New Southern AZ Finds

While visiting family in the Tucson area over Christmas 2017, I came across some new to me federal VHF channels in use. These include 2 new DMR VHF federal channels that I have not been able to determine who the user is yet.

168.7750 MHz DMR - Color Code 12, Time Slot 1
All conversations heard on Talk Group 111, so not part of a trunked system. All transmissions were encrypted.

169.3750 MHz DMR - Color Code 12, Time Slot 1
All conversations heard on Talk Group 122. Radio IDs were not the same as seen on 168.7750 MHz. All transmissions were encrypted.

   I'm not certain who these belong to. I had heard some analog traffic on the 168.7750 frequency in past years, but never identified who the user was. The frequencies themselves have been associated with the Department of Agriculture and the US Postal Service. My bet it probably on the USPS at some central mail facility in Tucson. Why they enabled the encryption is beyond me.

And as I was searching I came across two more CBP repeaters that I have not logged in my past visit:

169.8875 MHz, N208
173.9375 MHz, N304

Both carried encrypted traffic with the normal CBP radio identification ranges.

CBP Captures Smugglers TRBO Radios

A recent posting by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports the capture of a group smuggling marijuana across the southern Arizona border with Mexico. The Yuma Sector was involved in the arrest:

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/border-patrol-agents-arrest-15-connection-possible-smuggling-network

Photos that accompanied this report on the CBP Twitter feed showed the radios and batteries that were seized during this arrest.

The CBP photo shows several models of Motorola TRBO digital radios, probably UHF. I'm wondering if they will do any forensic radio analysis and see what frequencies they were on.

The drug cartels in Mexico have long been known to use radios, and not just portables. A while back, there was a wide-area radio system with linked repeaters that was reportedly build by a company in Houston, Texas. It was operating in an unusual part of the UHF military air band and was fully encrypted, of course.

Which brings me to a recent discovery when I was in Arizona. I left my radio searching unattended while parked at a fairly high altitude near the Mexican border. I recorded a number of encrypted DMR hits on unusual UHF frequencies. I caught quite a bit of traffic on 403.2500, 403.3500 and 403.4500 MHz. All the communications I recorded were using the same talk group number (116), so this might be part of a trunked system. Is this really related to drug smugglers? Who knows, but an interesting catch none the less...

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

   Fairchild Air Force Base, located near Spokane, in eastern Washington, started out life as the Spokane Army Air Depot back in 1940. Local business owners and citizens raised the money in order to bring the base to Spokane. The base was renamed in 1951 in honor of General Muir S. Fairchild. 

   Fairchild was at one time home to the 92^nd Bomb Group, flying the B-29 Superfortress. The base also supported the B-36 Peacemaker for a time in the early 1950’s. The base became home to B-25 bombers in 1956 and KC-135 tankers in 1958. During the Cold War, a ring of nine Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles silos surrounded Spokane and Fairchild Air Force Base. These were operational from 1961 through 1965, as part of the Air Force’s 567^th Missile Squadron. The bombers moved away in 1993, making aerial refueling the base’s primary operational function.

   In addition to the tankers, Fairchild is home to the Air Force Survival School. The 336^th Training Group teaches SERE tactics, Survival - Evasion -  Resistance - Escape. Some of the real-world training takes place in the nearby Coleville National Forest.

   The base itself is served by a VHF P-25 digital trunked radio system. This system was a Motorola system years ago (the last time I was at the base), but has since been upgraded to a true, P-25 system. Base personnel that I spotted with radios seemed to be using mostly Motorola APX radios. The system appears to be a single site with no networking to anywhere else, but with the recent trend of military base radio systems being networked with other bases, I would not be surprised if that happened in the future here at Fairchild. Here are the specifics of the base trunked system:

Fairchild Air Force Base

System ID       5E1

WACN            BEE00

Site 001

138.0250

138.0375

138.0625

138.1375

138.1625

138.3375

138.3625

138.4125

138.4375

138.5125                                                                    

   In addition to the trunked system, there are a number of VHF and UHF conventional frequencies allocated to the base. While on base for the 2017 Skyfest air show (more on that later), I spotted a variety of antennas on hangers, buildings and small towers located all over the base. I have confirmed a few of the UHF air band frequencies, and have information that some of the VHF channels are being used for the USAF Survival School training. Here is a compilation of my database of conventional frequencies for Fairchild Air Force Base, as well as some Washington National Guard frequencies from nearby Spokane International Airport (KGEG):

118.3000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Tower

120.3500         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Tower

121.8500

121.9000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Ground

122.9500         AM     Spokane (GEG) Unicom

123.6000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Ground

123.7500         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

124.3000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

124.3250         AM     Spokane (GEG) ATIS

124.7000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

126.2000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Tower (alternate)

133.3500         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

134.1000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Radar Approach

139.3000         AM     Pilot-To-Dispatch

139.3500         AM     Survival School helicopter

139.6250         FM      Survival School

139.8250         FM      Survival School

139.8750

141.7500

141.9000

142.2250         FM      Survival School Operations

143.8250

148.2250

149.1500

149.1750         FM      Survival School Operations

149.3000

150.0750

150.1250

150.1500

150.1750

150.2000         FM      Survival Operations Repeater

150.2250

150.2500

150.2750

150.3000

150.3250

150.3500

150.3750

150.4000

150.4750

150.5250

150.6500

150.6750

163.2750

163.4625

163.4875

163.5125

163.5875

164.5000

165.1625

173.4375

173.5125

173.5375

173.5625

173.5875

233.7000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Tower

234.8000         AM     PMSV Weather

236.0000         AM     Survival Training

238.3000         AM     Maintenance

239.0250         AM     Washington Army Guard helicopters

240.1500         AM     SOF - Supervisor of Flying

240.5000         AM

251.9000         AM     Survival Rescue Training

253.4000         AM     Maintenance

254.3750         AM     Spokane (GEG) ATIS

254.7000         AM     Survival Training

256.4000

257.6250         AM     Fairchild (SKA) ATIS

263.0000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

269.2500         AM     Fairchild (SKA) ATC

275.8000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Ground

278.3000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Tower

282.2500         AM     Spokane (GEG) Approach/Departure

289.6000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Tower (alternate)

293.7000         AM     Maintenance Operations

301.6000         AM     Survival School Training

314.3000         AM     Training

311.0000         AM     Command Post STRIKEHAWK

321.0000         AM     Command Post STRIKEHAWK

339.3000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Radar Approach

348.6000         AM     Spokane (GEG) Ground

359.0000         AM     Training

363.8000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Radar Approach

372.2000         AM     Pilot-To-Dispatch

372.5000         AM    

375.2000         AM     USAF METRO

381.3000         AM     Command Post

384.9000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Radar Approach

385.0000         FM      Army Guard

387.4875         FM      Army Guard

388.8500         AM     Maintenance

389.8000         AM     Fairchild (SKA) Radar Approach

389.9125         FM      Army Guard

396.9000         AM     ANG Command Post 141ARW

407.4500         FM

413.0000         FM

413.4500         FM

http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1712/00553AD.PDF

2017 Solar Eclipse NASA Frequencies

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   A rare natural phenomenon that occurred on August 21^st, 2017 brought a lot of attention. A total solar eclipse, where the moon blocks the suns light for a short time, was visible across the United States. This was the first total solar eclipse that had been visible in the continental United States since 1979. I was fortunate enough to be very near the “path of totality”, that is the line along which the eclipse crossed the United States, plunging a narrow strip the earth in near total darkness for a few minutes in the middle of the day.

   There was tremendous media buildup prior to the eclipse, and there was concern by public safety agencies in the areas where the eclipse was going to pass, that the large crowds would be an issue.

In addition to the huge crowds, there was a large response of scientific researchers on hand to observe and record the eclipse. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had multiple aircraft flying, including their WB-57 high-altitude research planes, up “chasing” parts of the eclipse as it crossed over the country. NASA provided continuous media coverage of the eclipse as it moved from the Pacific Ocean on to the Oregon coast. NASA has an excellent web site set up with all things about the eclipse and what they were doing with it: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov

   Here is a list of likely VHF and UHF aircraft frequencies that would be used by NASA aircraft. Listeners in other regions of the country have confirmed some of these as in use by NASA aircraft, particularly by the NASA fleet aircraft that fly between NASA facilities in Houston, Florida and California. Keep these in your scanner and see what you hear:

123.1250

123.4500

135.8250

230.5000         AM                 NASA WB-57

235.4000

259.6500

259.6750

259.7000         AM                 NASA Gulfstream III doing live TV reports

259.7250

260.7500

260.7750

261.6250

264.0500

278.9500

278.9750

279.0000

279.0250

296.7000

296.7750

296.8000

296.8250

314.6000

320.7000

382.6000

   Besides NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) flew some aircraft to observe and record the eclipse. I did not have any luck catching the NOAA air traffic on any agency specific air-to-ground frequencies, at least in the Portland, OR area. 

VA IDAS Trunking System

New Federal IDAS Trunked System

   Recently, a friendly source in the Seattle, Washington area passed along information on what appeared to be a new, three-site IDAS trunked system in the Puget Sound area. IDAS stands for Icom Digital Advanced System, which is an Icom trunked protocol using the NXDN open standard developed by Icom and Kenwood.  

   The frequencies that have been identified with this system are 408.0375 MHz, 408.4250 MHz and 410.3250 MHz. So far, the system has only revealed these three original site frequencies that were first noted. The frequencies are all using NXDN digital mode, so they can be monitored with the TRX models of Whistler scanners or using SDR radios with the appropriate software. The three sites all seem to carry the same voice traffic simultaneously.

   By listening for several days, it was determined that the likely user was the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. There are two VA Medical Centers in the Seattle area – the American Lake facility in Tacoma, Washington and the Seattle facility in Seattle, Washington. https://www.pugetsound.va.gov/locations/directions.asp

   So far, the IDAS trunked system appears to be used by maintenance and shuttle transportation. VA Security has been reportedly using UHF P-25 repeaters at the Seattle area VA facilities, but has also been reported to have talk groups on the federal VHF Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) trunked system that supports a majority of federal agencies in the region.

KSC Updates Trunking System

The UHF band trunked radio system at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida has received and upgrade from the older Motorola Type II system to a new APCO P-25 Phase II system.

The changes occurred just recently, even as Hurricane Irma threatened the entire state of Florida. Some listeners have posted questions on Radio Reference wondering why they can't hear the KSC trunked system any more.

The new system reportedly has three separate trunked sites and is not simulcast, but using different frequencies at each site.

I will have more information as it becomes available! Check back with this blog...

New VHF Trunking at Lake Mead

On a recent visit to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, I discovered a VHF trunking control channel. It appears to be a two-site VHF P-25 trunked system, likely to cover both the Hoover Dam area and likely the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

I had  received reports of hearing the control channel from site 2112 on 172.1375 MHz, and I found the control channel for site 2122 on 172.1375 MHz loud and clear at the Hoover Dam via a close call hit on my Uniden 436 scanner. I was unable to pick up the control channel from site 2112 on my visit.

It only shows two sites on the air right now, and no users were seen affiliating or using the system while I was monitoring. Both the Hoover Dam police and Lake Mead NRA operations were on their normal VHF conventional channels.

More information as the system usage increases.

Here is what I found via PRO96COM:

System ID             : A52
WACN                  : BD000
Tower Number (Decimal): 2-122
Tower Number (Hex)    : T027A
Flavor                : Phase 1

-Tables
#Format: Table ID,Base Freq,Spacing,Input Offset,Assumed/Confirmed,BandWidth,Slots
00,171.00000,0.01250,-7.47500,"Confirmed",0.01250,1
01,171.00000,0.01250,-7.30000,"Confirmed",0.01250,1
02,171.00000,0.01250,-7.16250,"Confirmed",0.01250,1

-Frequencies
#Format: Channel,Usage,Frequency(/Slot),Input Channel,Input Frequency(/Slot),Input Explicit(1/0),Hit Count
"02-0089","c",172.11250,"02-0089",164.95000,0,0

-Neighbors
#Format: TowerID,TowerIDHex,System ID,Channel,Frequency,Tower Name
2112,"T0270",a52,"01-0091",172.13750,""

172.1875 LA AREA

Caught a new one for me in the LA area last week. I was working up in Burbank and caught a transmission on 172.1875 MHz, N167, the FBI with a possible bank robbery. The dispatcher was looking for any unit available to cover. Radio ID matched the FBI.

Previously, I have caught traffic on this frequency using a NAC of N195, reportedly the CBP IWN repeater called BROWNFIELD 2. It certainly is possible for them to re-use this frequency, and the FBI use is probably north of the LA Downtown area.

Also, just updated TSA information for the Bob Hope Burbank Airport. You can find these updates in the TSA Frequency Updates section on the main blog page: http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/p/tsa-frequency-updates.html

USSS CIO Interview

If you have some time, take a while and give a listen to an interview with Retired Brig. Gen. Kevin Nally, the Secret Service’s Chief Information Officer. Interesting information about IT in the Secret Service:

https://federalnewsradio.com/ask-the-cio/2017/04/secret-service-offices-consolidated-nally-turns-focus-innovation-modernization/

Nally, formerly the CIO of the Marine Corps, talks about "mobile" technology around 16 minutes into the audio file. Discussions include new Secret Service radios and antennas in the DC area.

Luke AFB Migrates to 380 MHz P25 System

According to recent postings on Radio Reference, the trunked radio system at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona has changed frequencies. The system moved from being in the 400 MHz federal band to the 380 MHz DoD managed spectrum.

One listener posted the control channel data he had deciphered: 
SYS:3D6
WACN:BEE00
SITE NAC:3DE
RFSS-SITE:01-0E

385.0375
385.7625
385.9750
386.2500
386.5000
386.9750
387.4375
387.7875
387.9750
388.1500
388.3000
388.5750
 
The system ID and WACN indicate this is part of the larger US Air Force 3D6 networked trunked system, featuring VHF, UHF and 380 MHz systems. This system also serves multiple military bases in the San Antonio, Texas area:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=7769 

 

Changes Coming for VHF Marine Channels

There are changes coming for the normal FM marine channels. The International Telecommunications Union has (ITU) has began re-numbering some of the international marine channels in anticipation of 12.5 KHz channels and digital modulation coming to the VHF marine band. You can read more about the changes here:

http://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/m/R-REC-M.1084-5-201203-I!!PDF-E.pdf

The US Coast Guard has some offerings that show some of the new marine VHF channel numbers:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=apps18

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtVhf

CHM Guide to the 58th Presidential Inauguration Now Available

Alan Henney and The Capitol Hill Monitor on line newsletter have recently made available their frequency guide for the upcoming inauguration. This issue is packed with all kinds of great information on what you might hear if you are going to the DC area for the events.

Thanks to Alan and all the contributors. You can find the CHM frequency guide here:

http://henney.com/chm/0117/chm0117.pdf

2017 Presidential Inauguration Transportation Plan

Just released by the US Secret Service, here is the transportation plan for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration. The details in this document are mostly about street closures at various locations around the DC area. But it is interesting information for those who will brave the crowds to attend!

https://www.secretservice.gov/data/events/2017-Inaug/JIC-01_PressRelease_TransportationPlan-Final_USCP-1-6-17.pdf