[Premium-Rx] FCC Remote Control receivers

[Geoff Fors]

I may not have been clear in my recent posting and some off-list correspondence suggests a further comment.  As far as I know, the Watkins Johnson equipment at FCC was not remote controlled although there is the capability for doing so on certain models and apparently that capability was occasionally used.  The present Icom equipment at Livermore is all remotely operated as is the antenna information for DF purposes.  This allows any office to dial up the station and control one of the receivers.  I seem to recall something like 5 receiving positions.

I no longer have a contact at FCC so at the present time I cannot get info on the remote control software for W-J.

If it's not too off-topic, I would like to mention what the monitoring vehicles used.  As of three years ago they were still using WJ 8700 series receivers under the dash of various SUV's which have custom made fiberglass roof sections which conceal a proprietary DF antenna.  Traditionally, they would make an evidentiary record of violations by using a large VCR/camcorder camera trained on the display of the receiver with the audio fed to the tape and a time hack added to the screen.  These VCR's were those old top-loader types, Beta and VHS.  The previous vehicles were Chevrolet Caprices which also had custom made fiberglass roofs covered with vinyl top material, and in that case the passenger side seat was removed to allow the W-J receiver equipment rack and the video tape recorder. To my knowledge the Caprices were all sold a few years ago, at least in the west coast area.  The antennas, still in the cars because they were the roof,  were disabled by applying 120V AC to the active components.  A shame for something which probably cost more than the cars did.  The present inventory of Watkins Johnson receivers seems to be reserved for keeping the mobile and special projects fleet going.  There are also some other special RV type vehicles with much larger and newer assortments of gear inside, these after 9/11 are becoming rather classified although they can be seen at large events such as inaugurations, visits by foreign dignitaries, and so forth.

If I can learn what remote control software they used on the Watkins Johnson equipment, I'll post details to the list.

Geoff Fors
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