From: say@monashee.sfu.ca (Daniel Say)
Subject: Re: WRTH vs Passport
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 00:17:39 GMT

friesen@stein.u.washington.edu (Craig Friesen) writes:

>okay, guys (and gals):
>Which one do you prefer and why?
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Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: troach@netcom.com (Tom Roach)
Subject: Klingenfuss vs. CFL
Keywords: ute shortwave
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 17:56:49 GMT
 
Let me put in my two cents on the UTE monitors two "bibles": Klingenfuss
Guide to Utility Stations and the Confidential Frequency List (CFL).
More to the point I'd like to compare the 10th edition of Klingenfuss's
Guide to Utility Stations and the 8th edition of the CFL.
 
In general I much prefer the spiral binding of the CFL as I don't have
to "break the back" of the binding in order for the book to stay put at
the page of interest. The CFL has a color coded section (blue pages)
which lists signals by call signs in alphabetical order. It provides
location, and the associated radio frequencies, type of service and
modulation types. This section it also has a frequency allocation
breakdown, and as a nice touch, a summary of frequencies by service type
(AERONAUTICAL, AMATEUR, etc.).  The CFL also has maps showing the
AERADIO regions. Klingenfuss contains many pages of very detailed
commentary on monitoring stations, modulation types, equipment, lists of
contributors, maps, etc. Klingenfuss has a great section dealing with "Q"
codes and "Z" codes. Many of his "Q" signals are not commonly provided
in the usual lists of such signals. If you've ever monitored the
Cuba/Moscow link (COL and RFNV) you'll appreciate them!
 
I compared the abbreviations listed by both books. Suffice it to say
that there is a fairly significant difference between the two. I
wouldn't say that one book is better than the other, just quite a bit
different.
 
The meat of both books is their breakdown by frequency of signals the
ute monitor is likely to encounter. The Klingenfuss starts listings at
17.1 kHz, the CFL at 1613 kHz. For comparison purposes I picked a random
frequency 4216.0 kHz to compare the two manuals. Both books sorted the
listings alphabetically by call sign, although call signs with numbers
were found at the start of the listing in the CFL and at the end of the
listing in Klingenfuss. I find the CFL preferable because it spells out
country names (Qatar in CFL versus QAT in Klingenfuss). The Klingenfuss
gave a more detailed breakdown (for KPH) of the times and types of
traffic transmitted. Both lists had the same stations listed except for
WCC (Chatham Radio) which was listed at 4216.0 kHz by the CFL, and
4216.5 kHz by Klingenfuss. Hopefully an East coast monitor can resolve
this difference. Klingenfuss claims all his listings are "real", i.e.
have been heard by his monitors. I don't think the CFL makes any such
claim. Klingenfuss, at least in previous editions, seemed obsessed by
nasties stealing "his" data.
 
I recently did a survey of ute signals between 5600 and 6600 kHz. It
certainly convinced me that there are a LARGE number of signals to be
heard that won't be found in either book. Klingenfuss goes all over the
world listening for new signals to list in his book. These trips are
probably paid for by those who shell out the money for his pricey
volume. Since his book only lists "heard" signals, it has a smaller
listing of signals. I am not sure that failing to list a signal because
it hasn't been heard is particularly meaningful. Klingenfuss monitors
are mostly in Europe so what is heard there easily may be very
frustrating to American or Asia readers.
 
To summarize for ordinary listening I prefer the CFL, but couldn't do
without the Klingenfuss for technical detail or "Q" codes. I couldn't
imagine not having both books in my shack. IF, I repeat IF, I could only
have one, I would choose the CFL (8th edition only), which is way lower
in cost and I think has the best cost/performance ratio.
Tom Roach
 
CI$: 76347,1025
INTERNET: troach@netcom.com
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