StarCat wrote:That got me thinking about my dad listening to atmospheric noise in the 50's, 60's and 70's. The United States had defense contractors listening. I expect that someone was listening to our people listening. Anything that happens in technology is going to send a signal. Someone somewhere is going to pick up on that signal. Might be someone earthbound, might be someone elsewhere. My daughter and I used to joke about ET's listening in on our conversations in the car. We used to refer to cars with a headlight out as funnel headed cats. There's a story behind that, although the details escape me at the moment. But I expect you get my meaning with this ramble.
Cat aka Fluttershy
You may have the answer to your quest in determining your Father's work, to some extent. If your Father was listening/monitoring atmospheric noise, he may have been involved in communications. Back in the 70's when I was in college, I remember a discussion in regard to random number generation as applied to secure communications. The subject then migrated into "perfect" random number generators and that monitoring atmospheric noise was being done and this was a very good source for such numbers. An electronic random number generator can be extrapolated out and is not as random as nature.
So, with this knowledge, I would say your Father was involved in secure communications. It's a starting point at least.
As to "anything that happens in technology is going to send a signal", well, yes, that is true but the statement is very general....very general. The closing of a light switch on your wall or even the opening of that switch will send out a signal that can be picked up by very sensitive equipment. Now imagine an urban area and all the noise that is generated. Any electronic device radiates a signal. Check the back of most equipment, there will be a compliance certificate somewhere on it. I am going to assume that your statement was in regard to my post about the Gravitor and Linda's comment.
The most the Gravitor when tested would have radiated would have been approximately .375 watts or 375 milliwatts. Not too terribly powerful and this is derived from approximately 15KV at 650 µA where the efficiency was over 51%. I can get more radiated power out of the magnet on the A/C compressor of an automobile. Therefore, Linda's statement is not very relevant and is meant to incite fear of testing in an attempt at control, a trait of the psychopath/sociopath.
As to your Father, I hope what I have posted at least gives a starting point, a line drawn where you can start.
Best,
Mikado
