Icom R5 - use in military?

[hackinstack]

Hey all,

I was looking at this list over at wikileaks:
US Military Equipment In Afghanistan (2007): - PRT SHARANA (W6HNC9)

I noticed that they had the same Icom R5 I own listed as equipment they were using. (as well as the R3 which has video capab.)

I'm just curious if anyone here can speculate a guess on what they would have a receive-only handheld like that for? I was thinking maybe the pickup of older analog cell phone traffic if they were unblocked, but it seemed unlikely as even if they were to hear something I doubt any of the personnel would be able to understand what they were saying.

 

[KE5MC]

In my past as an Electronic Warfare Technician in the Navy, ESM or Electronic Surveillance Measures played an important role in two parts. Listen for the bad guys on the air. With all the possible implication as to direction, if you had DF capabilities, frequencies used, time of day and duration of communication and what was said assuming some level of language understanding. The other part is emissions from your own forces in particular when emissions were to be limited or shut down completely or possible following other unit activities without direct communications.

Another possibility is listening to Armed Forces Radio.

Hey all,
... just curious if anyone here can speculate a guess on what they would have a receive-only handheld like that for? ....

 

[b7spectra]

Check out the picture of the scanner in the EA-6B.

 

[hackinstack]

Thanks for the responses guys. I always love it when I find the military-types using standard civilian equipment. They have so many cool playtoys that its fun to think every once in awhile they are using the same thing i'm holding in my hand. (ok, maybe a couple modifications)

mcscanner - I didnt think of a couple of those (including the radio, LOL)

b7spectra - I've heard that standard operating procedure for a lot of pilots is to set up a backup receiver to monitor the guard freq. think that is what that is for? that is a cool photo too.. where did you find it?

 

[freqhopping]

I was in a SIGINT unit. At the most basic level we had some AOR gear.

 

[prcguy]

Looks like the IC-5 and IC-R3 both have a NSN, very interesting.
prcguy

 

[b7spectra]

Thanks for the responses guys. I always love it when I find the military-types using standard civilian equipment. They have so many cool playtoys that its fun to think every once in awhile they are using the same thing i'm holding in my hand. (ok, maybe a couple modifications)

b7spectra - I've heard that standard operating procedure for a lot of pilots is to set up a backup receiver to monitor the guard freq. think that is what that is for? that is a cool photo too.. where did you find it?

I can't tell you. If I did, the SAPS (Self Appointed Police/Sheriff's) will tell the Navy they can't use civilian stuff in a military bird!

Actually, it's on the VAQ136 website here

 

[RDF1]

DF ing ICOM's

Hey all,

I was looking at this list over at wikileaks:
US Military Equipment In Afghanistan (2007): - PRT SHARANA (W6HNC9)

I noticed that they had the same Icom R5 I own listed as equipment they were using. (as well as the R3 which has video capab.)

I'm just curious if anyone here can speculate a guess on what they would have a receive-only handheld like that for? I was thinking maybe the pickup of older analog cell phone traffic if they were unblocked, but it seemed unlikely as even if they were to hear something I doubt any of the personnel would be able to understand what they were saying.

The fact that there is nothing in the inventory to accurately DF ICOM chatter is a joke. ICOM's are used everyday against US warfighters, and in most situations they can here them.

After my last trip I was fed up with not having this capability and I went in search of a solution. I came across a company that made a SAR device that DF's aircraft ELT beacons with great accuracy. ELT beacons put out very little power compared to ICOMs so it was just a matter of changing the freq range. I ended up working with the company for about 2 months on developing a more DOD focused product. The end result is a handheld device that is easy to operate that gives the operator distance, direction and a 8 digit grid of the ICOM. It also has a map view that has your postion and the suspected enemy position.

just thought I would share
if there are any questions shoot me a email:
pgreaves23@gmail.com

 

[TampaTyron]

opsec chief.......................please edit, TT

 

[burts]

i saw the r20 in use on tv on one of the afghan docs

Live contact with Taleban - YouTube

 

[jsoergel]

Don't forget about techs using it for finding interference - it's a very good radio for that application.

There's also a possibility that they took it from an enemy fighter and someone put it on the inventory by mistake.

 

[prcguy]

There are at least a couple of Icom models and a bunch of AOR models of scanners and receivers used in Iraq/Afghanistan by US forces. They have been issued National Stock Numbers and some are part of larger signal reconnaissance systems.
prcguy