Bonneville Power Administration

Back in February, I mentioned in The Spectrum Monitor column that the Bonneville Power Administration was in the process of expanding their radio network. The BPA, part of the Department of Energy, is responsible for distributing power generated by some of the hydroelectric facilities in the Pacific Northwest. The BPA operated in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of California and Montana.

Here is a list of what might be in use once the project is completed:

168.2250         CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA

168.3250         ID, MT, OR, WA

172.5000         ID, MT, OR, WA

172.5250         ID, MT, OR, WA, WY

172.5750         CA, ID, MT, OR, WA

173.0625         Beverly, WA

173.1125         Boistfort Peak, Deer Creek, WA

173.1375         OR, WA

173.1500         ID, OR, WA

173.1625         MT, WA

173.1750         Capitol Peak, WA

173.1875         Targhee Substation, ID

173.4500         Capitol Peak, Sickler Substation, Teanaway, WA

173.4750         Blacktail Peak, MT, Central Ferry Substation, WA

173.5500         MT, OR

173.5750         Stampede Pass, WA

173.6000         Sunnyside, WA

173.6125         Mt. Hebo, Shaniko, OR

173.6375         Bald Mountain, MT

173.6500         Calx Mountain, MT, Augspurger Mountain, WA

173.7125         Beverly, WA

173.7250         Haystack Butte, WA

173.7375         Bald Mountain, MT, Cougar, West Portland, OR

173.7500         Roosevelt, Tunk Mountain, WA

173.8000         Hilltop Substation, CA, Ripplebrook, OR

173.8125         Skyrocket, WA

173.9500         Malaga, WA

173.9750         Ripplebrook, OR

 

406.1875         ID, OR

407.4000         ID, WA

415.1875         ID, OR

416.4000         ID, WA

Super Bowl LV in Tampa

Just a quick note that Super Bowl LV is near at hand and I am in the middle of the broadcasting of the big game. It's going to be a little different this year with very limited crowds and social distancing within our work areas at the stadium.

We've already had the usual parade of DHS helicopters orbiting the stadium each day, as well as the Department of Energy survey helicopter looking at background radiation levels.

I will have more of what I saw and heard in March edition of The Spectrum Monitor magazine!

 

 

 

Department of the Interior Radio Systems

 

Here is a recent article addressing the woes of the Department of the Interior and their various radio systems for the various agencies within the DoI;

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/536947-the-dangers-of-the-department-of-interiors-radio-system#.YBuBSzn8g1w.twitter

The article mentions an audit by the Office of the Inspector General of the DoI from 2007:

https://www.doioig.gov/sites/doioig.gov/files/2007-G-00042.pdf

And the subsequent verification review in 2017:

https://www.doioig.gov/sites/doioig.gov/files/RadioCommunicationsProgramVerificationReviewPublic.pdf  

And an example of the difficulties of some of the users of the DoI radio systems:

http://aparkrangerslife.blogspot.com/2010/08/radio-communications-park-rangers-life.html

New CBP/FBI Aircraft Call Signs?

Amongst the flurry of activity surrounding the 59th Presidential Inauguration, there were reports that some different radio call signs heard being used by some federal agencies.

Although probably not related to the Inauguration activity, a reported FBI aircraft was heard using the call sign of KONA. This was seen reported on some social media postings.

And there were several reports of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aircraft using the call sign of TROY. The aircraft using this call were reportedly the slick, dark colored Sikorsky S-76 helicopters seen around the Washington, DC area - https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33136/the-curious-case-of-customs-and-border-protections-mysterious-unmarked-s-76-helicopters

While the FBI has several call signs they have been known to use, including ROSS, JENA and others, the CBP aircraft usually answer to the OMAHA call sign, but have been known to use special, mission-related calls. 

We will see what comes up in Tampa at the upcoming Super Bowl game.

CHM Inaugration 2021 Edition

 

 The latest edition of the Capitol Hill Monitors Inauguration Special is now available for download.;

http://henney.com/chm/0121/chm0121.pdf

This is a tradition for the CHM group and offers a lot of monitoring information for the Washington, DC area during the planned activities for the Presidential Inauguration on January 20th.

This inauguration is poised to be very interesting for listeners in the DC area, with all sorts of additional agencies and  security operations planned. The newsletter offers a preview of what might be heard during the week and what has been heard in the past.

A special thanks for Allan Henney and the members of the Capitol Hill Monitors for their efforts to put this out.