HFU HF Underground
General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: Strange Beacons on June 11, 2013, 1539 UTC
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The Soniferous Ęther is a 35mm film by Charles Stankievech. The film was shot at the Canadian Forces Station (CFS) ALERT Signals Intelligence Station, a signals intelligence intercept facility that is only 450 nautical miles south of the North Pole.
Check out the haunting trailer here:
https://vimeo.com/studiostankievech/tsa-trailer (https://vimeo.com/studiostankievech/tsa-trailer)
Full article at: http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2013/06/charles-stankievech-northernmost-settlement/ (http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2013/06/charles-stankievech-northernmost-settlement/)
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A friend of ours was actually an operator there. The Russians were well aware that they were being monitored and would occasionally acknowledge the Canadians. There were even a few unofficial QSO's between the two sides.
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That is an interesting story. I never even knew the place existed until I read the Wired article and the Wikipedia entry for the Canadian site.
I really like the fact that the filmmaker used a Russian numbers station broadcast in his movie trailer (or at least I think that was a Russian numbers broadcast. Regardless, it is most effective for generating mood in the film clip).
A friend of ours was actually an operator there. The Russians were well aware that they were being monitored and would occasionally acknowledge the Canadians. There were even a few unofficial QSO's between the two sides.
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One of my cousins was stationed at one of those places, near Thule in Greenland back in the early 70's. He joined the Air Force to avoid combat duty in S.E. Asia. He got what he wanted.
His response after coming back was, "I'd have rather been shot at."
We still call him "Eskimo Ted".
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Don't know whats so classified about it . Every Canadian ham through the 60'-90's had worked "Alert". They always had hams on the team for "PR" ;D duty . Here is a link to a film trailer about a deadly supply run to Alert starring Richard Chamberlain. I imagine that is the story behind the wing in the clip. I remember the movie as a made for TV film .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn682WQsRKc
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Very interesting read. I remember Alert as one of my most memorable ham radio contacts back in 1995. The guy told me he was the only one there at the time and awaiting supplies. He also stated he was in the military and one of the reasons for being there was to prevent the Russians from taking possession of the station. I have attached a copy of the QSL I received at the time.
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Don't know whats so classified about it . Every Canadian ham through the 60'-90's had worked "Alert".
I knew about it, too ???
Peace!
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Wow, that place looks like complete desolation.
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Wow, that place looks like complete desolation.
Welcome to the tundra :D
Slated to be the next Saudi Arabia for oil/gas deposits though.
Peace!