[MilCom] Milcom Monitoring History?

[domyers at voicenet.com]

> *When did hobbyists first start to monitor milcom activity (especially in 
> the UHF aero/VHF tacticals band)?

Ken-
My first scanner that was capable of monitoring UHF was a Regency MX5500.  To the best of 
my knowledge that was first scanner on the market able to monitor UHF.  I could not wait 
to buy it!  In fact, I still have it.  It is sitting right next to me.  I bought that 
after college graduation around 1982. I then purchased two Radio Shack Pro 2004s. 
Purchased in about 1984 or '85.  Still have both of those as well.  Before that I use to 
use a crystal radio with VHF only.

> *What type of equipment was initially used?  (Wasn't the RS Pro 2003 the 
> first UHF aero capabable scanner?)

I don't think so.  I think I would have bought one.  But, I could be wrong.  Didn't have 
much money back in those days.

> *What publications were loggings & frequency information first published in?
> I know that Tom Kneitel (CRB Research Books Inc) was probably the first 
> writer to publish a comprehensive frequency directory (that covered military 
> frequencies) "The 'Top Secret' Registry of U.S. Government Radio 
> Frequencies", starting in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1990 with the 
> final edition printed in 1993... 

That was my first.  Then Darrell Symington's book.  I still have both of those as well.

> Scanner Master.

I bought and still have those too.

> I would imagine that the Radio Communications Monitoring Association (RCMA) 

Boy do I missd that newsletter.  It was one of favorites.  I sent my money in for a re-
subscription and also paid $25.00 for a large book they were selling "SCANNING AMERICA" 
or something like that and they went out of business.  Never got the book or my 
subscription.  Or my money back.  Isn't mail fraud?

Let's not forget NORTHEAST SCANNING NEWS (now The Scanner Digest Newsletter), Pop Comm 
and Monitoring Times.  I starting subscribing to Monitoring Times when it was a black and 
white newspaper.  [God I am old!]  I still have all my old Monitoring Times and Pop Comm 
along way to many scanners and amateur radios to mention!
Dan
Horsham, Pa