[Milsurplus] Helicopter Comms Intercept as referenced in "The Greatest Beer Run Ever"

[Kevin Kibbe]

It's always been my understanding that there was a near total lack of radio
comms security in Vietnam, that the U.S. didn't regard the VC/NVA
capabilities seriously.

Kevin

On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 5:22 AM Rob Flory <farmer.rob.flory at gmail.com> wrote:

> I recently read this book, quite a story, and it had some radio content.
>
> One of the author's friends had a job installing upgraded comms gear in
> helicopters because VC or NVA were intercepting or at least detecting
> helicopter comms with an ordinary FM radio.
>
> What was not clear was whether that meant a broadcast radio or an FM field
> radio of some kind.
>
> I believe helos were equipped with low band FM gear and that either:
>
> 1)captured or interoperable sets were used or
> 2)harmonics of the low band FM gear were detected on a relatively empty FM
> broadcast band.
>
> Option 1 would give legit intercept capability, which could be defeated by
> encryption.  Option 2 might give enough early warning capability to either
> disappear or assume a defensive posture.  Presence of signal, encrypted or
> not, might give the necessary warning.
>
> Encryption would require the ground pounders to be encrypted also.
>
> Anyone know anything that might flesh out the story?
>
> RF
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