Skyking: Still not answering on 4724u

[LanceLovejoy]

Don't hear these skyking messages so often anymore but caught one tonight about 02:50z:  "Skyking, Skyking DO NOT ANSWER": followed by 4 character message and two character authentication.  (Presumably from Andrews).  Always makes me feel good to know that Skyking is still up there somewhere, but just once I wish they'd let em answer!

[LanceLovejoy]

At 00:04z in 8892U, Andrews reminding Skyking not to answer tonight with message:
JWAT 04, Authentication: RJ.

Go get 'em SK!

[weaksigs]

The protocol seems to be the same as it was many years back.
SKYKING transmissions were schedule at 5 minutes past each hour.
These are used to direct or otherwise certain aircraft to carry out
specific missions. You do not want to have SKYKING aircraft to
reply. If you do hear them reply you'd better turn the television on
and carefully listen. It might not make any difference however.
yeah i know a cryptic comment.  I used to maintain a lot of that
equipment at Andrews including the VIP aka the Presidential
Sideband station.

Have you heard a Looking Glass aircraft?

These are special mission aircraft as well!

[LanceLovejoy]

That is great info ws!  I monitor the HFGCS frequencies frequently in the last year or two, and have not heard any references to "Looking Glass" but will keep an ear out for that.  At least recently the Skyking (or so called "Foxtrot" ) messages are far from an hourly phenomenon on these frequencies, and are heard far less frequent than the run of the mill EAMs.  I'd heard it conjectured that these messages related to operational missions but fascinating to have you confirm that.

So anything more you'd care to share about the more typical EAMs, they are oft repeated and I assumed they often served a training function. 

And any more tidbits about that VIP station??   

[weaksigs]

The VIP SSB station had all Collins equipment,
a bank of KWT-6 (500 w single channel) transceivers,
URG radio group exciters driving 208U-10Kw power amps
The URG radio group was remote controlled either on
station or by use of any other station in the network.
The URG radios were frequency agile as the desired
frequency was simply dialed in from local or remote
operating consoles. Frequency coverage was any
frequency from 1-30 Mhz.

The operator could also dial in what antenna he wanted
from a selection of Omni-directional, Bill Board (horizontally
polarized dipole stacks) and remote controlled log
periodic arrays. He could also use remote site equipment
and their antennas if propagation warranted. We could test
propagation by dialing up a remote station and listen to
our own transmissions. That was fun once in awhile ;o)

The station could run most any mode such as AM, SSB RTTY
and secure radio voice and digital modes.

Thats just an overview and I was responsible for maintaining
that equipment for three years.

[LanceLovejoy]

That was  a super cool job you had weak sigs,  I thank you for the info and for your service!  Good to know the radio needs of our VIPs has been so impressivley covered!

So, you think trhere's any chance I can pick up a kit to construct some of  those antenna arrays at Rado Shack?

[weaksigs]

Rad Shack?

The Billboards were over 100 feet high and consisted of a six mechnicaly interconnected antenna structures,
while the (2) LP's were up over 120 feet with a 108 foot long boom. The Omni- Discone was huge being of the
discoidal format and covered a lot of ground.

You might want to try and order on-line from Rockwell Collins!!! I can't remember the government or the
Rockwell part numbers with options!! Sorry! Call their order desk for kind assistance!

hhe hheheh  LOO   

Hopefully you have DEEP packets???
If you do, you won't have them afterward!!

By the way the feedlines in our case were several thousand feet long and were nitrogen filled coaxial
(heliaxial or similar) construction. If I remeber they were abou 4 inches in diameter. You might want to
order the feed line the same time your order is placed for the antennas. Don't forget that you'll also
need a pressurized nitrogen (Very dry nitrogen at that!) system to exclude water vapour. When you
call up the 208U running 10,000 watts (RMS) you really don't want water inside your feed line.

Its so much fun and so inexpensive running a big station! You'll love it!!

 

[LanceLovejoy]

Aww Weaksigs,you knew I was kidden you joker you!  That stuff does sound like it would be a lot of fun to play with though!