29 May 2008

Uniden BCD-996T


President Bush's economic stimulus package recently allowed me to upgrade the scanner in my car from a BC-780 to a new BCD-996T. So far I've found the 996 to be a good selection, it is doing everything I expected it to and is performing well in bands that I monitor frequently. The 996 is a more advanced radio than the BC-780 that served so well and gives me more monitoring capability and more memory. It allows me to monitor not only analog signals, but digital signals as well. I can store less frequently used frequencies and talkgroups, store systems from areas I visit occasionally without having to reprogram the radio, and have close-call capability for finding new frequencies. It also has several features that make it an excellent choice for a mobile scanner: easily adjustable backlight and temporary lockout. Another outstanding feature is the ability to program in sites for trunking systems and to select which sites you want the scanner to monitor.

The BCD-996T is very similar to the two BC-780s I own in sensitivity and selectivity. In RF-Hostile environments such as the areas around Memorial and Candler hospitals and the area around I-516/US 17, the 996 can be easily overloaded in parts of the VHF spectrum, from 350-360 MHz and from 380-390 MHz. This is no different from the performance of the BC-780 in the same areas. The 996's performance on all of the bands I monitor regularly is quite good provided the appropriate antenna is used. I mostly monitor military aviation VHF and UHF, so I use a Diamond SG7200NMO antenna, an amateur radio antenna that I have found to perform quite well for military UHF. Using that antenna, I have excellent reception on military VHF, military UHF, marine VHF, Federal VHF, and Federal UHF. On the Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF TRS, I've found that I can monitor the Hunter AAF and Richmond Hill sites for much of my daily commute. The SG7200NMO does not work well for 800 MHz however, so I usually don't use the 996 for 800 monitoring. Using an antenna designed for 800 MHz monitoring, the 996 does quite well on the Chatham-Effingham TRS with no problems on digital or analog systems. I've found that I can monitor the Kerry St. site, the Montgomery site, and the Quacco Rd. site from most areas of the city.

I have conventional and trunked systems for the areas along the route from Savannah to the Warner Robins Air Museum, for the areas along I-95 in Georgia, and parts of southern South Carolina where I travel occasionally programmed into the 996. Frequencies for all of the military operating areas, ranges, air traffic control, and military units that operate in this area are programmed in as well. Even with all of this programmed in, I'm still only using approximately a quarter of the radio's memory!

One tool I've not had the chance to play around with yet is "Close Call," which turns the scanner into a frequency counter of sorts. It can run the close call feature full time or in the background; when it detects a strong signal, it tunes the scanner to that frequency and alerts you so that you can monitor the frequency. This is a great feature for event monitoring and for finding frequencies in an unfamiliar area.

Two features that make the 996 a great choice for mobile installation are its easily adjustable display backlight and temporary lockout. You can easily adjust the display backlight on the 996 by simply pressing the volume knob. That cycles the display between backlight off, 3 brightness levels of a green display, and 3 levels of a red display. No longer do you have the problem of the display being too dim in bright sunlight or too bright at night; you can change the setting without having to pull over and play with the menus. When mobile monitoring, it is not unusual to come across some local interference that causes a channel to hang up in just that small area of town. The 996 offers two different forms of channel lockout: permanent and temporary. Temporary Lockout is accomplished with one push of the lockout button; this only locks the channel out until the next time the scanner is powered off and on. Permanent Lockout locks out the channel until you manually unlock it. If you run across some local interference, you just hit the lockout button once; when you are out of the offending area, turn the radio and off (just a twist of a knob) and everything is back to normal.

With trunking systems, the BCD-99T allows you to program the systems by site. You can turn these sites on and off within the system much like you can turn off groups of talkgroups within the system. This feature is great for monitoring systems like the Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF system where not all traffic is heard over every site. It also makes transitioning through site coverage areas very easy, another excellent feature for a mobile scanner!

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Hurricane Preparedness Week: Thursday, May 29, 2008

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT THU MAY 29 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

WHEN A HURRICANE FORMS AND IS HEADING IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION...A HURRICANE WATCH MAY BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. A WATCH MEANS HURRICANE CONDITIONS... WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER...ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SPECIFIED AREA... USUALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

WHEN IN A WATCH AREA...FREQUENTLY LISTEN TO RADIO... TELEVISION...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS ON THE STORM.

MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLES ARE FILLED WITH GAS AND IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. INSPECT AND SECURE MOBILE HOME TIE DOWNS. PREPARE TO COVER ALL WINDOW AND DOOR OPENINGS WITH SHUTTERS OR OTHER SHIELDING MATERIALS.

STOCK UP ON CANNED FOOD...FIRST AID SUPPLIES...BATTERIES... DRINKING WATER... MEDICATIONS AND AN EXTRA SUPPLY OF CASH. PREPARE TO BRING INSIDE LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE...LIGHT WEIGHT OBJECTS...SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND GARDEN TOOLS.

PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME. THEY ARE UNSAFE IN HIGH WINDS...NO MATTER HOW WELL FASTENED TO THE GROUND. PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE ON THE COASTLINE...A BARRIER ISLAND...OR NEAR A RIVER. ALSO PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE IN A HIGH RISE BUILDING AS HURRICANE WINDS ARE STRONGER AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

Hurricane Preparedness Week: Wednesday, May 28, 2008

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT WED MAY 28 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

THERE ARE NUMEROUS DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS. THEY INCLUDE STORM SURGE...HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING...DAMAGING WINDS... TORNADOES...HIGH SURF...BEACH EROSION...AND RIP CURRENTS.

STORM SURGE.
STORM SURGE IS A LARGE DOME OF WATER...OFTEN 50 TO 100 MILES WIDE...THAT SWEEPS ACROSS THE COASTLINE MAINLY TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL. THE SURGE OF HIGH WATER... ALONG WITH DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE DEVASTATING. TYPICALLY...THE STRONGER THE HURRICANE AND THE SHALLOWER THE COASTAL SHELF...THE HIGHER THE SURGE WILL BE. ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST...STORM SURGE IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING.
WIDESPREAD TORRENTIAL RAINS...OFTEN IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES...CAN PRODUCE DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS. THIS IS THE MAJOR HAZARD TO AREAS WELL INLAND. FLOODING FROM HURRICANE FLOYD IN 1999 CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OVER EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. THERE WERE ALSO OVER 50 DEATHS DUE TO FLOYD...PRIMARILY CAUSED BY FRESH WATER FLOODING. IN 2005...TROPICAL STORM TAMMY PRODUCED BETWEEN 10 AND 15 INCHES OF RAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD FLOODING.

DAMAGING WINDS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...74 MPH OR GREATER...CAN DESTROY POORLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS AND MOBILE HOMES. DEBRIS...SUCH AS SIGNS... ROOFING MATERIAL...AND SMALL OBJECTS LEFT OUTSIDE BECOME FLYING MISSILES IN HURRICANES. WINDS OFTEN STAY ABOVE HURRICANE STRENGTH WELL INLAND AS EVIDENCED BY HURRICANE HUGO WHICH BATTERED CHARLOTTE
NORTH CAROLINA WITH GUSTS TO OVER 75 MPH...DOWNING TREES AND POWER LINES AND CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

TORNADOES.
TORNADOES MOST OFTEN OCCUR IN THUNDERSTORMS EMBEDDED IN RAIN BANDS WELL AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM. HOWEVER...THEY CAN ALSO OCCUR NEAR THE EYE WALL. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004...THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE FRANCES PRODUCED 20 CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COUNTY WARNING AREA COVERING PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

HIGH SURF...BEACH EROSION AND RIP CURRENTS.
TROPICAL SYSTEMS ALSO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL COASTAL HAZARDS SUCH AS HIGH SURF...BEACH EROSION AND DEADLY RIP CURRENTS. THE HIGH SURF CAUSES EXTENSIVE BEACH EROSION AND CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS... WHICH ARE NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM LAND. HIGH SURF ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM TAMMY IN 2005 PRODUCED EXTENSIVE BEACH EROSION ALONG THE COASTS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. FURTHERMORE...SEVERAL HOMES WERE DESTROYED IN EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA.

27 May 2008

Hurricane Preparedness Week 2008: Tuesday May 27, 2008

From the NWS Charleston Website:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

PREPAREDNESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR MINIMIZING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS. EVERYONE IS URGED TO DEVELOP A HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN AND REVIEW IT BEFORE EACH HURRICANE SEASON. SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PLAN WILL BE ADDRESSED TODAY.

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TROPICAL WATCH/WARNING TERMINOLOGY USED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SPECIFICALLY...A WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN ABOUT 36 HOURS WHILE A WARNING IS THEN ISSUED WHEN THOSE SAME CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS.

LEARN THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS FROM TROPICAL SYSTEMS IN YOUR AREA. DETERMINE YOUR ELEVATION ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND WHETHER YOU ARE AT RISK FOR STORM SURGE.

LEARN EVACUATION ROUTES AND THE LOCATIONS OF OFFICIAL SHELTERS. IF YOU HAVE PETS... FIND OUT WHICH SHELTERS AND HOTELS WILL ACCEPT THEM.

REVIEW THE WORKING CONDITION OF EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT...SUCH AS FLASHLIGHTS...BATTERY-POWERED RADIOS AND GENERATORS. ENSURE THAT ENOUGH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES ARE ON HAND. OBTAIN AND STORE MATERIALS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY SECURE YOUR HOME SUCH AS PLYWOOD. CLEAR CLOGGED RAIN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS. KEEP TREES AND SHRUBS TRIMMED.

REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE POLICY. MOST HAZARD INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT INCLUDE FLOODING. FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES CAN BE OBTAINED BUT DO NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. IN ADDITION...DETERMINE WHERE YOU CAN STORE YOUR BOAT.

CITIZENS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR OTHERS REQUIRING MORE INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CHARLESTON... LOCAL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...LOCAL AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTER OR PROJECT IMPACT PERSONNEL.

Hurricane Preparedness Week 2008: Monday May 26, 2008

From the NWS Charleston website:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT MON MAY 26 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK RUNS FROM MAY 25 THROUGH MAY 31...

NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK BEGAN YESTERDAY AND RUNS THROUGH THROUGH SATURDAY. PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT... AMERICAN RED CROSS AND PROJECT IMPACT ALL AGREE THAT PREPAREDNESS IS THE KEY TO MINIMIZING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PREVENTING LOSS OF LIFE. THIS ANNUAL EVENT GIVES PERSONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND REVIEW THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WEATHER HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS. THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON WILL TRANSMIT AWARENESS INFORMATION AND PREPAREDNESS TIPS EACH DAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.

THE OFFICIAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS ON JUNE 1 AND CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER 30. HOWEVER...TROPICAL SYSTEMS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME. THUS...IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL PERSONS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HURRICANE SAFETY PROCEDURES AND FORMULATE A SAFETY PLAN OF THEIR OWN.

THE IMPACTS OF HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT ONLY FELT AT THE COAST BUT POSSIBLY HUNDREDS OF MILES INLAND AS WELL. EVEN THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL SYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. FOR EXAMPLE...THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM ALLISON IN 2001 PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN HOUSTON TEXAS AND THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANES FRANCES AND JEANNE PRODUCED TORNADO OUTBREAKS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO DESIGN A HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN LONG BEFORE A HURRICANE ACTUALLY THREATENS. WE WILL DISCUSS SUCH PLANS AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS HURRICANE HAZARDS BEGINNING ON TUESDAY.

Southside Fire Station 14

I finally have had a chance to find out what Station Number the new Southside Fire Station on Elba Island has; it is Station 14. I was able to catch SSFD's morning radio checks today and hear them do a radio check with Station 14/Engine 14. No doubt this is the new station and Engine that will cover the area that Southside recently took over from Savannah Fire.

I wonder if they have skipped Station 13 for reasons of superstition or if there is another station expansion planned?

In regards to Elba Island, it was recently reported in the Savannah Morning News that El Paso LNG and the City of Savannah have come to an agreement in which Savannah Fire will continue responding to the Elba Island facility. I can't help but think that, from the public safety perspective, they have come to the most common sense decision.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

20 May 2008

VMFA-122 "Werewolves" Base

VMFA-122 has recently changed it's squadron Base frequency. Formerly using 253.100, they are now using 361.800. 361.800 was previously used at MCAS Beaufort by VMFA-115 for their squadron Base.

VMFA-115 is currently deployed, so we'll have to see what they use for their squadron Base frequency when they return.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 01-14 May 2008

I haven't had as much radio time as usual the last few weeks, so I apologize for the lack of monitoring recaps over that time. Below is a recap of what monitoring I've been able to do over the first half of May.

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops

ARMY 35357 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN?)
ARMY 35372 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN?)
ARMY 45462 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 45464 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57013 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN
ARMY 03748 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26189 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26408 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26412 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26416 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26417 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 262 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 296 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
PAT 435
RAIL ## (RC-12)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
121.900 - Ground
348.600 - Ground
120.400 - Approach/Departure
380.025 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
387.100 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165 AW CP
225.050 - 165 AW
237.000 - CRTC Ops
293.300 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
328.500 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
363.900 - CRTC Discrete; 95 FS a2a
139.2125 - CRTC, 95 FS support personnel

DAWG 0# (C-130H, 165 AW)
BONES ## (F-15, 95 FS)
PROTON ## (F-15, 95 FS)
EAGLE 01 (MD-500, Chatham Co.)
CHATHAM 02 (fixed wing, Chatham Co.)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.626 - Marne Radio
51.050 - Helicopter Common


MCAS Beaufort
251.700 - Approach/Departure
301.200 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
358.900 - MAG-31 Base "KAISERS"
361.800 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2
250.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
268.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
345.800 - VMFT-401 Tac

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
SNIPER ## (F-5, VMFT-401)


Charelston AFB
349.400 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

IMPAC 80 (C-17, 437/315 AW)
JOSA 197 (C-21)


McIntyre JNGB
298.300 - 169 FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169 FW V14
143.625 - 169 FW V15
143.250 - 169 FW V16

MACE (F-16CJ, 169 FW)
VIPER (F-16CJ, 169 FW)


Shaw AFB
320.525 - 79th FS Ops
141.600 - 79th FS V9
141.775 - 79th FS V10

SLASH (F-16CJ, 79 FS)


Jacksonville IAP/125th FW
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6

FANG (F-15, 125 FW)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
269.000 - Gamecock D MOA Discrete


SEALORD (USN FACSFAC Jax)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
341.100 - Sealord Discrete
301.000 - S. TACTS Range
381.175 - N. TACTS Range


Miscellaneous
CARDFILE 713 (P-3C)
GREYHAWK 36 (E-2C, VAW-120)
MAD FOX 09 (P-3C, VP-5)
MADHOG ## (A-10)
NAVY LF 124 (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LF 161 (P-3C, VP-16)
RED TALON 714 (P-3C, VP-16)
ROMAN ## (F/A-18, VFA-106)

8.971 USB - USN TSC Jacksonville "FIDDLE"
285.000 - USN TSC Jacksonville "FIDDLE"
310.200 - NAS Jacksonville Base Ops


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
281.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross Low
319.200 - Jax Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
379.100 - Jax Center Charleston Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon
335.650 - Atlanta Center

255.400 - Flight Service


USS Theodore Roosevelt CSG
267.500 - Sealord South Primary
225.350 - Pinecastle Range
5.381 USB - TANGO WHISKEY Net
6.700 USB - TANGO ZULU Net
258.625 - Strike
273.675 - Tactical
322.800 - unknown
326.575 - TANGO ZULU Net
350.000 - Aerial Refueling

BEAR 60# - E-2C, VAW-124
RAWHIDE ## - C-2, VRC-40)
THUNDER - E-2C, VAW-124

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

19 May 2008

Bicylce Portable

I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Exercise is the order of the day now, but I just can't get into walking so I bought a bicycle. After a week or so of riding the bicycle, I decided that I wanted to be able to bring along a radio, be it an amatuer radio HT or a portable scanner.

I tried clipping a radio to my belt, but that just didn't work out well; I couldn't hear it very well. Earphones of some sort are out of the question because their use on the road would be unsafe. I recently removed a RAM portable radio mount from the car after replacing the mobile BC780 with a BC996 (more on that in a future post). Searching the RAM website I came across a ball mount used for 3/4' - 1' diameter boat railings (just the size of the tubing used in the bicycle handlebars). The ball mount, part number RAM-231 (top photo below), easily fit onto the handlebars and the portable radio mount attached to the ball mount.


The radio now mounts in front of me in a good position. Most importantly, I don't have to take my eyes completely off of the road to see the display, press a button, or turn a knob. The speaker fires directly toward me, making the radio easy to hear. So far both the Uniden BC396 and the Yaesu VX-150 work well with this mount, allowing me to get the exercise I need to lose weight and stay healthy and enjoy my favorite hobby.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

12 May 2008

FIghter Units Visit the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry Area

95th Fighter Squadron

F-15s from Tyndall AFB's 95th Fighter Squadron are at the Savannah CRTC this week. They flew missions today in the offshore special use areas against F-5s from VMFT-401. Some good frequencies to catch the 95th FS aircraft on are:

257.800 Savannah IAP Tower
380.025 Savannah Approach/Departure
387.100 Savannah Approach/Departure
282.200 Jacksonville Center
284.500 SEALORD Primary
237.000 CRTC Ops
293.300 CRTC Discrete
328.500 CRTC Discrete
363.900 CRTC Discrete


VMFT-401

F-5s from the USMC Agressor Squadron VMFT-401 are working out of MCAS Beaufort this week. They have been flying missions against the 95th FS F-15s mentioned above in the offshore special use areas. You can catch VMFT-401 on:

301.200 MCAS Beaufort Approach/Departure
284.500 SEALORD Primary
250.300 VMFT-401 air-to-air
268.300 VMFT-401 air-to-air


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Mothers Day Morning Storm Monitoring

Thankfully, Savannah and Chatham County were spared the worst of the storms and Tornados that moved through southeast Georgia on Mother's Day morning. Compared to the Tornados that struck to the south and northwest of Savannah, I only heard a few dispatches for lightning strike fires and some downed power lines.

As the thunderstorms moved in, I disconnected all of my outside antennas and monitored using portable scanners only. I used the BC396 to monitor CEMA 1 (TG 6224) on the Chatham-Effingham TRS. CEMA 1 was an excellent way to keep apprised of what was going on; the CEMA staff were using it pass reports on what was going on within Chatham County. With one radio locked on CEMA 1, the old BC250 was used to scan Chatham County public safety.

No formal Skywarn Nets were established in the area, but amateur radio operators were on the 146.970 repeater in Savannah and the 146.745 repeater in Springfield passing weather observations and other storm information. As mentioned above, the outside antennas were disconnected, so I used crossband repeat and portables to monitor the repeaters. A Yaesu FT-50 was used to crossband through the Yaesu FT-8800 for the Springfield repeater because it is out of portable range at home. The Yaesu VX-150 was sufficient for getting into the 146.970.

Mac McCormick III
kf4lmt@comcast.net