for Top Guns in training, fighter jocks going at it in one the nearby MOAs.

I like to be wired in – to everything – to the world. I take pride in the fact that I probably know more about what is going on in my neighborhood, city, state, world … then probably anyone I know – all because of my obsession with monitoring radio communications.

This hobby (addiction) has (time and time again) put me front-row center at some of the most tumultuous events of our times.

I once was hired (by a major news network) to ferret out and monitor the bugs and baby-monitors transmitting from inside the Branch Davidian complex during the infamous “Siege in Waco” 1993. On a cold day in February, 2003, I ran outside in my underwear and photographed the Space Shuttle Columbia as it plunged to its tragic demise over Texas.

On September, 11, 2001 I monitored the mass-confusion surrounding the FAA’s order to ground every aircraft flying over the U.S. or to shoot down any aircraft that wasn’t responding to the order. I also knew exactly where Air Force One was going when the rest of the world’s media hadn’t a clue, including the Vice President - for a time.

Because of my addiction to communications monitoring, I have become a trusted source for national, international and local news media, especially when it comes to breaking news.

My reputation was made when in 1986 (while casually tuning through the shortwave bands) I happened across an errant U.S. Navy communications involving the accidental explosion of missile propellant aboard “K-219” a Soviet submarine prowling the sea lanes off Bermuda. From then on I became obsessed with radio monitoring and since, if there isn’t a scanner or the hiss of a shortwave radio playing low (almost buried) in the background, I feel cut-off.

It was then I realized that there was this entire amazing-invisible world of wireless signals, out there, just waiting to be snatched out of the ether - carrying on their backs the electromagnetic emanations of modern human condition, from tragedy to triumphs.

I’m tapped into this invisible world of waves (that are passing through your brain even as you read this) from my humble two-bedroom apartment in Texas.

It is my great passion to not let these radio emanations go undisturbed and unheard.

So that’s why I worry about the cost of antennas.

Antennas are the proverbial fly-traps that snare the waves- and (in my opinion) they cost too much.

One day-while the idea of building a UHF SATCOM antenna was rattling around in my brain-I came upon this site that sold them to soldier-of-fortune types.

I was stunned that a simple folding TACSAT antenna cost almost $3,000 dollars!

In the demonstration video it looked like nothing-made of ABS plastic and flexible metal. What a rip-off!

But wait there’s more!

As an extra incentive they threw in a hand-dandy flexible tripod and carry pouch – and all this for just under three grand!

Let’s not tell them the same tripod could be had at Walmart for under twenty bucks and the pouch was just like one I saw for less than $10 at the local sporting goods super-store, as a pistol case.
Oh- lest we forget “special pricing available for GSA employees.”

I shouldn’t be surprised – general service contractors have been ripping off the government (i.e taxpayers) for years with $600 toilet seats and $100 space diapers (MilSpec) of course since – forever.

Note: This firm also sells a 20 foot run of coax for $89.00 something RadioShack sells (100 feet) for $24.95.

Needless to say – seeing that video was just another thing that pushed me to start my DIY UHF SATCOM antenna project.

To be continued …

VIEW PART ONE HERE

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

How to build a $5,000 dollar UHF SATCOM antenna for under $20

Ultimate DIY: Military UHF SATCOM antenna
PART ONE
By Steve Douglass

I remember the first time I saw a Dorne & Margolin UHF portable SATCOM antenna. I know that may seem a bit weird and esoteric (an antenna leaving that kind of lasting impression) but the moment I saw one - I knew I wanted one.

It was many years ago at the annual “ROVING SANDS” military exercises held in southern New Mexico. I was there covering the games as an aviation journalist.

The world's largest air and missile defense exercise, ROVING SANDS overseen by the JFACC, combines Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force units and pits them against each other over the White Sands Missile Range and Biggs Army Ranges.

For many years Roving Sands afforded me a unique opportunity to observe (very up-close and personal) military aviation operations that didn’t require going through the laborious task of obtaining government-vetted-sanctioned press credentials, which is exactly what I didn’t want.

Once one is allowed on the inside - you only see the stuff they want you to see. Sure you have better access-but it is chaperoned access.

My job (then) was to look for the “unacknowledged” black-project aircraft that were rumored to be involved in the games, reporting for magazines such as Popular Science and Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Almost needless to say, my compatriots and I weren’t disappointed- but that’s different story for another day.

Anyway, (being a rabid military-monitoring hobbyist) I couldn’t help but spot the uber-cool milspec-looking-fishbone-yagi antenna on a building at the Roswell Industrial Airfield (where the Red Forces were based) pointing up at what I could easily deduce was a military satellite hanging 22,000 miles above the equator in geosynchronous orbit.

Later in the week, I summoned up my courage and asked an airman (eating his lunch near the antenna at a picnic table) what it was. Apparently he was the right man to ask.
He said it was a Dorne & Margolin portable antenna used for UHF-TACSAT/DAMA voice, data and telemetry work.

The airman (a com-tech) was proud of his MOS and even took time from his lunch to show me his radio rig. It was impressive, big and bulky over-built by Harris and looked like you cold have dropped it out of the back of a C-130 without damage.

He then graciously demonstrated it for me by doing a radio check (voice) with the Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center (JTASC) in Suffolk, VA.

I was surprised at the high-fidelity and clarity of the return com-check, considering it was relayed off a rotating hunk of spinning metal and wires located some 22,000 miles in space, making the round-trip just under 50,000 miles.

As the tech continued with his demonstration, he rattled off a list of technical specifications, frequency ranges and communications parameters and protocols that I’m sure he thought I wouldn’t understand. I played dumb, scratched my head all the while trying as hard as I could to take it all in. He had no idea that he was talking to man who had written a hobbyists guide to military monitoring.

As impressive as the radio equipment was, I knew I’d never be able to afford one - even sometime in the far-flung future, when it had become obsolete and sold as surplus. It was kind of like taking a test drive in a Ferrari, all the while knowing you couldn’t even afford a Yugo.

But the antenna was a different matter entirely. I did own more than one receiver that could (with the right antenna) intercept satellite signals in the bands the airman had detailed (240 to 310 MHz) and had done so (with very limited success) from time to time.

The trouble was – UHF TACSAT satellite downlink transmissions were what was technically described as being (right-hand circularly polarized) making reception on commercial and consumer grade antennas (usually vertically or horizontally polarized) problematic at best.

Without getting too technical, rotating satellites have forced the use of circular polarization. The fundamental advantage of circular polarization is that all reflections change the direction of polarization, precluding the usual addition or subtraction of main and reflected signals. Therefore there is far less fading and flutter when circular polarization is used at each end of the link.

Over the years I tried building my own high-gain UHF Yagi antennas to receive military satellite communications with very limited success. Main trouble was, as the satellite rotated, the signal would swing out of phase and fade (rapidly) in and out and sound much like a record skipping – making interception just plain irritating.

To put it simply, it was like trying to have a conversation with someone riding on a merry-go-round. If you weren’t running along side them (constantly) all you would here were bits and bursts of voice.

Radio hobbyists (with more technical knowledge than moi) had built home-brew helical antennas and were reporting (via Internet news-groups) great success but the antennas were difficult to engineer and build, especially for a man who barely squeaked by with a C in high-school algebra.

For me, looking at the formulae for calculating the spacing and turns on a helical antenna was like trying to read Greek, but that wasn’t what turned me off to ever attempting to build one.

The main problem was, none of the antennas looked like the one I saw at Roving Sands, with the majority of the home-brew designs looking like the coils of razor wire ringing the local prison, plus they were huge -sometimes doubled-arrays hardly portable or easily mounted on the back balcony of my tiny apartment.

What I wanted was a Dorne & Margolin (now EDO) portable SATCOM antenna, transportable, easy to set up and tear down – and not to mention – tough-looking and black-like those used by covert operators, Rangers, SEAL teams and DELTA.

I wanted an antenna that didn’t say “ham radio operator” but instead said “government spy” and “If I tell you what it is I’d have to kill you – so don’t ask.” type of antenna.

Anyways –

Over the years I’ve held out hopes that some military surplus outlet advertising on the Internet would acquire one of these beauties (and not knowing what it was) offer it for sale at a reasonable price.

A few years ago – it happened. Dorne & Margolin/EDO and Trivec Avant (the major military contractors building SATCOM gear) surplus antennae began showing up sporadically on Ebay.

Unfortunately they were snapped up fast (and at premium prices) by the well-heeled radio hobbyists.

The going price was around 3K to (for pristine units) with even broken or heavily used and abused specimens going at over 1,000 dollars.

Refurbished (and new) antennas can also be (now) bought through various re-sellers, who equip shady-military-security for hire companies like Blackwater/Xe Services LLC.

These controversial firms are authorized to communicate with the military via SATCOM in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackheart International (http://www.bhigear.com/) offers a mini-satcom antenna on their site for the walk-away price of $3,000. Heavy-duty antennas (Bigger-more gain) could be had for 5K.

I couldn’t (and still cannot) fathom why a simple assembly of electronics and aluminum sticks could cost so durn-much! For the life of me – they looked like a simple X-wing Yagi design. Was there something super-secret or complicated (hidden within the design) that made their construction complicated and thusly (and rightly-so) so expensive?

Still, hope springs eternal and I thought it would only be a matter of time before one popped up at a price I could afford.

In the meantime – I acquired a new super-scanning radio released by Uniden the BCD-996XT. The 996XT is a computer-controlled-programmable scanner with a 25,000-channel capability.

To quote Uniden: "This new scanner significantly raises the bar with much improved APCO-25 digital decoding as well as a host of new features and more memory. For those who like GPS scanning, a feature no other manufacturer offers, you can now enable and disable not only Systems but Groups as well depending on your location (the optional GPS antenna that we sell is required).

The radio offers a band-scope feature, a Fire Tone Out search feature to help you determine the tone out frequencies being used, improved Close Call, APCO-25 NAC code decoding, and more. The 996XT is a big leap forward."

The main reason I acquired the BCD-996XT was for its digital-decoding capabilities. I run a small news-gathering company for the local and (sometimes national) news media called “The Reporter’s Edge.” Recently, the Texas Department of Public Safety had “gone digital” employing APCO-25 digital encoding.

It is my job to scan the public safety bands for their producers and reporters and be a sort of safety net for the breaking-news stories that sometimes fall between the cracks while already over-tasked and under-staffed TV journalists took time to write, edit and produce the news as well have a life that didn’t dictate them spending their sacred off-time with their ears glued to a scanning radio.

Since I always have a scanning radio droning on in the background wherever I am- it was only natural I found a way to make my obsession (for intercepting radio communications) pay off. Once the Texas DPS went digital, the only way to listen in on their communications was with an APCO-25 digital scanning radio. The BCD-996XT filled the bill nicely.

The BC-996XT didn’t disappoint. In fact I can say without hesitation it is the finest scanning radio I have ever owned, only second to the handheld version Uniden’s BC396XT which I also own. Computer aided scanning software of choice is Butel’s ARC396, followed closely by Freescan.

The BCD996XT (with its’ more than ample 25,000 channel capacity) freed my BCT396XT for use as a MILCOM scanner, something I have wanted to do for a long while.

I love intercepting military aircraft (MILAIR) and associated communications on all the bands and to have a scanner dedicated to just MILCOM was a real treat.

I even went so far as to custom outfit a case (containing an ASUS netbook computer loaded with scanning software) that also housed the BCT396XT making it look somewhat like a retro SAC “nuclear football” capable of sending the emergency action messages triggering WWIII. It comes complete with an Cold-War era SAC badge that General Jack D. Ripper would trade his Cuban cigars to have.

Okay, I admit-its’ kind off geeky – but that’s just my way.

The “football” does have a utilitarian function. Underneath the netbook are two gel-cell batteries that can power the scanner and computer for up to twelve hours. Both can be charged by plugging it into a wall or a cigarette/accessory plug in an automobile.

(C) Steve Douglass

Continued soon in PART II

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

How to build a $5,000 dollar UHF SATCOM antenna for under $20 Part 4-1

DIY: Military UHF SATCOM antenna
PART FOUR-1
By Steve Douglass

Authors note: The construction part (since it is complicated ) of this ongoing series of articles will be spread out over several postings.

Be patient! Following parts will be posted shortly.

First a disclaimer:

You may or may not be able to build your DIY SATCOM antenna for under twenty bucks.

Yeah- I know that’s the title of this series of articles - but how expensive your antenna will be is conditional on the tools you have on hand and the antenna materials you may or may not have access to. Still, if this rig costs you fifty bucks, you’re already way ahead of the $5K cost for a new SATCOM antenna.

Some of the parts I already had were aluminum antenna elements (rods) salvaged from on old two-meter Ham antenna, coax and various RF connectors, not to mention a sturdy tripod (used and bought originally for $10 on Ebay) also some hollow antenna tubes from a broken Radio Shack Discone antenna.

One could easily use aluminum metal (welding) rods also available at Home Depot. Buy them along with the various sizes of PVC pipe used for the main antenna structure and most everything else.

Parts include:
Nylon cable ties (various sizes)
Two aluminum yardsticks (Home Depot $3.00 each)
Two (TV type) panel-mount F- connectors. (Radio Shack #278-212) $2.19 (2)
12 feet of RG-6 coax, plus four more F-connectors (Note: The Home Depot (crimp) ones are better than the Radio Shack.
1 Radio Shack F connector coupler (#278-304)
8 short (half-inch long) wingnuts & corresponding bolts (doesn’t matter what size) these will be used to hold the main antenna elements together.
Assorted screws and nuts and five feet of solid copper (insulated) wire.
PVC glue
Black electrical tape
Black spray paint (optional)
I used black spray truck bed-liner paint to give it a cool heavy-duty military-textured look.
Six feet of ½ inch PVC pipe (Note: all PVC is Schedule 40 for rigidity and weather ability)
Six ½ pipe PVC connectors
1 ½ inch PVC end cap
Six feet of 3 inch PVC pipe
Two 3-inch PVC end caps
One 3-inch PVC T- connector
One 3 inch to ½ inch PVC (fitting/coupler)
6 feet 3/16th heat-shrink tubing (available at Harbor Freight or Radio Shack)

Tools: Soldering Iron
Dremel
Drill press)
Handsaw for cutting PVC pipe.
Propane torch to shrink, shrink-tubing (or you can use a lighter or even a hair drier)
F-connector crimping tool

We will start with the “element director boom” since it’s the easiest part to build.
This boom will hold eight x-crossed (parallel) metal elements – each 15 inches long and spaced five inches apart with the last element spaced 4 inches from the flat receiving elements.

CLICK TO ENLARGE:
ELEMENT LAYOUT

First cut a length of ½ inch PVC pipe to 32 inches. Decide which end will point toward the satellites and measure & cut (from the end every 4 1/4 inches) until you have seven pieces of pipe.

Next re-connect the sections with six 1/2inch pipe connectors. Don’t glue these if you want your antenna to be portable. On the sky-end you’ll mount a ½ inch PVC cap and on the far end you’ll mount a 1/2inch to 1 inch PVC adaptor pipe.

From the end (with PVC connectors installed) measure in five inches increments and mark the spot- most likely in the middle of the connector. Element spacing isn’t very critical at this point so don’t sweat the details.

At each increment you will drill a hole through the connector and ¼ inch behind it for the corresponding cross element. The size hole you drill will be dependent on what you are using for metal antenna elements. Just make sure they fit snugly. I learned it is better to be to small then too big. You can always make the drill hole bigger, if you need to. See the photo if you are confused.

END CAP and ELEMENTS (painted) showing X element CLICK TO ENLARGE

NOTE: A drill press will insure your holes are perpendicular to each other in a perfect cross shape.

FINISHED BOOM SHOWING ELEMENT ALIGNMENT:

Each metal element (rod) should be cut to 15 inches and inserted into each hole with ¼ inch space between the two crossed elements.

Once all the rods are inserted – and made parallel you can drill and add small self-tapping set-screws to hold them in place – or glue them with PVC cement if you don’t plan on making your antenna come apart for portability. Each (crossed) element can be secured to each other (Inside the PVC pipe) with a nylon cable tie. Cut off the long (loose) end of the cable tie.

SEE ALL RELATED POSTS HERE

MORE SOON

Saturday, February 26, 2022

UPDATED: Best list of military HF frequencies for listening to the Ukrainian Conflict

COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES:

All frequencies are in MHz

Shortwave/HF

USAF GHFS

4.724 MHz USB EAMs and USAF long distance HF nets

6.739 MHz UHB EAMs and USAF long distance HF nets

8.992 MHz USB EAMs and USAF long distance HF nets

11.175 MHz USB EAMs and USAF long distance HF nets

15.015 MHz USB EAMs and USAF long distance HF nets

RUSSIAN/ MILITARY NET HF frequencies

3.731 AM CREEPY LAUGHING CLOWN/RUSSIAN JAMMER BABA YAGA

3.218 LSB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE "KARTOK-65"

3.850 LSB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

3.828 LSB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

3.920 LSB POSSIBLE RUSSIAN MILITARY

4.034 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

4.179 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

4.183 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

4.600 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

4.625 AM RUSSIAN NUMBERS STATION "THE BUZZER"

4.629 RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

4.649.5 LSB RUSSIAN BOMBER CHATTER

4.721 USB UKRAINE HAMS TAUNTING RUSSIANS (PRE CONFLICT)

4.1440 CHECHAN PRAYER MUSIC AND VOICE COMMS

5.125 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE VERY ACTIVE

5.827 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

7.065 USB RUSSAIN HAMS TAUNTING UKRAINANS (PRE CONFLICT)

7.O55 LSB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIANS SPEAKING ENGLISH

7.140 USB RUSSIAN ARMY "DAYS"

7.820 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN MILITARY

7.993 USB RUSSIAN STRATEGIC NET

8.090 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

8.131.5 LSB BEAR NET PRIMARY

9.741 USB RUSSIAN MILITARY VOICE

11.193 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN NET

11.253 USB ROYAL AIR FORCE NET

11.272 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN NET

5.240 USB RUSSIAN NAVY

5.808 RUSSIAN NAVY/AIR FORCE

6.685 USB RUSSIAN AIR FORCE TRANSPORT

8.815 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN VOICE

10.057 USB RUSSIAN ARMY "NIGHTS"

12.905 MHZ RUSSAN ARMY "NIGHTS"

12.041 USB RUSSIAN ARMY "DAYS"

12.720.5 USB "DVOJCHATAKA" CALLING

13.619 USB RUSSUAN ARMY "DAYS"

14.688 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN NET

14.766 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN HAMS

10.360 USB RUSSIAN NAVY/ARMY BEAR NET

11.362 USB RUSSIAN ARMY "PSYKOV NET"

13.927 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN VOICE

14.130 USB UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN VOICE

14.177 AM UKRAINIAN PIRATE STATION

18.029 USB "PUCK FUTIN" PIRATE BROADCAST

PUBLISHED RUSSIAN MILITARY/NUMBERS FREQUENCIES

Western Military District
The Buzzer (4625 kHz)
D marker (5292 kHz)
T marker (4182 kHz)
The Air Horn (3510 kHz)
The Goose (4310/3243 kHz)
The Alarm (4770 kHz)
Katok-65 (4224/3218.5 kHz)
Southern Military District
The Pip (5448/3756 kHz)
The Squeaky Wheel (5473/3828 kHz)
Vega (5372 kHz)
Baron-78 (3850/4940 k

RUSSIAN AVIATION

Voice Frequencies 5827
8131 5833
8090
11223 5617
8909 5803
8033
11320 5827
8131
Callsigns "Balans" (Moscow)
"Katolik" (Saratov)
"Dvojchatka" (Moscow-2)
"Limit" (Saratov-2) "Nabor" (Moscow)
"Shpora" (Saratov)
"Balans" (Moscow-2)
"Tezis" (Saratov-2) "Ochistka" (Moscow)
"Medyanka" (Saratov)
"Duga" (Saratov-2)

"Stupen" (Moscow)
"Tablica" (Saratov)
"Kedr" (Saratov-2)

"Balans" (Moscow)
"Katolik" (Saratov)
"Dvojchatka" (Moscow-2)
"Limit" (Saratov-2)
Morse Frequencies 8112 (Ground)
8990 (Air)
11318 (Ground) 5620 (Ground)
8029 (Ground)
8170 (Air) 6642 (Air)
8895 (Ground)
9128 (Air) 5835 (Ground)
8162 (Ground)
9027 (Air) 8112 (Ground)
8990 (Air)
11318 (Ground)
Callsigns "IWV4"
"NGA5" "MWTL"
"TRL5" "KFE4"
"TV6P" "4ASU"
"QZ6Y" "IWV4"
"NGA5"

UHF SATCOM

248.750.400 NBFM UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN SATCOM PIRATES

255.260 NBFM UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN SATCOM PIRATES

263.625 NBFM UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN SATCOM PIRATES

267.475 NBFM RUSSIAN STRELA/GONETS STORE AND DUMP SATCOM

HF BROADCAST 

The BBC adds two shortwave broadcasts and  NEXUS adds MW service:

SHORTWAVE: BBC is adding 2 shortwave broadcasts to Ukraine on 5875 kHz from 8/10 UTC and on 15735 kHz from 2/4 UTC.

MEDIUM WAVE:  NEXUS- of Milan in Italy on 1323 kHz and proposes broadcasting for Eastern countries from 7/11 p.m. CET

GONETS BANDPLAN 

FREQ MODE

245.157	Gonets D1-1 1996-009A 23787	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
262.913	Gonets D1-1 1996-009A 23787	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 49s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Used 264.750 MHz in the past - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
263.086	Gonets D1-1 1996-009A 23787	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
264.750	Gonets D1-1 1996-009A 23787	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Extended transmitter activity when over eastern Europe - No longer active - See 262.913 MHz
245.157	Gonets D1-2 1996-009B 23788	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
264.900	Gonets D1-2 1996-009B 23788	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted at one minute intervals and then silence - Extended transmitter activity when over eastern Europe - Trigger at 33s after the minute (2002 July) - No longer active - see 265.0625 MHz
265.059	Gonets D1-2 1996-009B 23788	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
265.063	Gonets D1-2 1996-009B 23788	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 11s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Used 264.750 MHz in the past - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
264.600	Gonets D1-3 1996-009C 23789	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 27s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - No longer active? - see 265.1375 MHz
265.137	Gonets D1-3 1996-009C 23789	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 13. May now be silent, no Message Signal detected 2009 Sept.
265.138	Gonets D1-3 1996-009C 23789	FM - mutiple sideband, 0.5s trigger signal every minute plus occasional data bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 25s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Used 264.600 MHz in the past - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov - inactive at 2009 Mar 8
245.157	Gonets D1-4 1997-006D 24728	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
263.090	Gonets D1-4 1997-006D 24728	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 5s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
264.750	Gonets D1-4 1997-006D 24728	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
245.157	Gonets D1-5 1997-006E 24729	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
264.400	Gonets D1-5 1997-006E 24729	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 39s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
264.400	Gonets D1-5 1997-006E 24729	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
245.157	Gonets D1-6 1997 24730	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
262.910	Gonets D1-6 1997 24730	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
264.900	Gonets D1-6 1997 24730	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 58s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Discovered by Paul Marsh and Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
245.157	Cosmos 2386 2001-058C 27057	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
262.910	Cosmos 2386 2001-058C 27057	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: This is a Gonets-D1 even though listed elsewhere as Strela-3. There was a NORAD name mix-up with Gonets D1-8. Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8.
245.157	Gonets D1-7 2001-058D 27058	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
262.910	Gonets D1-7 2001-058D 27058	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Has been reported on other frequencies in the past - entry updated 2009 Mar 8.
262.913	Gonets D1-7 2001-058D 27058	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 42s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
244.512	Gonets D1-8 2001-058E 27059	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at 261.035 MHz. This is a Stela-3 even though listed elsewhere as Gonets-D1. There was a NORAD name mix-up with Cosmos 2386.
261.035	Gonets D1-8 2001-058E 27059	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Message Signal at 244.512 MHz. This is a Strela-3 even though listed elsewhere as Gonets-D1. There was a NORAD name mix-up with Cosmos 2386.
245.157	Gonets D1-9 2001 27060	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at another frequency in the 240-260 MHz band
262.910	Gonets D1-9 2001 27060	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Frequency is changed occasionally - entry updated 2009 Mar 8. Message Signal at 261.035 MHz.
264.788	Gonets D1-9 2001 27060	AM data sidebands (2.7, 5.4 and 8.1 kHz) transmitted in sub-second bursts	Store and Forward communications: Trigger pulse transmitted 9s after each minute with activity increasing over eastern Europe - Identified by Ivan Artner 2005 Oct/Nov
244.999	Gonets M-2 2010-043A 37152	Data transmission as messages are forwarded	Store and Forward communications: Message Signal at 388.688 MHz.
388.688	Gonets M-2 2010-043A 37152	Message Signal every 60s, silent when receiving data message from ground	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at 244.999 MHz.
388.688	Gonets M-3 2012-041B 38734	Message Signal every 60s or 120s depending on the operating mode, silent when receiving data message from ground.	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are transmitted at 244.999 MHz.
388.688	Gonets M-4 2012-041D 38736	Message Signal every 60s or 120s depending on the operating mode, silent when receiving data message from ground.	Store and Forward communications: Stored messages are

The Soviet Union's 'Tsikada' navigation satellites, later 'Nadezhda' also operated here also but have now been switched off.

Another former Soviet system currently operated by Russia also transmits here. The 'Parus' transmissions are Tsikada-like in content but they hide another purpose. They may have included a navigation function originally but they carry a second, clandestine, payload for communications. The 'navigation' transmissions are probably more about allowing the user to calculate where to point the transmitting aerial rather than working out their location on the Earth's surface.

RUSSIAN COSMOS SERIES: