Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
In one of my previous careers I served for over 12 years as a 911 dispatcher in two states. My first dispatch job was in Rockford IL in the late 70s where I fondly remember the long wire antenna running between the old police headquarters roof and the roof of city hall at the opposite corner of the block. I was told that this was the antenna used for the old AM transmitter which had been located on the roof of the police station. The antenna wire was a heavy looking mutli-strand cable and the insulators at each end looked to be about 2 feet in length. The Rockford police went on the air in 1933 and converted to two-way radio in 1940. Several years ago I researched some of the history of police operations in the AM band. The Galvin Manufacturing Company of Chicago (Motorola was their brand name) realized that many police departments were ordering car radios from them for use in their police cars. Recognizing a market for a police specific product in 1936 they introduced a spe! cial receiver called the Motorola Police Cruiser. It was capable of receiving from 1550 kc to 2800 kc. One of the primary differences from the Motorola car radio was that the police receiver was crystal controlled for frequency stability on a specific channel. At this time Galvin was having trouble meeting the demand for its very popular Motorola car radios. So initially the police receivers were only produced on weekends so as not to disrupt normal car radio production during the week. By 1936 Galvin had introduced an AM mobile transmitter operating in the 30-40 mc "UHF" band to enable police cars to talk back to the dispatcher via radio. In the 1920s and 1930s many police departments in the US broadcast on 1712 or 1714 kc. There are reports that at night these channels were so busy that the various police departments across the country had to take turns broadcasting. Some of the early police transmitters sent Morse code messages instructing individual squad cars to respon! d to a call box to get their message via telephone. As early as 1921 t he Detroit police had a mobile radio system. The transmitter had the call sign KOP which some attribute to the origin of the word "cop" as a slang for police officers (most likely "cop" is a shortened version of "copper" resulting from the common use of copper badges many years before the Detroit radio system existed). The Detroit system operated on 1050 kc and later was moved to 1080 kc. Some exceptions to the 1712/1714 kc frequencies that I noted were Berkeley CA on 2410 kc, and most radio equipped departments in the state of Tennessee on 1619 kc. A history of the Denver police radio system indicates that they operated on 1610 kc. That history mentioned that this was a common nationwide police frequency as well and mentions Denver police cars relaying messages at night between various western US police agencies. Relays between Indio CA and Kansas are specifically mentioned. It also mentions that the Grand Junction CO police were on this frequency as well and came in so cle! ar that Denver officers sometimes responded to calls with similar addresses that were actually intended for Grand Junction officers. I found a reference stating that in 1949 the FRC (pre-FCC) ordered all law enforcement stations to move to VHF. However, it appears that it may have taken years for this move to be completed. Here are some early police radio call signs taken from various historical references: KOP Detroit, KGPX Denver, WPGD Rockford IL, WLAW New York City, WMAZ Indianapolis, KSW Berkeley, WPDA Tulare, KGJX Pasadena, KGPL Los Angeles, KGPI Omaha, KGZY San Bernadino, KGPC St Louis, WPDB WPDC WPDD Chicago, WRR Dallas. _ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2010 Apr 25 0006 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 24 April follow. Solar flux 74 and mid-latitude A-index 12. The mid-latitude K-index at UTC on 25 April was 1 (9 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 25 UTC 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 SFlx 76 76 76 76 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 74 74 A-in 5555911 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 K-in 20211245111211 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
The LA County Sheriff's Dept continued to use this band until the mid 60s. I remember hearing some of their transmissions on about 1650 during the Watts riots in 1965. A14-year old at the time, I found it quite interesting listening. By that time, the LASD had several VHF frequencies for two-way communication with the patrol cars, so it seems odd that they would hang on to the 1.6 MHz channel. Bruce - Original Message - From: "Dave Marthouse" To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 7:21:05 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question Stan, I'm going to take a semi-knowledgeable guess on this one. Back in the 30's 40's and into the 50's police dispatch was done just above the am broadcast band and a bit in the two MHZ band. The dispatch was first only one way from the headquarters to the cars on patrol. Lots of the old radios could tune up into the dispatch frequencies just above the am band. Maybe this is a part of the answer to your question. Add to this fact that perhaps lots of the radios of that day were just designed to tune a little above and maybe below the broadcast band. Dave Marthouse dmartho...@gmail.com ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2010 Apr 24 1806 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 23 April follow. Solar flux 75 and mid-latitude A-index 11. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 24 April was 2 (11 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 UTC 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 SFlx 76 76 76 76 76 76 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 A-in 555555911 11 11 11 11 11 11 K-in 53202112451112 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
Back in the 80's, you could hear cordless phone conversations up in that part of the band. In some cases, I bet trying to get a QSL could be hazardous to life and limb. Back in the 80's, you could hear cordless phone conversations up in that part of the band. In some cases, I bet trying to get a QSL could be hazardous to life and limb. Steve Francis Alcoa, Tennessee ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
Stan, I'm going to take a semi-knowledgeable guess on this one. Back in the 30's 40's and into the 50's police dispatch was done just above the am broadcast band and a bit in the two MHZ band. The dispatch was first only one way from the headquarters to the cars on patrol. Lots of the old radios could tune up into the dispatch frequencies just above the am band. Maybe this is a part of the answer to your question. Add to this fact that perhaps lots of the radios of that day were just designed to tune a little above and maybe below the broadcast band. Dave Marthouse dmartho...@gmail.com ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] OLD AM radios with expanded coverage
My 1946 Philco, a 46-1209 covers 550- 1700 though it actually tunes to 1750. I have a 2 band Philco 41-230. Band 1 covers 550-1500 and band 2 covers 1500 to 3.5 megahertz on the scale but actually tunes close to 4 megahertz. As another note, 540 wasn't added to the band plan until 1955. Powell POP email is powell at backroads DOT net ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] Arizona TP's for 4-24-10
Listened from 1140-1220 utc and the only audio was from JOUB-774 at 1153 utc. Bill Block Prescott Valley, AZ _ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_1 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] TP's for 04/24/10
Listened from 1216-1255 utc. 279RUSSIA, Radio Rossii 1222 very faint audio. 774JAPAN, JOUB NHK2 1216-1220 weak to fair at times. 1566 REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HLAZ 1224 very weak with Chinese? 1231 Fair at times with Japanese. Dennis, Salmon Creek, WA JRC NRD 545 & R8B NW ewe Solar Indices SF 75 A 11 K 1 12:00 utc Local Sunrise 13:09 utc Sunset 03:10 utc ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
Models that provided the old police band went into that range 73, Mac, kr0i In a message dated 4/23/2010 9:07:24 P.M. Central Daylight Time, l8r2...@digging4roots.com writes: I was noticing the other day, my 1948 Firestone radio I keep in the workshop goes up to 1700kc. The X band wasn't officially used until around 1993 if I'm correct. Why does it go that high in the 1st place? Does anyone else know of some of the older tube, and transistor radios that go that high?? ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Off the wall question
Many older tube radios did. The marine radio-telephone band was in the 1620+ segment and I used to hear the marine operators on some of those old radios back in the 1960's. But I can't say for sure if that's why they tuned that far up. Russ Edmunds Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ) [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia] 40:08:45N; 75:16:04W, Grid FN20id FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15' AM: Modified Sony ICF 2010 barefoot --- On Fri, 4/23/10, Stan wrote: > From: Stan > Subject: [IRCA] Off the wall question > To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" > > Date: Friday, April 23, 2010, 10:00 PM > I was noticing the other day, my 1948 > Firestone radio I keep in the workshop goes up to 1700kc. > The X band wasn't officially used until around 1993 if I'm > correct. > Why does it go that high in the 1st place? > Does anyone else know of some of the older tube, and > transistor radios that go that high?? > > ___ > IRCA mailing list > IRCA@hard-core-dx.com > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are > those of the original contributors and do not necessarily > reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing > staff, or officers > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
