Boring or Exciting Hobbyists' Definition? Re: "High Bird" Re: [MilCom] 149.5375 FM

[Ken]

Larry & the group:

We really don't see many logging posted about Civil Air Patrol (CAP) ground 
radio operations and/or flight operations (CAPFLIGHT XXX, XXXX).   Perhaps 
overall there really isn't that much ground radio usage by CAP.  HOWEVER, I 
would think there would be a lot more reporting of CAP flight activity (ATC 
comms) since CAP has a fleet over 500 single engine aircraft flying around 
per their "quick facts" public information at:  www.cap.gov

IMHO there's two major aspects of hobby radio monitoring.
1.  Basically hearing the callsigns; noting the frequencies in use; & time 
of use
2.  Analyzing the content/context of the radio communications and perhaps 
conducting additional research on this to get a more indepth understanding 
of what is monitored

For example Mr Google digs up PUBLIC information on "Civil Air Patrol 
Highbird Procedures"
http://wawg.cap.gov/members/training/Aircrew%20Training/aid/HBM.html
http://cawg.cap.gov/html/operations/other/HighbirdandOpsNormalMissionCommunicationsProcedures.pdf
http://level2.cap.gov/documents/u_082503075909.pdf

I would think that radio hobbyists could get a good idea of potential 
geographic areas that might have CAP ground & air radio traffic by checking 
out http://cap.findlocation.com/ and carefully read the details on the 
websearch results.  Of course there's also webpages for various CAP regions, 
wings (states) in addition to the units websites listed.

I guess in the end the entire milcom/milair hobby can be "boring" at 
times!!!  Much of the monitored activity is routine in nature, BUT let's 
face it if we don't monitor the routine we definitely won't hear the 
"exciting", which of course the definition of "exciting" is an individual 
hobbyists' decision.  (and I would define "exciting" as monitoring activity 
on a frequency that normally doesn't have much activity  -- perhaps usage 
more than content).

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Van Horn" <n5fpw at brmemc.net>
To: "Ken" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>; "Chris Corley" <ki4jpg at bellsouth.net>; 
<milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: "High Bird" Re: [MilCom] 149.5375 FM


> >Pretty exciting to pickup radio comms from CAP aircraft engaged in 
> >volunteer service either in a real mission or practice mission isn't 
> >it!!!???
>
> I wouldn't go that far Ken. Whatever stinky weed you are smoking up there 
> Ken I want some. ;-))
> Around here during missions it is actually pretty boring comms.
>
>> I wonder what interesting facts Mr. Google can tells us about CAP 
>> Highbird Operations & Procedures? :)
>
> They are comm relays for mission aircraft and ground creqs (including CD 
> missions). No big mystery. They were used during Katrina in 2005 and were 
> mentioned several times in official AF press reports.
>
> Larry Van Horn, N5FPW
> Teak Publishing, Brasstown, NC
> Assistant/Technical Editor Monitoring Times