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.