[ARC5] NDB IDs

[Geoff]

Dont we still maintain the equipment and runway as well as pay rent? All Honduras got out of it was free bird poop (guano aint cheap when reselling) and bragging rights about sticking it to the Yanquis.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: D C _Mac_ Macdonald 
  To:  mmab at cox.net ; K3HVG Platt, Doran 
  Cc: ARC-5 Mail List 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 8:56 PM
  Subject: RE: [ARC5] NDB IDs


  I think we GAVE it to them 'cause it was 
  an expensive PITA to retain! 
   
  * * * * * * * * * * * 
  * 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
  * (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
  * k2gkk at hotmail.com * 
  * Oklahoma City, OK * 
  * USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
  * * * * * * * * * * * 
   
   
   

   

  > From: geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com
  > To: mmab at cox.net; jeepp at comcast.net
  > Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:58:20 -0400
  > CC: Arc5 at mailman.qth.net
  > Subject: Re: [ARC5] NDB IDs
  > 
  > Swan counted as a seperate DXCC country before we were forced to give it to 
  > Honduras in 1972.
  > 
  > 
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Michael A. Bittner" <mmab at cox.net>
  > To: <jeepp at comcast.net>
  > Cc: <Arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
  > Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 7:27 PM
  > Subject: Re: [ARC5] NDB IDs
  > 
  > 
  > >I recall logging Swan Island sometime in the middle '70s from my former 
  > >home in Manhattan Beach, CA. Equipment was an RCA AVR-104 running on dry 
  > >batteries and the living room curtain rod as an antenna. About the same 
  > >time, I also logged Radio Belize, on their then odd-ball frequency of 834 
  > >kHz, using a BC-946 with a homebrew AC power supply clipped on the back in 
  > >place of the dynamotor.
  > > I too lament the passing of so many NDBs and the 4-course radio range 
  > > stations for DXing, but not for flying. Doing a fade-90 execise on a 
  > > 4-course range in instrument conditions with lightning crashes in your 
  > > headphones was no fun at all.
  > > I also lament the passing of the Consolan station in Petaluma, CA. You 
  > > could always count on it to define the low end of the dial on an 
  > > R-23/ARC-5. When it finally went silent, it was like losing an old 
  > > friend.
  > > Mike, W6MAB
  > > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > > From: D. Platt
  > > Cc: Arc5 at mailman.qth.net
  > > Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:47 PM
  > > Subject: Re: [ARC5] NDB IDs
  > >
  > >
  > > Gents,
  > >
  > > LF'ing can be very interesting. My old BC-779 will do a nice job but I
  > > currently have (for whatever reason) a spare Bendix ADF-T-12C setup with
  > > the loop and sense antennas. ( We still have on in the aircraft for
  > > back-up for the back-up and for a little help on ILS approaches). The
  > > loop setup is infinitely more quiet, of course. I was privy to the
  > > "other end" a few years back when I was on Swan Island, W. Caribbean.
  > > The 407kHz 1000 watt FAA HH beacon attracted a fair amount of SWL
  > > activity such that I bought a consignment of SWL cards to send out. The
  > > longest distance, as I recall, was an SWL in the Netherlands. The thing
  > > is, there are not too many CONUS HH beacons left, if at all. When I was
  > > assigned to Swan, I had to go to the Bahamas to get a famiz with the
  > > equipment. Most LF beacons are "compass locators" running from about 25
  > > to 75 watts, max, and located (typically) around an airdrome. In the
  > > old days, of course, before the VOR system came along, NDBs and Adcock
  > > ranges were the bee's knees. I recall as a kid, and a new ham in the
  > > late 50's, listening to the A/N Adcock range near Millville NJ. In
  > > fact, that range was one of the last ones on the East Coast to be
  > > decommissioned. Truth told, I don't personally know of any CONUS airway
  > > segment that is currently defined by an NDB. There are still a lot of
  > > non-precision NDB approaches in force, however. But, GPS is winning out
  > > in many places. In the Third World, NDBs were the rule up until global
  > > GPS came into regular usage. In Africa, there are still a number of
  > > medium power LF stations on the air (sic) depending on the state of that
  > > country's political stability, at the moment. Another issue there is
  > > that the QRN can be so bad that reliable lock-up is difficult, at best.
  > > Again, GPS saves the day. BTW, I've still got an LF/MF airways chart
  > > from the 40's. Its neat to see how it was done in days of yore.....
  > >
  > > Jeep - K3HVG


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  No virus found in this message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
  Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5365 - Release Date: 10/31/12