The Pip • Hacker News Board

Re: The Pip

#21

Post by profmonocle » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 8:16 AM UTC

brian-armstrong wrote: post #5

eugenekolo2 wrote: post #3

Is there really no readily available technology to find locations of radio stations?

There certainly are methods. This is often called "fox hunting" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmitter_hunting You can build an antenna with a cardiod pattern, which has a wide range but a very deep, narrow null at one end. When you see the signal strength dip off, the transmitter has to be aligned with the null (sort of, there are also multipath issues to consider) But, doing this requires you can move freely to…

And the location probably wouldn't be too surprising. I remember reading that some number station transmitter was tracked down to a Russian military base. Pretty much where you'd expect it to be.

Re: The Pip

#22

Post by brbsix » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 8:31 AM UTC

piokoch wrote: post #20

That's going to be terribly off-topic, sorry for that, but I have to: I hoped the article was about "Pip pan" from amazing kids book "Kastrullresan" ("The Saucepan Journey" in English) by Edith Unnerstad. If anyone of you have kids (6+) don't miss that one (and others from that author too)!

I hoped the article was about Python's pip. I love me some `pip`.

Re: The Pip

#23

Post by timlyo » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 8:44 AM UTC

brbsix wrote: post #14

I suppose the most likely scenario is that these are part of some long-running experiment or are used for some fairly mundane purpose like radio navigation or calibration. My first thought was that it might be for a military or intelligence fail-deadly system (e.g. to mount an attack, perform subterfuge, deploy suitcase nukes across U.S. cities, or check in with a handler).

My first thought was some sort of nuclear assurance. In the UK we have radio 4 broadcasting constantly, if there's no communication and radio 4 isn't broadcasting then we assume a London may have been bombed and a nuclear alert is issued.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchest...

Re: The Pip

#24

Post by brian-armstrong » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 10:22 AM UTC

profmonocle wrote: post #21

brian-armstrong wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There certainly are methods. This is often called "fox hunting" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmitter_hunting You can build an antenna with a cardiod pattern, which has a wide range but a very deep, narrow null at one end. When you see the signal strength dip off, the transmitter has to be aligned with the null (sort of, there are also multipath issues to consider) But, doing this requires you can move freely to…

And the location probably wouldn't be too surprising. I remember reading that some number station transmitter was tracked down to a Russian military base. Pretty much where you'd expect it to be.

"Hi, I'd like to step on the base for a bit to have a look at your radio transmitter." ;)

Re: The Pip

#25

Post by ju-st » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 10:52 AM UTC

eugenekolo2 wrote: post #3

Is there really no readily available technology to find locations of radio stations?

Some German intelligence officer confirmed some weeks ago that they can locate any FM station in Africa by 100 meters with some radio installation in Germany.

Re: The Pip

#26

Post by david-given » Thu, Dec 03, 2015, 1:08 PM UTC

brbsix wrote: post #22

piokoch wrote: post #20

That's going to be terribly off-topic, sorry for that, but I have to: I hoped the article was about "Pip pan" from amazing kids book "Kastrullresan" ("The Saucepan Journey" in English) by Edith Unnerstad. If anyone of you have kids (6+) don't miss that one (and others from that author too)!

I hoped the article was about Python's pip. I love me some `pip`.

Python? How quaintly modern.

http://www.shaels.net/index.php/cpm80-22-documents/using-cpm...