[okay, okay, working on formatting now!] I've had very good luck with the store-brand rechargeables from C. Crane Co. They have some other useful things too, particularly LED gadgets and solar-powered rechargers. Their prices are fair and their service has been impeccable.

As I checked the link, I found these article linked on their front page. Terrorist Attack

My God, I can't tell you what we went through this morning. Lindsy and I were at Newark, about to catch a flight from Newark to San Francisco. We pulled into the parking lot, and heard of a commuter plane crashing into the World Trade Center. By the time we were in the airport, we saw a second plane crash into the World Trade Center. At that point Lindsy called California to tell them that our flight was canceled, and we learned that the Pentagon was also attacked. Shortly after that, phones went dead - cell phones and public phones - and most of the airport TV monitors froze. Police who were near us also turned off their radios, and walked around in radio silence, until they were all told in person to switch to a designated channel - I was standing next to a group of officers when they were told - that's how I know.

We were eventually evacuated from the airport - but not by anyone official. Instead one young guy on a radio got word from some airport personnel, that they were to leave the building. By the time we got outside, no one was there to give anyone any direction - and as we stood outside, we watched the towers collapse - easily visible from Newark. Many of the people standing there also worked in New York - many just stared with panicked awe - stunned that a familiar cityscape just vanished. Some WWII vets who stood with us, said simply, "I never thought I'd see this again." Later adding, "now they'll see." In the midst of all this, we were eventually told that the police were sending in buses to take people off the airport grounds. When asked where they would take us - the officers had no idea - "just off the airport," we heard. Eventually, we got back to our car - the highway - the NJ Turnpike was closed when we go to it - then they let us on - going in the other direction - a caravan of ambulances - just terrifying. I'm still very shaken - especially after hearing about the downed flight from Newark to San Francisco - same route we were taking - left just minutes before our flight. Absolute sadness. We're okay. Just very shaken - and very scared.

And this:

Posted: 2001-09-11 22:08:23.197

As I write this the entire airspace system is, for all intents and purposes, shut down. Minimal flights of any type are allowed. Civilian commercial flights as well as all civilian flight training flights are curtailed until further notice. The bare minimum flights allowed are specific military, life guard (air ambulance), and law enforcement. Accordingly the air traffic communications system is, for the most part, dead as we speak. Monitoring ATC frequencies will be somewhat of a challange for the forseeable future. The civilian communications structure (VHF) is from 118.000MHz to 142.975MHz - roughly 1000 frequencies. The military communications (UHF) lie between 220.000 to 399.975MHz. All traffic heard in the UHF band will be military. Many of the military cargo and helicopter aircraft may also utilize the VHF or civilian frequencies. However, if you have a listing of aviation frequencies for your area I recommend you use them to monitor what's going on. Other frequencies you can monitor, though I do not guarantee their operations in any particular area, include:

121.5 - VHF Emergency* 122.75
- Air to air government 123.1
- Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue 126.2
- Military Control Towers 142.35
- FEMA 142.375
- FEMA 142.425
- FEMA 142.975
- FEMA 148.15
- Civil Air Patrol
149.925 - Civil Air Patrol
155.34 - Medical frequency 156.3
- Search and Rescue 162.687
- Air Force 1 237.9
- Coast Guard Search and Rescue 243.0
- UHF Emergency* 249.8
- Hi Altitude Fighters 252.1
- Mid air refuel 257.8
- Military Control Towers 265.8
- Presidential Helicopters 282.8
- Coast Guard Search and Rescue 305.55
- Air Force 1 311.0
- Mid air refuel 319.1
- Hi Altitude 336.8
- Air Force 1 381.7
- Coast Guard 384.1
- North American Air Defense

In addition you might try the following Internet sites:

http://www.fallingrain.com/air/airports.cgi?NEW=1
http://www.thirtythousandfeet.com/database.htm

Near the US/Canadian border you might try:
http:www.canairradio.com
Aeroplanner also has maps you may be able to use: http://www.aeroplanner.com

In closing I recommend three things:
1) keep the scanners running,
2) give blood,
3) pray.
Bill Hoefer flacap388@hotmail.com

America Under Attack: Listening During This Crisis Posted: 2001-09-11 20:02:12.670

With the world focused on today's tragic events in the USA, much of the Internet has been bogged down simply from overuse; people trying to listen to foreign countries on their computers. Still, as we've said before, when the chips are down, shortwave radio is still the best medium for hearing the news from the source. And while world attention points to state-sponsored terrorism, many world voices offer differing viewpoints and coverage of these cowardly crimes against America and our innocent civilians. Below is a brief quick-start for monitoring these select countries. Tomorrow evening we'll have more information posted here. The following overseas shortwave radio services are directed specifically at North America. Please know that shortwave schedules are subject to change. The international time standard, formerly Greenwich Mean Time, now UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) is five hours ahead of EST. These international shortwave stations also broadcast in other languages, at various times throughout the day to other parts of the world. Please note that with an ordinary AM radio receiver, at night much of the Eastern USA from Maine to Florida should be able to tune New York City's WCBS radio on 880 kHz most evenings. Certainly it's not going to be crystal clear, but you'll at least hear events as they unfold live. Also, check 1500 kHz for WTOP in Washington, D.C., which also is a powerful AM station. Shortwave stations include:

Country/Station Time (UTC) Frequency
Israel Radio International 0500-0515 9435, 15640 1130-1135 15640, 17535 1700-1730 17535 2000-2025 11605, 15650, 17535
Syria; Radio Damascus 2005-2210 12085, 13610
Egypt; Radio Cairo 0200-0330 9475, 9900
Kuwait; Radio Kuwait 1800-2100 11990
Turkey; Voice of Turkey 2300-2400 9655
United Arab Emirates, Dubai 2200-2400 9605, 9770, 11885
Jordan; R. Jordan, Amman 1100 11690

There are several military shortwave frequencies that have remained constantly active in the USB (upper-sideband mode) including the following:

11175 11244 13330 15016
The New York State RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is active on 3993.5 and 7248 kHz,
and other activity may be on 7243 and 3947 kHz as needed.
A FEMA (Federal Emergency Management) Net has been active on 14.396 (USB) in the amateur radio 20-meter band.
Military aircraft in your regional area are heard in theAM mode from 225-400 MHz.

CONFIRMED frequencies during this crisis include, but are not limited to the following:
134.550 134.975 138.125 138.425 138.550 233.525 235.90 243.6 252.0 259.90 265.40 271.0 282.6 282.7 288.4 364.2.

Hurricane Season Frequencies! Posted: 2001-08-23 09:48:30.357

Special to CQ & Popular Communications courtesy Buck Rogers, K4ABT who compiled the exhausitve listing from fellow hams and MARS members. (Thanks, Buck!) The following hurricane season intercepts have been gleaned from numerous sources. Times and frequencies are subject to frequent change, and are listed for reference only. This issue of the list contains numerous updates, especially re hurricane hunter aircraft frequencies.3357.0 FAX pictures from NAM Norfolk (0000-1200) 3407.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "ALPHA" 4271.0 FAX pictures from CFH Halifax (2200-1000) 4426.0 USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000) 4724.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS 5562.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "BRAVO" 5610.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "CHARLIE" 6496.0 FAX pictures from CFH Halifax (continuous) 6501.0 USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000 1130 1600 2200 2330) 6673.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "DELTA" 6739.0 Hurricane hunter acft-GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension 7507.0 USN/USCG hurricane net (pri) 7508.5 FAA Caribbean hurricane net 8764.0 USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000 1130 1600 1730 2200 2300) 8876.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "ECHO" 8968.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS 8992.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension 9380.0 USN/USCG hurricane net (sec) 10015.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "FOXTROT" 10536.0 FAX pictures from CFH Halifax (continuous) 10865.0 FAX pictures from NAM Norfolk (1200-0000) 11175.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension 13089.0 USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (1130 1600 1730 2200 2330) 13200.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS 13267.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "GOLF" 13510.0 FAX pictures from CFH Halifax (1000-2200) 15016.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension 17314.0 USCG wx from NMN Portsmouth (1730) 17901.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "HOTEL" 17976.0 Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS 21937.0 National Hurricane Center air-gnd "INDIA" AMATEUR HIGH-FREQUENCY EMERGENCY HURRICANE NETS South Texas Emergency (CW) 3693.0 (LSB) Alabama (CW) 3695.0 (LSB) Caribbean Wx 3808.0 (1030) Antigua/Antilles 3815.0 (LSB) Inter-island 75-meter (continuous watch) 3815.0 (LSB) Gulf Coast West Hurricane 3845.0 (LSB) Mississippi Traffic 3862.0 (LSB) Texas Traffic/Health & Welfare 3873.0 (LSB)(Night) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 3873.0 (LSB) Virginia Emergency 3906.0 (LSB) Mississippi ARES 3910.0 (LSB) North Carolina 3915.0 (LSB) Louisiana Emergency 3915.0 (LSB) Mississippi ARES 3923.0 (LSB) Tar Heel Emergency 3923.0 (LSB) Southwest Traffic 3925.0 (LSB)(Altn) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 3925.0 (LSB) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 3935.0 (LSB) Belize 3935.0 (LSB) Southern Florida Emergency 3940.0 (LSB) California Wx 3948.0 (LSB)(1400) Northern Florida Emergency 3950.0 (LSB) South Texas Emergency 3955.0 (LSB) Alabama Emergency 3965.0 (LSB) Gulf Coast (outgoing only) 3967.0 (LSB) Texas RACES 3975.0 (LSB) Georgia ARES 3975.0 (LSB) Mexican National 3987.5 (LSB) Gulf Coast Health & Welfare 3993.5 (LSB) Gulf Coast Wx 3995.0 (LSB) The Sand Box 7063.5 (LSB) Manana 7070.0 (LSB) Caribbean Maritime Mobile 7115.0 (LSB)(1200) Antigua/Antilles 7165.0 (LSB) Inter-island 40-meter (continuous watch) 7165.0 (LSB) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 7225.0 (LSB) Southwest Traffic 7230.0 (LSB) South Carolina Emergency 7232.0 (LSB) Tar Heel Emergency 7232.0 (LSB)(Altn) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 7235.0 (LSB) Baja 7235.0 (LSB) Texas Emergency 7240.0 (LSB) Alabama Emergency 7243.0 (LSB) South Carolina Emergency 7243.0 (LSB) Southern Louisiana 7245.0 (LSB) Southern Florida Emergency 7247.0 (LSB)(Altn) Northern Florida Emergency 7247.5 (LSB)(Altn) Texas RACES 7248.0 (LSB) Belize 7250.0 (LSB) Texas Emergency 7250.0 (LSB) Northern Florida Emergency 7254.0 (LSB) Gulf Coast West Hurricane 7260.0 (LSB) Gulf Coast Health & Welfare 7264.0 (LSB) Waterway 7268.0 (LSB) Texas Traffic 7273.0 (LSB)(Day) Georgia ARES 7275.0 (LSB) NTS Region 5 7280.0 (LSB)(Day) Gulf Coast (outgoing only) 7283.0 (LSB) Central Gulf Coast Hurricane 7290.0 (LSB) Gulf Coast Wx 7290.0 (LSB) Hawaii Emergency 7290.0 (LSB) Traffic 7290.0 (LSB) Caribbean Emergency 14185.0 Pacific Inter-island 14215.0 Health & welfare 14222.0 Health & welfare 14245.0 UN Radio Readiness Network 14268.0 Bermuda 14275.0 International Amateur Radio Net 14275.0 Caribus Health & Welfare 14283.0 Intercontinental/Maritime Mobile Service 14300.0 Health & welfare 14303.0 International Maritime Mobile 14313.0 Health & welfare 14316.0 Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-NHC) 14325.0 Louisiana 14340.0 (1900) Health & welfare (Spanish) 21310.0 Inter-America Health & Welfare 21390.0 Transatlantic Maritime 21400.0 Health & welfare (Spanish) 28450.0 GLOBE WIRELESS WEATHER BROADCASTS SITOR Mode WNU: 04210.5 06327.0 08425.5 12588.5 12607.5 16834.5 Gulf/Caribbean/Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Bulletins (0221 0521 0821 1121 1421 1721 2021 2321) Gulf/Caribbean Offshore Forecast (0351 0951 1551 2151) VCT: 04217.5 06329.5 08435.0 12610.5 16844.0 North Atlantic High Seas Wx (0451 1051 1651 2251) KFS: 04211.5 06315.5 08417.5 12580.5 16829.5 22377.5 Eastern/Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Bulletins (0221 0521 0821 1121 1421 1721 2021 2321) Pacific High Seas & Offshore Wx (0451 1051 1651 2251) CW Mode WNU: 00478 04310 08570 12826.5 17117.6 22575.5 Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea & North Atlantic High Seas Wx (0350 0950 1550 2150) KFS: 00476 08558.4 12844.5 17026 22581.5 Pacific High Seas Wx (0450 1050 1650 2250)

Whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of land in the northern western hemisphere, the Hurricane Watch Net is operational on 14325. The Hurricane Watch Net provides communication between the National Hurricane Center and the affected areas. During a communications emergency, W1AW transmits special voice bulletins on the hour on 01855, 03990, 07290, 14290, 18160, 21390 and 28590. The National Institute of Standards and Technology broadcasts storm warnings on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 & 20 MHz AM according to the following schedule: WWV hh:08 WWVH hh:38

Hurricane reconnaissance aircraft now operate primarily on U.S. Global High Frequency System (GHFS) frequencies. Best frequencies to monitor are those guarded by McDill and Ascension. After initial contact on one of the published GHFS frequencies, listen closely for them to switch to a non-published discrete frequency to pass traffic. Aircraft call signs are "GULL-nn" or "TEAL-nn" (where nn is a 2-digit number), and "NOAA-42" and "NOAA-43." The GULL and TEAL aircraft are type WC-130 based at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. The NOAA aircraft are type WP-3D based at MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. Look for the new NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP (tail number N49RF, call sign "NOAA-49").

Saving The BBC Posted: 2001-08-23 09:25:35.030

Be sure to check out savebbc.org, a site devoted to reactivating the North American BBC service. Meanwhile, check out this month's (October) issue for lots of exciting shortwave listening fare if you're BBC deprived

Catch It While You Can! Posted: 2001-08-23 09:23:48.247

United Patriot Radio - call it what you will - pirate or clandestine, but nevertheless operating from within the U.S. - has contacted us saying they're on the air LIVE from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday. Operator Steve Anderson, (today a captain, tomorrow a lieutenant?) would have listeners believe the station's operation is pretty much touch-and-go because of lack of funds. Go figure. Maybe a loan from Uncle Sam would help?

CQ And Pop'Comm Toll-Free Line Slammed Posted: 2001-08-23 09:22:40.970

It seems that our toll-free order line (1-800-853-9797) has been "slammed" and we can't even figure out who "slammed" us. As a result, it will be offline for the next 8-10 days, until it is straightened out. Until then, please call our regular number (1-516-681-2922) for subscriptions, book orders, etc. We regret any inconvenience and expense you may incur. We will post a notice when the service is restored.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Answers

Thanks for the list, I copied them. Was going to give you the URL for the NYPD radio signal codes but, the post is no longer on another site. I'm glad I printed it out earlier today. Two and a half pages worth is just too much for this slow typist to type (the word typist may be stretching it for me). Yes, I have a scanner... I haven't put the cds in for it, nor do I know how to use it after having it for over 2 years.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Thanks for the frequencies. I need to get more organized with my 2- meter.

Wish I could remember the Internet source for radio stuff, but the link was wiped out when my system was upgraded this spring. (Reminder to self, look for catalog at home...)

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Brooks, I had these sites book marked...hope you find something of use to you:

Great site

Great Great Site

Let me know what you think of them.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001