State Department Frequencies

Many times when monitoring DSS activity, agents will often switch from the main repeater channels to simplex, low-powered channels, often referred to as “Agent” channels. Because of the nature of these channels, they have often eluded monitors as they have attempted to confirm the frequencies used.

In addition to the UHF frequencies listed, there are some VHF allocations to the DSS. While I have only encountered them using UHF channels, these could be possibly be used within the United States. The VHF channels can be utilized by other State Department operations as well. I recall hearing reporters from the United States Information Agency (The Voice of America) using 166.6125 and 169.6125 MHz while covering some past political conventions.

They should be all P-25 digital and utilize a NAC of either N293 or N0F0. While they can and do use encryption, it doesn’t seem to be used consistently:

148.1000
149.7500
163.5250
163.5750
164.7000
165.6125
166.1000
166.2000
166.6125
168.0000
168.0500
168.2250
169.0500
169.1000
169.2000
169.6125
169.6250
169.7000
169.8000
170.4500
170.5750
172.7000
173.7375
173.9625

403.1000
406.3750
407.2000
407.5000
407.6000 -
407.8625
408.1000
408.4000
408.6000 -
409.0375 -
409.0500
409.1500
409.3375
409.5250 – Field Office, “VFO-1”
409.6000
409.6250 – Old Field Office F1
409.7000
409.7125 – Department of Passport Agency Office (Houston)
411.0750
411.1500
411.4250
412.0000
412.2875 – Simplex “AGENT #”
412.8250 – Simplex “AGENT 5”
412.8625 – Simplex “AGENT 6”
413.1000 – Simplex “AGENT 3”
413.1250 – Simplex “AGENT 4”
413.6375 – Simplex “AGENT 1”
413.8375 – Simplex “AGENT 2”
414.5000
415.9000
416.2000
416.2250
416.6000
416.8625
417.6000
417.8500
418.0375
418.0500
418.0750
418.3375
418.4500
418.5250 – Field Office “VFO-1” input to repeater
418.5750
418.7125
419.3000
424.5000
 
At first glance, a couple of these frequencies may appear “off”. The 403.1000 MHz is indeed in the Department of State Security Service radios, but may only be used outside the US. But as we have seen in other agencies, use of the 400-406 MHz band is not out of the question. The 424.5000 MHz channel is also most likely used outside the US, but be on the lookout for possible use domestically as well. 

No comments: