Monitoring Times on Kindle

For those of us with Kindle e-readers, some good news. Monitoring Times magazine is available for the Kindle through the Kindle store. Although MT is available electronically as a PDF file, it is difficult to read on the original Kindle e-readers. (I haven't seen how the PDFs look on the Kindle Fire.)

The first issue available is the March 2012 issue and is a test to see how popular it will be. The Kindle version is formatted as text-only at this point, which works better me than trying to read the PDF version on a Kindle.

Give it a try and let the folks at Monitoring Times know what you think!

GOP Campaign Update

As noted in previous postings, both of the current front-running Republican presidential candidates are now receiving protective details from the US Secret Service.

Some initial reports have started trickling in about hearing some Secret Service communications frequencies active at recent campaign stops. Frequencies heard were 165.3750 MHz (CHARLIE), 165.7875 MHz (BAKER) and possibly 165.6875 MHz.

It's important to note that these protective details will generally be smaller and will not use multiple radio channels as with the details of those in elected office. Also, there should not be any White House Communications Agency (WHCA) activity at these events, as they have no responsibility for political candidates.

Finally, news media reports have reveled what are reported to be the "code names" that are assigned to the principles of the protection details. Here is what is being reported:

JAVELIN: Romney

PETRUS: Santorum

However, these have not been officially confirmed by the US Secret Service at this time.

G8 Summit Moved

There were folks planning on being in the Chicago area for the upcoming G8 Summit, May 18 & 19, to monitor the action. News is that the summit meeting have now been moved to Camp David:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-shifts-location-of-g-8-summit-from-hometown-of-chicago-to-camp-david/2012/03/05/gIQAsm9CtR_story.html

Apparently the NATO Summit, scheduled for May 20-21, is still on schedule to being in Chicago.

Additional Secret Service Detail for GOP

In addition to providing protective details for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the US Secret Service will now be providing details for candidate Rick Santorum as well:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/26/santorum-to-receive-secret-service-detail/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/26/rick-santorum-secret-service_n_1303063.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-27/santorum-secret-service/53265660/1

No reports yet from monitors if they have been able to catch any radio traffic from the already operating Romney detail concerning possible code names.

No word on any possible Secret Service protection for candidate Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich.

Washington DC Logs

In the March issue of Monitoring Times, I have published my logs from the last trip I made to the Washington, DC area. I have a few entries that are unknown agencies, and like what I did with my New York City logs, I thought I would post them here and see if any DC listeners can help identify some of the unknowns. Any corrections or additions will be appreciated!

UPDATE: Check this post for updates, as I am adding information as I am able to find it.

162.0500, N201 - US Secret Service Uniformed Division, WH1
162.0500, N00F
162.0625, N201 - US Secret Service Uniformed Division
162.0625, N00F
162.0750, N201 – US Secret Service Uniformed Division, F1
162.2125, D023
162.2500, 173.8 – US Capitol Police F4
162.3125, N211 - US Secret Service Uniformed Division, Foreign Missions
162.6000, N012
162.6125, 127.3 – US Capitol Police F5
162.8250, N076 - DHS ICE
162.9500, N095 - DHS ICE
162.9875, N010 – Possible IWN NCR input
163.0000, N010 – Possible IWN NCR input
163.0000, N013
163.3125. N202 - US Secret Service Uniformed Division, WH2
163.3500, 146.2 – Department of the Treasury
163.7250, N073 – DHS ICE
163.9000, N010 – Possible IWN NCR input
164.1750, N011
164.4000, N001 – USSS PAPA
164.4375, N212 - US Secret Service Uniformed Division, Foreign Missions 2
164.6250, 173.8 – US Capitol Police
164.6500, N001 – USSS TANGO
164.8875, N001 – USSS OSCAR
164.9375, 203.5
165.1875, 156.7 - Arlington National Cemetary
165.2125, N001 – USSS MIKE
165.2375, N100 – CBP NET 1
165.2875, N650 – BATFE NET 1
165.3750, N001 – USSS CHARLIE
165.4125, 210.7 - National Gallery
165.5375, 146.2 – US Capitol Police F2
165.6000, N010 – Possible IWN NCR input
165.6875, N001 – USSS WDC Field Office
165.7875, N001 – USSS BAKER
165.9250, 127.3 - US Capitol Police
166.2000, N212 - Possibly US Secret Service Uniformed Divsion
166.3250, N518
166.3250, N546 – Department of the Interior
166.4500, 167.9 - US Capitol Police
166.4625, N001 – DHS Common
166.5125, N001 – WHCA ALPHA
166.7000, N001 – WHCA
166.7250, 127.3 – Park Police F1
166.8500, 127.3 – Park Police F4
166.9250, 127.3 – Park Police F2
167.0125, N001 – USSS Executive Protection
167.0375, N001 – USSS Executive Protection
167.0750, 127.3 – Park Police F3
167.2125, N167 – FBI
167.4125, N167 – FBI
168.4875, 167.9
167.5125, N167 – FBI
167.5500, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System
167.9500, 167.9 – Possible US Department of Agriculture
168.1250, N167 – FBI
168.1750, N293
168.2250, 151.4
168.2625, N71F – IWN (System 715) Trunked System, Site 160
168.2875, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 801
168.4250, N293 – National Parks Service, National Capitol Parks East
168.4250, 162.2
168.4875, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 801
168.5875, N100
168.6875, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 801
168.8500, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 801
168.8875, N293
168.9250, N167 – FBI
168.9375, N078 - DHS ICE
168.9750, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 1001
169.1875, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 401
169.2250, 110.9 – US Capitol Police F1
169.7750, N4C5 – National Parks Service, George Washington Parkway
169.9375, N201
170.0000, N001
170.0000, N003
170.0000, N004
170.1000, 103.5 - National Parks Service
170.1750, 156.7 – US Capitol Police F3
170.4375, N202
170.7500, N293 - US Marshals Service, Federal Courts Security
171.2375, 254.1
171.3625, N293 – Department of Transportation
171.4000, N012
171.4375, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 1001
171.7625, N211
171.7750, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 401
171.9875, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 1101
172.0250, 165.5
172.1125, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System
172.2625, N069
172.4125, N001
172.4375, N4C5 – National Parks Service
172.4750, N4C5 – National Parks Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks
172.5875, N077 – DHS ICE
172.6125, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System, Site 1101
172.6375, N010 – IWN NCR Trunked System
172.9000, N001 – TSA @ Reagan National Airport
172.9000, N013 – TSA @ Reagan National Airport
173.0000, N293 – Unknown agency
173.5250, 167.9 – US Capitol Police
173.5500, N71F – IWN Trunked System, Site 160
173.6375, N293 – US Supreme Court
173.6500, N293
173.7375, N293
173.7375, N864
173.8750, 94.8 pl – US Capitol Police
173.9000, N011
406.3875, D723 – US Capitol, public tours
406.4250, N12C – US Department of Agriculture, Headquarters Security
407.1375, N482 - US Postal Inspectors
407.4625, N421 - Unknown Agency
407.6000, N0F0 – US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
407.6000, NC0C
407.6625, N421 - Unknown Agency
407.7750, N482 – US Postal Inspection Service
407.8250, N1F2
407.8625, N0F0 - US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
407.8625, NC0C -
408.2000, N201 – Federal Protective Service
408.2750, N167
408.3500, N167
408.6000, N0F0 - US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
409.0375, N0F0 - US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
409.0625, N421 - Unknown Agency
409.5125, D073 – Government Printing Office
409.7125, N0F0 - US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
409.8500, D226
410.8250, D631
413.7125, N167 – FBI Uniformed Security
415.9000, 123.0
417.2000, N201 – Federal Protective Service
417.8875, N295 – US Mint Police
418.6750, N156 – DEA F4
418.7500, N156 – DEA F3
419.1500, 167.9 – US Information Agency
419.4875, D624 - Possible Federal Reserve

USCG NET Updates

For a while now I've been tracking the new APCO P-25 digital radio NET channels being deployed by the US Coast Guard. I've posted what I've found so far, but recently received some additional channels and thought I would post the updates along with the known channels.

So here are all the VHF P-25 channels that we have identified so far:

NET 01 139.9750
NET 02 140.4750
NET 03 140.7250
NET 04 141.6125
NET 05 150.7250
NET 06 141.5500
NET 07 150.3000
NET 08 162.0500
NET 09 162.1250
NET 10 162.2500
NET 11 162.3250
NET 12 163.0500
NET 13 163.1375
NET 14 164.3000
NET 15 164.3125
NET 16 164.5500
NET 17 164.5625
NET 18 164.9000
NET 19 164.9125
NET 20 165.2625
NET 21 165.3125
NET 22 165.3250
NET 23 165.3375
NET 24 166.1875
NET 25 167.9000
NET 26 168.8625
NET 27 171.2375
NET 28 172.3125
NET 29 165.2750
NET 30 171.2125
NET 31 171.3125
NET 32 171.3375
NET 33 171.3500
NET 34 171.3625
NET 50 172.0375
NET 51 165.4625

Here are all the UHF Coast Guard allocations with the identified P-25 NET names:

406.5000
406.5625
406.5750
406.6000
406.8000
406.8125
406.9750
407.6250
407.9250
407.9750
408.4000
409.0000
409.1875
409.2000
409.3500
409.8250
410.0250
410.3750
411.3750
411.7875 - NET 402
412.9750 - NET-409
413.0000 - NET-410
413.0250 - NET-411
413.0375
414.7625
415.6250
415.7750
415.8250
415.9250
416.2250
416.3875
416.4750
416.5500 - NET-4xx
416.5750
416.5875
416.6000
416.6375
416.7000
416.7125
416.8500
416.9250
416.9375
417.0000
418.3500
418.4375
418.4500
419.1250
419.6000
419.6500
419.8000
419.8250
419.8500
419.9750 

The Coast Guard P-25 channels tend to us a NAC of N293. Encryption is used, some areas use it consistently, others not so much.

If you find any additional P-25 channels in use by the Coast Guard, please let me know!

IWN Project Gets Zero Funding

Confirming what was alluded to in previous postings, the Justice Department has allocated no additional funding to the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) project:

http://fcw.com/articles/2012/02/15/doj-wireless-network-information-sharing-cutbacks.aspx

It remains to be see what will be done with the existing IWN components. There was some funding allocated for the operation of the IWN through 2012. The 2013 budget has some funding for improvements of the FBI, DEA and US Marshals legacy communications systems.

Mitt Romney To Get USSS Protection

After winning the Florida GOP primary, Mitt Romney will now start getting a protective detail from the US Secret Service. More here:

http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-mitt-romney-receive-secret-protection-025939494--abc-news.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/31/source-romney-to-get-secret-service-protection/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/campaigns/ap-sources-romney-sought-secret-service-protection-getting-it-wednesday/2012/01/31/gIQAQqiagQ_story.html

Super Bowl XLVI Monitoring Post

Here's a look at my hotel room monitoring command post near Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I'm also monitoring from inside the secured areas of the stadium where I am working.

Radios include the GRE PSR-500 and PSR-600, PRO-96, Uniden 396XT and the Optocom black-box receiver. And additional PSR-600 and 396XT are working over in the office at the stadium. The PSR-600 and Optocom are set up to log frequencies while I am away from the hotel.

CBP To Fly ROV's Along Southwest US Border

The CBP is looking for vendors to help operate airborne remotely operated vehicles along the southwestern US border area:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/25519/cbp_vendor_assess_operations_unmanned_aircraft_sys

The CBP Office of Air and Marine (OAM) currently operates such airborne platforms along the nation’s land borders and maritime approaches.

Here is a link to the CBP posted information on what they are calling the Wide Area Aerial Surveillance System (WAASS):


https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=fdb77d01ebbdeb5a5821d56bb535a27a&tab=core&_cview=1

Super Bowl XLVI Indianapolis

Things are starting to come together in Indy for the Super Bowl on February 5th. All indications are that this event will have much of the same federal law enforcement activity as past Super Bowl events.

Several news articles concerning the security for the event have been published, including this one:

http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=1627838

Not much new information, but there are references to more hand-held devices being used for this Super Bowl than in past events. This might indicate some decrease in routine radio traffic for this event, but we shall see.

http://www.disaster-resource.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1596&Itemid=128

http://www.indystar.com/article/20111217/NEWS11/312170004/Super-public-safety-effort-planned-Super-Bowl?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|IndyStar.com|p

And it appears that S.A.F.E. will be handling crowd management this year:

http://www.safemanagement.net/

UPDATE:

Wednesday, January 25th, the Regional Operations Center opens:
Indianapolis officials on Wednesday opened a regional operations center for the coordination of law enforcement response to world-class events, including the Super Bowl.
The purpose of the center is to facilitate regional coordination and increase efficiency across all levels of law enforcement agencies in the event of emergencies.
The facility is at 200 N. Shadeland Ave., inside what once was Eastgate Mall. Marion County's emergency operations center will move to the new facility, with the existing EOC at 47 S. State St. serving as a backup facility.
Mayor Greg Ballard and Public Safety Director Frank Straub touted the facility as a good example of partnership between federal, state and local authorities.
Authorities plan to monitor a series of cameras at all hours, giving law enforcement agencies real-time information so they can shift crews as needed more easily.
The FBI will also house an intelligence operations center in the facility in the event of terrorism or other large-scale incidents

IWN Project Stopped? UPDATE

I recently came across what appears to be evidence of a halt in the Integrated Wireless network (IWN) project. A statement made by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa is posted on the US Senate web site here:

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da16b59e3&wit_id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da16b59e3-0-1

In this statement of May 4th, 2011, Senator Grassley mentions a "stop work" order being issued for the IWN program, and officially "suspended" by the Department of Justice Wireless Management Office. The statement portion pertaining to the IWN appears below.

The statement also indicates that the project "will end without completing it's original goal". So does this mean the IWN project is officially stopped and finished? I'm still searching for confirmation on this question. We will have to see what the future brings. Stay tuned...

Oversight Hearing of the Department of Justice

Prepared Statement of Ranking Member Chuck Grassley

U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

 Hearing on Oversight of the Department of Justice

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Integrated Wireless Network (IWN):

I would also like to discuss what appears to be a new failed IT procurement at the department.  The integrated wireless network program (IWN) was recently suspended by the Department of Justice and it appears that the project will end without completing its original goal to integrate the wireless radios for all federal law enforcement agencies.  The IWN program was designed to implement a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and create a single interoperable communication system between federal law enforcement agencies.  However, the Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Office of Management and Budget have all expressed concerns with the program and labeled it as high risk.  To date, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent, and there is no part of the country where all federal law enforcement radios are interoperable.  The contractors have argued, as expected, that they just need more money and time and there are rumors that the department now wants to issue sole source contracts to companies just to buy equipment.  I want to know more about this stop work order and whether the stop work order will simply be used to sole source a contract for radios to vendors outside the original IWN program.  I am concerned that this program is starting to look a lot like other failed IT programs at the department—hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars spent with nothing to show for it. 

UPDATE:

A source found this article on line from the Washington Post that indicates any further expansion of the IWN project is currently on hold:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/17/justice-department-shelves-upgrade-communications/?page=1&sms_ss=email&at_xt=4dab9ca93cb4f76a%2C0

According to the article sources, “given future funding uncertainty” the Justice Department was ceasing design work on the next stage, in Maryland and Virginia, and would not begin planning for the third stage deployment in the Midwest, which had been slated for 2012. Apparently there is enough funding to continue with the current IWN operation in the Washington DC National Capitol Region and the Pacific Northwest.

UPDATE II:
An article has appeared on-line that summerizes what I found earlier:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/mobile/232500144
This article links to a new report by the DpJ Office of the Inspector General. That report can be found here:
http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2012/a1210.pdf
Unfortunately, this report has much of the technical information that appeared in an earlier OIG report redacted for public release.

And more industry reporting on the subject:
http://mccmag.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=7868

WDW Federal Frequencies?

A source recently sent me some frequencies in use at Walt Disney World, near Orlando, FL. I was surprised to find out there was a federal facility, of sorts, on the grounds of WDW! The facility is the Shades of Green Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC), operated by the the US Army's Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC). Here are some links with more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Recreation_Center
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_Green_(resort)

Here are the frequencies that have been identified as being in use at the Shades of Green:

406.1625 / 415.1625, D125  Security
407.2250 / 416.2250, D754  Maintenance
407.2750 / 416.2750, D703  Housekeeping
406.1750 / 415.1750, D365  Unknown


407.2375 MHz may also be in use, but no DPL tone value has been recorded.

So next time you are near Orlando, give these a listen...

Merry Christmas from The Fed Files

Thanks for all the great emails and reports from the loyal readers out there. Looking forward to more new and interesting federal intercepts in 2012!

Fed Files - January 2012 NYC Logs

In the January 2012 Fed Files column, I published a list of frequencies I logged during a recent trip to New York City for work. I included it in the column as a representation of the "raw" data I get from logs collected during my trips, but I started to identify some of the obvious frequencies and who they are used by.

Unfortunately, I included the list without finishing my identification tasks, and several sharp MT readers offered some suggestions. So here is the New York City list that was in the column, but with as many of the frequencies identified as I can. Keep in mind that these are simply what computer logged, and some of the P-25 NAC values may be incorrect. However, I usually disregard any NACs that appear only once. The NAC values listed appeared multiple times in the logs.

If you have any additional information on the unknown frequencies, please pass it along!

163.3750, D065 - Input to USPS on 166.3750 MHz

164.1000, N001 – US Secret Service

164.3375, D251 – Postal Service Brooklyn

164.4000, N001 – US Secret Service PAPA

164.6500, N001 – US Secret Service TANGO

165.2125, N001 - US Secret Service MIKE

165.2375, N301 – DHS CBP NET 1

166.3750, D065 – US Postal Service Manhattan

166.5625, N301 – DHS CBP (B16)

166.8875, 103.5  - UN Security Base

167.1250, 114.8 – US Postal Service, New Jersey

167.4625, N207 – DHS ICE Regional Network

167.5125, N167 - FBI Newark B3/B4

167.7875, N653 – NYC FIO Federal Interoperability repeater

167.8875, 127.3 – Input to 164.1875 MHz, UN Security

168.3000, N167 – FBI H3/H4

168.8250, N167 – FBI H1/H2

168.8250, N730 -

168.8875, N167 – FBI B7/B8

168.9125, N935 - DHS ICE, New York City

169.4500, 100.0 – DHS, CBP Customs NET 2

169.6250, N167 – FBI (not previously logged)

169.7000, N864 – DoJ, US Marshals Service

169.7250, N864 – DoJ, US Marshals Service

169.9750, N167 – FBI Newark A1/A2

169.9875, N4F9 - Department of the Interior, Liberty Island/Ellis Island

170.3750, N167 – FBI G5/G6

170.4250, N167 – FBI G3/G4

170.4250, N730-

170.5500, N167 - FBI G7/G8

170.5500, N730 -

170.6250, N167 – FBI C7/C8

170.6250, N730 -

171.1750, N653 – NYC Federal Interoperability FIO 2

171.4625, N24F - Unknown agency

171.5500, N167 - FBI C3/C4

171.5500, N673

171.6875, N173

171.6875, N9C5 – DHS ICE Regional Network, New Jersey NJ-1

171.7250, N159 - DHS ICE Regional Network, New Jersey NJ-2

172.1875, N167 - FBI B3/B4

172.5250, N167 – FBI B1/B2

172.6625, N615 - Reported as US Marshals NY-2

173.6625, N167 – FBI A1

173.6625, N673

173.6625, N730

406.1125, 82.5 - UN Maintenance

406.1500, N293 – VAMC Brooklyn

406.3375, N482 – US Postal Inspectors RED Net

406.4250, 67.0 - VA Maintenance

406.5000, N020 - BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn (*seemed to show this NAC on some transmissions)

406.5000, N2E1 - BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn

406.9250, N020*

406.9250, N2E1 - BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn

407.1375, N482 – US Postal Inspectors GREEN Net

407.2000, N293 – State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security

407.4125, N1A3 - BoP Metropolitan Correctional Center, Manhattan

407.5000, 107.2 – VA NJ Maintenance

407.7250, N482 – US Postal Inspectors WHITE Net

407.7750, N482 – US Postal Inspectors BLUE Net

407.9500, N020*

407.9500, N2E1 – BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn

408.1000, N0F0 – State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security

408.1250, N293 – VAMC Manhattan

408.2000, N270 - Federal Protective Service

408.2125, N020*

408.2125, N2E1 - BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn

408.3000, 74.4

408.4250, 67.0 - VA Manhattan, maintenance

408.5750, N020*

408.5750, N2E1 - BoP Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn

408.8125, N1A3 - BoP Metropolitan Correctional Center, Manhattan

409.0250, 110.9 – Postal Service Flushing/Nassau

409.3250, 67.0 - VA maintenance

409.6250, N293 – State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security

409.7500, N020*

409.9000, N1A3 - BoP Metropolitan Correctional Center, Manhattan

409.9375, N482 – US Postal Inspectors BLACK Net

410.4125, N1A3 - BoP Metropolitan Correctional Center, Manhattan

411.7375, 67.0

412.9750, N293

413.4125, N293 – VA Medical Center, New Jersey

413.8625, CSQ – VA Medical Center - Paging

413.8750, 67.0

413.9750, D271

414.6875, D503

414.8750, 173.8

414.9000, 156.7  - DEA

415.9000, 74.4

416.1375, N482 – US Postal Inspectors, input to 407.1375 MHz

416.7250, N482 – US Postal Inspectors, input to 407.7250 MHz

417.2000, N270 – Federal Protective Service

417.6000, N293 – State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security

417.6500, 103.5

417.9125, 192.8

418.3500, 141.3

418.6250, 156.7 – DEA

418.6750, 156.7 – DEA F4

418.7500, 156.7 – DEA F3

418.7875, D125

418.9250, D731

418.9375, N482 – US Postal Inspectors, input to 409.9375 MHz

418.9500, 156.7 – DEA

419.7875, 67.0

Some have asked about the N730 NACs appearing on some of the FBI repeaters. I have noted these NACs for several years now, especially when I have been monitoring the New Years Eve happenings in Times Square. I suspect some sort of Special Operation or Task Force may be using a different NAC on these repeaters, but nothing has been confirmed - just a guess...

USCG NET 411 Confirmed

Back in April of 2010 I asked for some help in confirming some of the new UHF Coast Guard activity that has been monitored recently. There were reports that the Coast Guard helicopters in many areas are now carrying UHF land-mobile radios that are on various CG Nets in the 406-420 MHz band. The helicopters in the South Florida area were reported to be using NET 411, but the frequency was not known.

Recently a Coast Guard helicopter was heard in the South Florida area calling on 413.025 MHz, NAC293 and confirmed that this frequency is indeed NET 411. Here is a list of what I have confirmed in the UHF band so far. These UHF channels are usually P-25 using a NAC of 293 and simplex:

406.5000
406.5625
406.5750
406.6000
406.8000
406.8125
406.9750
407.6250
407.9250
407.9750
408.4000
409.0000
409.1875
409.2000
409.3500
409.8250
410.0250
410.3750
411.3750
411.7875
412.9750 - NET-409
413.0000 - NET-410
413.0250 - NET-411
413.0375
414.7625
415.6250
415.7750
415.8250
415.9250
416.2250
416.3875
416.4750
416.5500 - NET-4xx
416.5750
416.5875
416.6000
416.6375
416.7000
416.7125
416.8500
416.9250
416.9375
417.0000
418.3500
418.4375
418.4500
419.1250
419.6000
419.6500
419.8000
419.8250
419.8500
419.9750

Cain Gets SS Protection

News reports are indicating that Herman Cain, GOP candidate for President, has started receiving protection from the US Secret Service.

“Secretary Napolitano at the request of the Cain campaign consulted with congressional advisory committee which today authorized protection for Cain.” – George Ogilvy, Secret Service spokesman.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68638.html


http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/herman-cain-to-get-secret-service-protection-nancy-pelosi-ribs-perry-the-bubble-primary-the-pm-note/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/herman-cain-u-s-secret-service-detail-unruly-reporters-hounding-officials-article-1.979787

hhttp://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1118/Herman-Cain-receives-Secret-Service-protection

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063085/Herman-Cain-gets-Secret-Service-Protection-receiving-death-threats.html

At this point, only President Obama and Cain are receiving protective details from the Secret Service. No reports from the field of any call signs or radio traffic related to this detail.

Denver / Laramie Area Federal Logs

I recently traveled to Denver and drove up to the Laramie, WY area for work. While driving I was able to log some federal activity.

163.6250 MHz, 151.4pl - ICE repeater at Denver International (DEN), used by TSA
165.2875 MHz, N650 - BATFE
166.3000 MHz, 110.9pl - Rocky Mountain National Park
166.5875 MHz, N301 - CBP at Denver International (DEN)
167.4625 MHz, N167 - FBI, north of Denver?
167.7250 MHz, N385
167.9250 MHz, N555 - Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)
172.9000 MHz, N001 - TSA at Denver International (DEN)
418.6750 MHz, 156.7pl - DEA F4

Once north of the Denver area, I came across some federal channels that are apparently a trunked site that is part of the statewide WyoLink system. This site is called the Cheyenne Water Tank site:
169.6250 MHz, N1A3
169.7125 MHz, N1A3
169.7750 MHz, N1A3
170.0750 MHz, N1A3
170.3625 MHz, N1A3

Came across this VHF trunked system belonging to F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne. The listing for this system at Radio Reference shows only one site for this system in Cheyenne, but I picked up a second site as well:
138.1625 MHz, N150
138.2625 MHz, N150
138.4625 MHz, N150
138.8875 MHz, N150, P-25 System 154, Site 001

138.3375 MHz, N151, P-25 System 154, Site 002

And finally, while driving through the Cheyenne area, came across these conventional channels:
165.1125 MHz, NDEA
173.4625 MHz, NDEA
Yes, the P-25 NAC showed as "DEA". The frequencies are used by the Wyoming Air National Guard, so my guess is someone at the radio shop had a sense of humor.

Federal Spectrum Under Scrutiny

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/125416

Over 1500 MHz worth of frequency spectrum assigned to the federal government is being considered for broadband data use.

While many of these chunks of radio spectrum are used for non-voice data, links and video surveillance, the 406.1 to 420 MHz band is heavily used for both federal and military trunking and conventional radio systems. Keep an eye out for upcoming changes in this band...

Atlantic City, NJ

During a recent trip through the Atlantic City, NJ area, I came across a few new federal frequencies:

163.1000, N167 - FBI, might be regional task force. This channel is active is many places across the country right now.
163.2250, 100.0pl - US Fish & Wildlife Service running surveillance on roadside fish sale. At one point  the channel was called "FARA Local" or something that sounded like that. Any ideas?
164.5625, N293 - US Coast Guard, NET 117.
165,1375, CSQ - NJ Air National Guard at ACY. Sounds like aircraft maintenance.
167.7750, N9C5 - DHS ICE Regional network
168.7500, N167 - FBI
172.2125, N9C5 - DHS ICE Regional network
172.8125, D754 - FAA or ANG - Patched to ACY ground.
172.9000, D315 - FAA Tech Center at Atlantic City International Airport. This is the analog portion of a mixed-mode repeater.
172.9000, N315 - FAA Tech Center, this is the P-25 side of the repeater.
173.4875, N293 - Someone at ACY, heard a "Clear To Lauch" message for ANG F-16's.
173.7875 - Unknown
345.0 MHz, AM - US Coast Guard helicopter ops.