U.S. Capitol Police Frequencies

The U.S. Capitol Police protect the U.S. Capitol grounds and the area around it, as well as members of Congress and their staff.

Their primary communications system is currently a P-25 Phase 1 trunked system, with all talk groups encrypted full-time. Here are the system specs:

System ID     582

WACN          BEE00

SITE NAC    N580

 

System Frequencies

169.5750

169.8375

170.1375

170.3750        

170.5750        

171.0000        

171.4125        

171.7875                               

172.3875        

172.6875        

172.9625        

173.1625

173.4750        

173.8125

U.S. Capitol Police VHF Allocations

 

162.2500 – Travel Channel

162.6125 – Travel Channel

162.8000

163.1000 – Travel Channel

163.1625

163.6000

164.0125

164.3250

164.6000 – Travel Channel

164.6125

164.6250 – Travel Channel

164.8000 – Travel Channel

164.8125

165.0375

165.5375 – Travel Channel

165.7750

166.2250

166.4250

166.4500 – Travel Channel

166.4750 – Travel Channel

168.3500 – Travel Channel

169.2250 – Travel Channel

169.5750

169.8375

170.1375

170.1750 – Travel Channel

170.3750

170.5750

171.0000

171.4125

171.7875

172.3875

172.6875

172.9625

173.1625

173.4750

173.5250 – Travel Channel

173.8125

173.8750 – Travel Channel

 

The frequencies in the above list labeled as “Travel Channel” do not refer to the cable TV network, but indicate these frequencies are allocated for use outside the Washington, DC area. When working outside DC, keep these in your radio and see if anything pops up. The frequency of 173.5250 MHz, using a NAC of N1C3 was heard recently during one of the Republican debate events, so they might be in use in other areas as well.

173.8750, N1D3 – This frequency and P-25 NAC has be heard at multiple Super Bowls in past years. At one time I assumed it to be used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but the frequency is also used by the U.S. Capitol Police, and can be used when they travel with a member of Congress, whom they protect. I can’t definitely confirm who was using it in this case.