Sunday, May 20, 2012

New UHF Trunked System - Las Vegas

I'm spending a little time searching the airwaves in the Southern Nevada region. I seem to have stumbled upon yet another 400 MHz trunking system in or near the Las Vegas area.

Tonight I came across a P-25 control channel on 408.2375 MHz, showing a NAC of N490, a System ID of 49D, Site 001 and a WACN of BEE00. The two voice channels seen are 407.8375 MHz  and 409.5125 MHz. The system is currently showing that it is in "Site Trunking", so no other sites are displayed.

All communications so far have been clear. I did hear CONTROL do a roll call of units  NH-1, through NH-5. Lots of first names as call signs and mentions of new furniture going in the pharmacy. My first thought might be the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, (Nellis AFB and the Department of Energy maintain medical facilities as well).

The federal UHF band is pretty saturated with multiple trunked systems and conventional channels. There are already 3 wide-area UHF trunked systems covering Nellis Air Force Base and their associated ranges (P-25), the National Nuclear Security Administration and their associated ranges (Motorola Type II) and the Nevada Test & Training Range (EDACS). The frequencies associated with this new system have not been logged by myself in the past.

UPDATE: It appears that this is the new radio system for the new Las Vegas VA Hospital on Pecos Road, scheduled to open in August of 2012. I was able to confirm that the control channel for this new trunked system was emanating from here.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

414.5625 Mhz Continued

Over the last few years I've seen reports of, and heard myself, some encrypted P-25 transmissions on 414.5625 MHz. Reports have come from Houston, Boston and Charlotte, NC of the same type traffic. The agency is unknown and traffic is, so far, entirely secure.

Initially the traffic reports had a P-25 NAC of N168 being heard, but lately the same frequency has been seen until N169 as well. Also have seen reports of what might be the same agency using 414.7500 MHz, also with a NAC of N169. 414.7500 MHz has traditionally been known as a US Postal Inspectors frequency and it is assigned to them nationwide. However, it is not an exclusive assignment. The various branches of the Department of Defense have some limited allocations of the same frequency, as well as the Bureau of Prisons.

My initial guess it might be one of the DoD Special Investigative agencies, or a DoD security detail of some sort. I have run into various DoD security details on various UHF channels over the years.

UPDATE:
 I have been told by reliable sources that the frequency of 414.5625 does show some allocations to the US Postal Service in the Government Master File, but nothing else. So this could be some new assignment or some sort of special use by the Postal Inspectors. More as we find it!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Chicago NATO Summit



The NATO Summit is getting cranked up this week in Chicago. The Summit occurs on May 20 & 21, but preparations are already underway. It should provide some interesting listening for those in the area. I have already started to receive some reports of testing on known Secret Service and other federal frequencies.

Here is a links to some information regarding the NATO Summit:

http://securechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/NATOSecurityTransportationPlan.pdf 

And a thread on Radio Reference that contains some good information:

http://forums.radioreference.com/chicago-metro-area-discussion/239345-up-coming-nato-communications-where-listen.html 

UPDATE:

Just passing through Chicago today (5/15), changing planes @ ORD today and heard some testing on a couple of Secret Service channels in the clear. Person testing mentioned that it was a "Matrix test, 1, 2...".

5/17 - Hearing reports of "NATO" units on 166.7125 MHz. The frequency has been logged previously in Chicago as the North Chicago VAMC police.


Monday, April 23, 2012

DHS Annouces Multi-Billion $ Radio Contract

 Watch for continued changes in DHS radio systems in the near future:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120413_8705.php?oref=rss

This contact may have been spurred on by the ending of the DHS involvement with the federal IWN radio system. The DHS is now free to develop and expand existing radio systems, including the continuing upgrade from analog to APCO P-25 digital.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

National Guard "Operation Phalanx" Along Border

Here is an item regarding National Guard troops being used for border protection:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/26129?c=border_security

The ongoing program called "Operation Phalanx" will be shifting from ground based National Guard troops to airborne border observation and support with CBP. National Guard personnel will include about 200 troops who will provide mobile aerial detection and monitoring across all four southwest border states, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The article also mentions that the CBP Office of Air & Marine is attempting to upgrade their Blackhawk helicopters to newer UH-60L models.



North Carolina / South Carolina Logs

I recently made some driving trips in the Asheville and Raleigh, NC areas, as well as driving south to Augusta, GA though South Carolina. Here is what I logged while traveling:

166.2250, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
162.6125, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
164.3750, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
164.7625, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
165.2875, N650 - BATFE NET 1
166.0000, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
166.8875, N085 - Savannah DoE TRS
167.8625, CSQ - VAMC paging in Asheville & Augusta
167.9250, CSQ - Paging from DoE Savannah
168.6750, 131.8 pl - USFS "COLUMBIA" Dispatch, Greenville, SC area
169.5500, N4C5 - GREAT SMOKEY MTN National Park "CLINGMANS DOME"
169.7375, D031 - Security patrols, ROMEO units, Raleigh - Durham area
169.9750, weak near Augusta area
170.5625, 71.9 pl - Security patrols, Raleigh - Durham area
170.9125, N130 - Near Columbia, SC on I-26
172.1875, N130
172.5000, N4C5 - GREAT SMOKEY MTN National Park "MT. STERLING"
172.7250, D051 - Blue Ridge Parkway "MT. MITCHELL", analog
172.7250, N120 - Blue Ridge Parkway "MT. MITCHELL", digital
172.7500, N130 - Blue Ridge Parkway "DOUGHTON MTN"
173.5875, N130 - US Army Corps of Engineers
173.6875, N130
173.7625, N130 - Blue Ridge Parkway "RICH MTN"
173.8125, 151.4 pl

406.1125, N010, P-25 TRS 01C
406.1375, Winston - Salem area
406.2750, N293
406.8125, N216 - Augusta area, Ft. Gordon TRS?
407.0125, N216 - Augusta area, Ft. Gordon TRS?
407.0500, Motorola Control Channel, TRS C514, Raleigh - Durham area
408.1250, N010
408.2500, Motorola Control Channel, TRS E721, Columbia, SC?
408.8125, N210 - Augusta area, Ft. Gordon TRS?
408.8125, N216 - Augusta area, Ft. Gordon TRS?
409.5625
409.7375, 107.2 pl - Winston - Salem area
410.0125
410.2125
410.3250, N352 - Raleigh - Durham area
410.5625, N010 - Augusta area, Ft. Gordon TRS?
410.8125, N142 - Raleigh - Durham area
410.8500, 127.3 pl
416.8750, 118.8 pl

166.5125 MHz Mysteries

For those who have been into federal monitoring for a while, the frequency of 166.5125 MHz should appear familiar. It has been long known as the White House Communications Agency SIERRA channel, (inside info seems to indicate this now may be known as ALPHA).  It always seemed to be used by the WHCA advance teams when they were in town getting ready for a visit from the VP or POTUS.

However, some reports have this channel active in areas and times when no VIP visits were planned or ever occurred. As I mentioned in my logs of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, local listeners heard encrypted traffic on this frequency several weeks prior to the Super Bowl. While I guessed that they have have been scouting locations for a possible Super Bowl visit from POTUS, I have heard a couple reports from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of traffic on this frequency with more activity and longer operations that might be expected from the WHCA. One report heard some clear activity with what sounded like airborne surveillance operations, highly unlikely for the WHCA.

As far as I can tell, the frequency is an exclusive allocation to the WHCA and I've not logged any other agencies operations on this channel. But there might be a possibility that this frequency is in some Secret Service radios and they may just have decided to use it for some of their operations. There has long been an assumption that the Secret Service has some WHCA channels in their radios, as they two agencies often interact on many Executive Protection details.

Clearly, more information is needed. But keep an ear on 166.5125 MHz and see if it gets busy in your area.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI Monitoring Logs

In the May issue of Monitoring Times, the Fed Files column contains my scanning logs from Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis this past February. I figured I'd post it here and see if anyone had anything to add or identify some of the unknowns I picked up while in Indy!

123.0250    AM    Area helicopter multicom channel
123.0500    AM    Area helicopter multicom channel
136.3750    AM    CBF OAM VHF "COMPANY"

148.0000    CSQ     Unknown agency

162.3250        Unknown
162.5875        Unknown
162.7625    N293    Unknown agency
162.8750    N023    DHS Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), input to 170.1
162.8750    N293    Unknown agency
162.9125    N069    DHS ICE, input to 171.2500
162.9750    N293    Unknown agency
163.1000    N167    FBI
163.1125    N496    Unknown agency, input to 170.7875
163.1250    N301    CBP
163.1875    N167    FBI
163.2000    N023    Unknown agency
163.2375        Unknown
163.7000    N169    ICE TAC 1
163.7250    N169    ICE tactical channel
163.8625    N167    FBI, input to 167.5375
163.9000    N167    FBI, input to 170.9375
163.9375    N167    FBI A6 input
164.1000    N301    CBP VACIS Operations
164.3500    NE03    Possible Department of Energy
164.4500        Possible EPA using DES encryption?
164.6500    N001    USSS TANGO
164.7875    N169    ICE TAC 4
165.2375    100.0    CBP NET 1 analog
165.2375    N301    CBP VACIS Operations
165.2875    N650    BATFE NET 1
165.3750    N001    USSS CHARLIE
165.5125    N301    CBP
165.6875    N301    CBP VACIS Operations
165.7250    N293    Unknown agency
165.8000    CSQ    Unknown agency
166.4375    N325    CBP DNET 1 input
166.4625    103.5    Possible TSA use at stadium, analog
166.5125    P-25    WHCA ALPHA, reported weeks prior but nothing heard during.
166.5875    100.0    Unknown
166.5875    N301    CBP DNET 12
166.6750    141.3    Unknown
167.0000    N100    Unknown agency
167.0250    N169    Possible ICE tactical channel
167.2125    N167    FBI
167.2125    N167    FBI A1
167.2875    167.9    FBI
167.3125    167.9    FBI
167.3875    N167    FBI
167.4125    167.9    FBI
167.5375    N167    FBI D6
167.5625    N167    FBI
167.7625    N167    FBI
167.7625    N167    FBI A6   
168.0000    141.3    Related to the 166.675 MHz?
168.1125    N68F    Federal Interoperability LE-4
168.5875    N169    ICE TAC 2
168.8375    N293    CBP AIR 1
168.9625    N293    Unknown agency
169.2625    N293    Unknown agency
169.5500    N325    CBP DNET 12 input
169.5625        Unknown
169.7250    N167    FBI
170.1000    N023    DHS ICE
170.4375    N167    FBI
170.4875    N167    FBI
170.7500    N293    US Marshals Service, Indianapolis Federal Courthouse
170.7875    N496    Unknown agency
170.9125    N167    FBI
170.9375    N167    FBI, A5
171.2000    NE03    Possible Department of Energy use
171.2000    N293    Unknown agency
171.2500    N069    ICE NET 1, repeater
171.3875    CSQ    USPS Bulk Mail Center, Truck Operations
171.6875    N293    Unknown agency
171.7750    N167    FBI
171.9500    N293    Unknown agency
172.1750        Unknown, possible data bursts
172.9000    N001    TSA at Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

228.9000    AM    Combat Air Patrol
238.2000    AM    Combat Air Patrol, TAC channel
260.9000    AM    Combat Air Patrol
350.0250    AM    CBP OAM UHF "3"
380.7875    NFM    Possible DoD land mobile use
383.4750    NFM    Possible DoD land mobile use

406.1375    127.3    Possible US Postal Service
406.2000    N201    Federal Protective Service, Region V
407.7250    N482    USPS Postal Inspection Service
407.7750    N482    USPS Postal Inspection Service
407.8375    N174    VAMC Maintenance
408.0375    N263    VAMC Police
408.9375    D162    Unknown
409.0750    D364    Unknown
409.2750    127.3    Possible US Postal Service
410.2000    127.3    USPS Bulk Mail Center, downtown Indianapolis
410.3000    156.7    Unknown
410.8750    146.2    Unknown
411.5250    127.3    Probably USPS operations
411.5500    127.3    Probably USPS operations
414.7250        Unknown
414.7375    D074    Unknown
415.0750    91.5    Unknown
416.7250    N482    USPS Postal Inspection Service, input to 407.7250
416.8375    N174    VAMC, input to 407.8375
417.0375    N263    VAMC, input to 408.0375
418.5250        Unknown
418.6000    136.5    Unknown
418.7750    100.0    Unknown



Friday, April 13, 2012

DEA on VHF?

While I continue to receive reports of the DEA transitioning to new P-25 frequencies in various parts of the country, I have seen two reports of what they believe to be new P-25 DEA channels in the VHF hi-band.

Both 173.6000 MHz, N156 and 173.7250 MHz, N156 have been reported with encrypted traffic in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The P-25 NAC appears to be what is steering listeners to believe it is the DEA. Although I have seen other federal agencies utilizing the same analog CTCSS tone of 156.7 Hz that the DEA used,  I have not seen other agencies using a P-25 NAC of N156 yet.

There have been subtle indications of a possible move from UHF to VHF by the DEA. I'm also wondering if they have some new multi-band radios and have set up some VHF operations for interoperability with other Justice Department agencies.

The frequencies themselves are previously unassigned or had unknown assignments. 173.6000 MHz, N653 is being used as part of the Federal Interoperability project in Southern California.

UPDATE:
 Add another unknown to this network - 173.8625 MHz, N156 has been heard in use in the same region. 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

CBP "Integrated Towers" Project

The US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has begun soliciting bids on what it is calling "integrated fixed towers":

https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9e350553fcd23dae89edc56dca8510e1&tab=core&_cview=0

These manned towers will be placed at strategic locations along the Arizona/Mexico border and will house various radar. communications and surveillance electronics that will help CBP with tracking illegal border crossings. The first of the towers is scheduled to be installed near the Nogalas, AZ CBP area of responsibility.



This may be the next version of the so-called "virtual fence" project that Boeing failed to deliver to CBP a few years ago. More information on this latest project can be found here:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/25958/q_a_cbp’s_“integrated_fixed_towers”_program

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/26063?c=communications


Saturday, April 07, 2012

US Marshals Service

For several years now, the US Marshals Service, part of the Department of Justice, has been utilizing the FBI radio communications network for US Marshals operations. Initially, it seemed that the Marshals were just utilizing the same frequencies as the FBI operations. However, there now appears to be evidence that the US Marshals, or some other FBI units are starting to use some of the same frequencies, but are using a different P-25 Network Access Code (NAC).

Most FBI operational channels using P25 digital mode are using a NAC of N167. Some known FBI channels are now starting to show users with another NAC, in some cases N864. Since most of this traffic is encrypted, positive identification of the users is not possible, but reports from the New York City area have perhaps identified the N864 operations as "possibly" being US Marshals. This same NAC is being reported in other cites as well, and additional P-25 NACs have been seen on known FBI radio channels.

If these different NACs are exclusive to US Marshals units or perhaps a joint USMS/FBI task force is also unknown. In addition, there have been reports of some VHF simplex channels historically used by the US Marshals, such as 162.7875 MHz and 163.2000 MHz, being used with a NAC of N839.

So if you have the ability, keep an eye out for any unusual P-25 NACs on known DoJ channels in your area. We shall see if there is any pattern to the NACs used or any information on the users.

South Central Oregon Fire Channel Plan

Here's a nice listing of frequencies used by the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership. It contains both statewide and federal agency frequencies:

http://www.scofmp.org/channelplan.pdf

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

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.

Monday, March 05, 2012

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.

Sunday, March 04, 2012

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.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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!


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

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.