[Premium-Rx] Spinoffs of SAQ test

[Ben Dover]

Howdy, Troops!

Even tho actual reception of SAQ was a big question mark here,
we DID observe two things on VLF that we've never copied here
before.


First...  there is the FSK transmission on 18.6 KHz.

This is listed in my references as a Navy TACAMO (TAke Charge
And Move Out) channel.

For those unfamiliar with the system... TACAMO is intended to
maintain contact with nuclear submarines in the event the land 
based Command and Control stations are taken out. It consists 
of aircraft carrying VLF transmitters (a couple of hundred KW?)
that are loaded into the damnedest trailing wire antenna you
could possibly believe; try 1000 feet PLUS!

I read somewhere that during VLF transmission they perform a
maneuver that forms the trailing wire into a big helix.

They used to use C-130 Herky Birds for this job, but they now
have transitioned to a more purpose built turbojet aircraft.

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/e-6.htm


When I first heard of TACAMOs I tried to copy them, but without
success. Now, it looks like there's at least one in the logbook.


The second thing...

When I first tuned the rigs on, I encountered a VERY unusual
signal on 21.4 KHz. 

What it consisted of was dead carrier for several minutes, in a
pattern of 5 seconds on & 5 seconds off. VERY big carrier!

It was getting close to SAQ time, so I left it with the intention
of returning later to investigate further.

When I got back the carrier was gone; in it's place was NPM,
roaring in louder than I've ever heard it before with FSK!

I'd appreciate anyone who knows for sure commenting, but I think
that the carrier was NPM bringing up a new transmitter or antenna,
and tuning the beast up before commencing traffic transmission.


In a way it made me a bit sad to hear that. When I was learning
code for the General class license I used to copy to Navy's "FOX
SKED" broadcasts on VLF as code practice, on an ancient RAL
regenerative receiver. 

A CW signal with a million watts or so behind it cuts thru the
night like a razor; it DEFINITELY gets your attention!!! Oddly,
while it's also powerful, the MFSK they use today doesn't have 
the same sort of "punch". If somebody had grabbed a hand key &
sent out something during that tuning period, Im sure it would
have REALLY gotten a LOT of attention!


73's,

Tom, W9LBB