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AM from Airplanes

DavidEduardo

DavidEduardo

Moderator/Administrator
Staff member
Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF broadcasting from a plane for small areas... it apparecntly can be done, but on a very local scale. So, in fact, Radio Marti may be experimenting with the technology on MW out of Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology was used in Haiti in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Purt au Prince... let's see what else comes up on this.

U.S. Commando Solo II Takes Over Afghan Airwaves
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2001 -- After years of Taliban propaganda, the Afghan people are hearing another voice.

At any time of the day or night, an Air Force Special Operations Command EC-130E Commando Solo II is in the area of operations and broadcasting news and information to the Afghan people.
An Air Force crew member adjusts the output of a transmission during an EC-130E Commando Solo II training mission. Photo by Master Sgt. David Hawkins, USAF. (Click photo for screen-resolution image; high-resolution image available.) (More photos)

The aircraft fly a variety of missions. In Afghanistan, they're broadcasting music, news and information in the various languages of the country. These are radio broadcasts only.

The planes are part of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. They are based at Harrisburg International Airport, Pa.

Army specialists in the language and customs of the area prepare the broadcasts.

The capability allows U.S. Central Command planners to warn the Afghan population to stay away from Taliban and Al Qaeda targets. The broadcasts stress that the coalition campaign is not aimed at the Afghan people, but at the terrorists and their Taliban supporters.

"We have no wish to hurt you, the innocent people of Afghanistan," reads one English translation of a broadcast. "Stay away from military installations, government buildings, terrorist camps, roads, factories or bridges."

Another broadcast told the people of Afghanistan why the United States is attacking the Taliban and Al Qaeda. "On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of people were killed en masse in the United States," it reads. "Among them was a two-year- old girl. Barely able to stand or dress herself. Did she deserve to die? Why was she killed you ask? Was she a thief? What crime had she committed? She was merely on a trip with her family to visit her grandparents. Policemen, firefighters, teachers, doctors, mothers, father, sisters, brothers all killed. Why?"

The broadcast went on to explain that the attacks in New York and the Pentagon were on innocent people -- an act forbidden by the Muslim Koran. "(The terrorists) believe they are heroes, Ghazi warriors triumphing over the evil of the West," the broadcast continues. "However, the truth is they are murderers and do not represent Islam." Ghazi warriors are Muslim heroes from the early days of the religion.

Ham radio operators can listen to the broadcast at 8700 kilohertz, said Air Force 1st Lt. Edward Shank, a spokesman for the squadron. The squadron has participated in operations in Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo and during the Gulf War. Their aircraft have been modified to not only handle radio, but television broadcasts. They can broadcast via tape or live. "If needed, we have the capability to take a speech by the President of the United States and beam it live via satellite to the aircraft, which then would broadcast it," Shank said.

The name "Commando Solo II" also has meaning. Commando refers to the special operations mission, and Solo refers to the fact that the aircraft can go it alone, Shank said.
 
> Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF
> broadcasting from a plane for small areas... it apparecntly
> can be done, but on a very local scale. So, in fact, Radio
> Marti may be experimenting with the technology on MW out of
> Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology was used in Haiti
> in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Purt au
> Prince... let's see what else comes up on this.
>
> U.S. Commando Solo II Takes Over Afghan Airwaves
> By Jim Garamone
> American Forces Press Service
>
> WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2001 -- After years of Taliban
> propaganda, the Afghan people are hearing another voice.
>
> At any time of the day or night, an Air Force Special
> Operations Command EC-130E Commando Solo II is in the area
> of operations and broadcasting news and information to the
> Afghan people.
> An Air Force crew member adjusts the output of a
> transmission during an EC-130E Commando Solo II training
> mission. Photo by Master Sgt. David Hawkins, USAF. (Click
> photo for screen-resolution image; high-resolution image
> available.) (More photos)
>
> The aircraft fly a variety of missions. In Afghanistan,
> they're broadcasting music, news and information in the
> various languages of the country. These are radio broadcasts
> only.
>
> The planes are part of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of
> the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. They are based at
> Harrisburg International Airport, Pa.
>
> Army specialists in the language and customs of the area
> prepare the broadcasts.
>
> The capability allows U.S. Central Command planners to warn
> the Afghan population to stay away from Taliban and Al Qaeda
> targets. The broadcasts stress that the coalition campaign
> is not aimed at the Afghan people, but at the terrorists and
> their Taliban supporters.
>
> "We have no wish to hurt you, the innocent people of
> Afghanistan," reads one English translation of a broadcast.
> "Stay away from military installations, government
> buildings, terrorist camps, roads, factories or bridges."
>
> Another broadcast told the people of Afghanistan why the
> United States is attacking the Taliban and Al Qaeda. "On
> Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of people were killed en masse in
> the United States," it reads. "Among them was a two-year-
> old girl. Barely able to stand or dress herself. Did she
> deserve to die? Why was she killed you ask? Was she a thief?
> What crime had she committed? She was merely on a trip with
> her family to visit her grandparents. Policemen,
> firefighters, teachers, doctors, mothers, father, sisters,
> brothers all killed. Why?"
>
> The broadcast went on to explain that the attacks in New
> York and the Pentagon were on innocent people -- an act
> forbidden by the Muslim Koran. "(The terrorists) believe
> they are heroes, Ghazi warriors triumphing over the evil of
> the West," the broadcast continues. "However, the truth is
> they are murderers and do not represent Islam." Ghazi
> warriors are Muslim heroes from the early days of the
> religion.
>
> Ham radio operators can listen to the broadcast at 8700
> kilohertz, said Air Force 1st Lt. Edward Shank, a spokesman
> for the squadron. The squadron has participated in
> operations in Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo and during the Gulf
> War. Their aircraft have been modified to not only handle
> radio, but television broadcasts. They can broadcast via
> tape or live. "If needed, we have the capability to take a
> speech by the President of the United States and beam it
> live via satellite to the aircraft, which then would
> broadcast it," Shank said.
>
> The name "Commando Solo II" also has meaning. Commando
> refers to the special operations mission, and Solo refers to
> the fact that the aircraft can go it alone, Shank said.
>

I remember that 8700 thing. It was jammed out by something over here. I guess someone didn't want certain people to hear it. Around that time I would always find a strong signal with dead silence on 8700 khz
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> > Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF
> > broadcasting from a plane for small areas... it
> apparecntly
> > can be done, but on a very local scale. So, in fact, Radio
>
> > Marti may be experimenting with the technology on MW out
> of
> > Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology was used in
> Haiti
> > in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Purt au
> > Prince... let's see what else comes up on this.

8700 would still have a much shorter wavelength than 530, making an airborne antenna far less unwieldy. And either way, it still seems unlikely that Radio Marti would use 530 with RVCI so close by since any broadcast with enough power to reach Cuba from outside their airspace would interfere with normal operations on Turks and Caicos.

I think your original point still stands, David.
 
> > > Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF
> > > broadcasting from a plane for small areas... it
> > apparecntly
> > > can be done, but on a very local scale. So, in fact,
> Radio
> >
> > > Marti may be experimenting with the technology on MW out
>
> > of
> > > Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology was used in
> > Haiti
> > > in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Purt au
> > > Prince... let's see what else comes up on this.
>
> 8700 would still have a much shorter wavelength than 530,
> making an airborne antenna far less unwieldy. And either
> way, it still seems unlikely that Radio Marti would use 530
> with RVCI so close by since any broadcast with enough power
> to reach Cuba from outside their airspace would interfere
> with normal operations on Turks and Caicos.
>
> I think your original point still stands, David.
>

Transoceanic aircraft have been using HF for years , you could get a transmitter tuned for 530am khz. It would be low range (like the aircraft flyovers stated above.. It's been done http://www.dean-boys.com/ec-121s/information_on_the_ec-121s.htm ). It could be done also if you encircle the cuban island heading to Gitmo... BUT someone else would have heard it by now NOT just the target audience(including a lot of the DXers mentioned by David as the signal described in the article is basically a long wire or omni-directional)

Possibly the Radio Marti people are sending a load of disinformation about it being a solo , as to not offend others by revealing the signal actually comes from T&A (something else the US Government is good at, Disinformation)...

RFLA
 
Radio Marti on 530 IS AIRBORNE, Confirmed

> Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF
> broadcasting from a plane for small areas... it apparecntly
> can be done, but on a very local scale. So, in fact, Radio
> Marti may be experimenting with the technology on MW out of
> Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology was used in Haiti
> in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Purt au
> Prince... let's see what else comes up on this.

I am glad you are finally admitting that mediumwave broadcasts can be accomplished via airborne transmitters. You denied this up and down in the thread regarding broadcasts on 530: http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=461514&Board=dx

Radio Marti apparently could care less about any other station on 530 because they are on that frequency anyway. Even better, wait for this one... our brilliant FCC has APPROVED the use of 530 by Marti! Apparently the T&C are not signatories to some frequency planning arrangement, so their interests are evidently not being well represented. These transmissions eminate from a mediumwave transmitter that flies adjacent to Cuban airspace. The transmissions are airborne, not ground based, balloon based, or anything else. There are no Marti broadcasts coming from RVC.

Is it stupid for Marti to be on 530 with RVC on the same frequency? Probably.

Reception conditions are reported to be very good via monitoring done by the American Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Havana... until Cuba fires up a 100,000 watt mediumwave transmitter on 530, obliterating the broadcast. There is a cat and mouse game between Marti and Havana, as usual.

The transmissions are not low power.

As I promised in the earlier thread, I wrote to the gentleman who oversees all of Marti's broadcasts looking for confirmation to put this issue to bed once and for all. I received it this morning:

"I can confirm that Radio Marti broadcasts on 530 kHz do in fact also
originate from an aircraft platform, currently on a once-weekly basis.
Special temporary approval for use of 530kHz for this purpose was granted by
the FCC. I do not lease any time from Radio Vision Christiania for any
purpose.

Michael F. Pallone
Director, Engineering & Technical Operations
Office of Cuba Broadcasting
Miami, Florida 33166-6728
Com: 305-437-7051
Fax: 305-437-7122
Secure: 305-437-7052"
 
Re: Radio Marti on 530 IS AIRBORNE, Confirmed

> I am glad you are finally admitting that mediumwave
> broadcasts can be accomplished via airborne transmitters.
> You denied this up and down in the thread regarding
> broadcasts on 530:

Please see the engineering discussion I posted with an apolgy to you.

>
> Radio Marti apparently could care less about any other
> station on 530 because they are on that frequency anyway.
> Even better, wait for this one... our brilliant FCC has
> APPROVED the use of 530 by Marti!

The FCC does not license VOA, Martí or any of the other operations under various names (Sawa, et. al.). These operations are authorized by act of Congress and have no FCC license or call letters.

| Apparently the T&C are
> not signatories to some frequency planning arrangement, so
> their interests are evidently not being well represented.
> These transmissions eminate from a mediumwave transmitter
> that flies adjacent to Cuban airspace. The transmissions
> are airborne, not ground based, balloon based, or anything
> else. There are no Marti broadcasts coming from RVC.

As I have already conceded. However, there is still the issue that the broadcasts are not reaching Cuba at all.

> Reception conditions are reported to be very good via
> monitoring done by the American Interests Section of the
> Swiss Embassy in Havana... until Cuba fires up a 100,000
> watt mediumwave transmitter on 530, obliterating the
> broadcast. There is a cat and mouse game between Marti and
> Havana, as usual.
>
> The transmissions are not low power.

They are using about 5 kw into a short antenna. The power is, based on low efficiency, in the 3-4 kw range. They apparently can not load the full 10 kw of the Collins rig into a short antenna, as it arcs to the airframe.
>
> As I promised in the earlier thread, I wrote to the
> gentleman who oversees all of Marti's broadcasts looking for
> confirmation to put this issue to bed once and for all. I
> received it this morning:
>
> "I can confirm that Radio Marti broadcasts on 530 kHz do in
> fact also
> originate from an aircraft platform, currently on a
> once-weekly basis.

But not every week... in fact, in the last month, weather has made only one broadcast possible. The wind whipped the antenna, with a 500 lb weight on it, so badly it was a danger to the plane.

I have this confirmed, in Spanish, on the referred to post, by an engineer at Martí. He calls the broadcasts experimental, as they are more often than not unable to unfurl the antenna or even get airborne.

> Special temporary approval for use of 530kHz for this
> purpose was granted by
> the FCC. I do not lease any time from Radio Vision
> Christiania for any
> purpose.

The FCC does not license Marti. In fact, the definition of the MW band by the FCC is 540 to 1700 kHz, and 530 is not a valid broadcast frequency in the US.

See the FCC's own database on 530...
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?stat...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9

1180 is not licensed by the FCC, either, as stated. This is shown in the early 80's Act of Congress chartering Martí. This shows how wrong the info coming out of the Marti office can be.

See http://www.davidgleason.com/1986-Radio-Marti.htm for a bit of the history.

The 1180 100 kw MW facility does not even appear on the FCC database at
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?stat...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9

... because the FCC does not license it and even consider it to exist officially.
 
Re: Radio Marti on 530 IS AIRBORNE, Confirmed

> Please see the engineering discussion I posted with an
> apolgy to you.

I appreciate that. I have nothing against you personally - I was taken aback by your indictment of my original message, but it's just a message board. I think both of us are all about the correct information getting out.

> The FCC does not license VOA, Martí or any of the other
> operations under various names (Sawa, et. al.). These
> operations are authorized by act of Congress and have no FCC
> license or call letters.

The Marti guy claimed the FCC gave them authority on 530 though.

> As I have already conceded. However, there is still the
> issue that the broadcasts are not reaching Cuba at all.

They claim otherwise, but you and I agree absolutely about the efficacy of Marti on 530 - it's classic government ignorance. I can only stand behind your views about how well an airplane signal is going to do against a ground based 50kw operation on the T&C. Add Cuba blocking it and you instantly make 530 useless for everyone.

> But not every week... in fact, in the last month, weather
> has made only one broadcast possible. The wind whipped the
> antenna, with a 500 lb weight on it, so badly it was a
> danger to the plane.

Glenn Hauser has been reporting on this. Monitors agree with you that the broadcasts have been irregular. I believe some of those balloon broadcasts on TV have had issues as well.

> 1180 is not licensed by the FCC, either, as stated. This is
> shown in the early 80's Act of Congress chartering Martí.
> This shows how wrong the info coming out of the Marti office
> can be.

Living in Rochester, NY, home to 1180 WHAM, I can tell you that WHAM has paid the price in the past for Marti being on 1180 (it used to carry VOA programs on that frequency before Marti). When Cuba fired up a Voice of Cuba broadcast using super high powered AM signals for one night just after Marti's launch in the 80s, it caused reception problems for WHAM even in central and southern NY.

Let me also toss out here that I personally think Radio & TV Marti is a giant waste of money. It's seen and heard more by Cuban-American political groups than its intended audience in Cuba. But I'm ticked off about the overall taking apart of VOA and splintering it off into these kinds of directed operations. I suspect if these frequencies all carried VOA instead of Marti, and the broadcasts were fair and balanced and not being influenced by political groups in Miami, Cuba wouldn't jam them and it wouldn't be a giant flush of tax dollars.
 
Re: Radio Marti on 530 IS AIRBORNE, Confirmed

> Living in Rochester, NY, home to 1180 WHAM, I can tell you
> that WHAM has paid the price in the past for Marti being on
> 1180 (it used to carry VOA programs on that frequency before
> Marti). When Cuba fired up a Voice of Cuba broadcast using
> super high powered AM signals for one night just after
> Marti's launch in the 80s, it caused reception problems for
> WHAM even in central and southern NY.


In the Southern US it's even worse. In Mississippi, The FCC has allowed a Am station in Jackson (WJNT) have a STA on and off allowing for a Small FM transmitter relaying the AM radio station due to interference issues from the Radio Marti/ Cuba Jamming . I know most sites don't list the FM transmitter for the station due to it being only there cause of the Jamming...

RFLA
 
Re: Radio Marti on 530 IS AIRBORNE, Confirmed

> > When Cuba fired up a Voice of Cuba broadcast
> > using super high powered AM signals for one night just after
> > Marti's launch in the 80s, it caused reception problems
> > for WHAM even in central and southern NY.
>
>
> In the Southern US it's even worse. In Mississippi, The FCC
> has allowed a Am station in Jackson (WJNT) have a STA on and
> off allowing for a Small FM transmitter relaying the AM
> radio station due to interference issues from the Radio
> Marti/ Cuba Jamming . I know most sites don't list the FM
> transmitter for the station due to it being only there cause
> of the Jamming...
>
> RFLA

WJNT's FM relay isn't the only one that was authorized due to nighttime interference from Cuba. WAMB 1160 Donelson/Nashville was approved to use 98.7 several years ago. Like WJNT-1, it's not listed in the FCC database.
 
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