Joint Base Charleston

I've been in Charleston, SC for over a week for work, and finally had some time to search around for military activity in the area. I stumbled across something interesting concerning the Naval Support Activity Charleston (NSAC) and their 380 MHz trunked system.

As some may be aware, the US Navy is installing sites for the Enterprise Land Mobile Radio System (ELMRS) trunked radio network at bases across the country and around the world. These P-25 trunked sites can be found in the 380-400 MHz band of DoD controlled radio spectrum. And until now, all the sites of the ELMRS system were in that band.

But apparently now that both NSAC and the Charleston Air Force Base are now one base, called Joint Base Charleston, they made the CAFB 400 MHz trunking system a site on the ELMRS system. This is the first time I have run into a site on the ELMRS system that is NOT in the 380 MHz band. Both sites are using the same System ID of 14C, and both using a P-25 NAC of N140. Neither site shows the other as a neighbor, or any neighbors for that matter, so not sure if any roaming takes place between the two.

Here is what I found active:

System ID             : 14C

System Name           : Enterprise Land Mobile Radio System (ELMRS)

WACN                  : BEE00

Tower Number (Decimal): 206

Tower Number (Hex)    : T0206

Tower Description     : Joint Base Charleston, Naval Support Activity Charleston (NSAC)

Control Capabilities  : Data,Voice,Registration

-Tables

#Format: Table ID,Base Freq,Spacing,Input Offset,Assumed/Confirmed,BandWidth,Slots

00,851.00625,0.00625,-45.00000,"Confirmed",0.00625,1

01,762.00625,0.00625,30.00000,"Confirmed",0.00625,1

02,380.00000,0.00625,10.00000,"Confirmed",0.01250,1

03,406.00000,0.00625,9.00000,"Confirmed",0.01250,1

-Frequencies

#Format: Channel,Usage,Frequency(/Slot),Input Frequency(/Slot),Hit Count

"02-0012","a",380.07500,390.07500,0

"02-0044","c",380.27500,390.27500,0

"02-0068","vd",380.42500,390.42500,337

"02-0092","vd",380.57500,390.57500,297

"02-0116","vd",380.72500,390.72500,318

"02-0150","vd",380.93750,390.93750,314

"02-0162","vd",381.01250,391.01250,306

"02-0188","vd",381.17500,391.17500,331

"02-0198","vd",381.23750,391.23750,343

"02-0210","vd",381.31250,391.31250,301

And here is the Charleston Air Force Base site:

System ID             : 14C

System Name           : Enterprise Land Mobile Radio System (ELMRS)

WACN                  : BEE00

Tower Number (Decimal): 270

Tower Number (Hex)    : T0246

Tower Description     : Joint Base Charleston, Charleston Air Force Base (CAFB)

Control Capabilities  : Data,Voice,Registration

-Tables

#Format: Table ID,Base Freq,Spacing,Input Offset,Assumed/Confirmed,BandWidth,Slots

00,851.00625,0.00625,-45.00000,"Confirmed",0.00625,1

01,762.00625,0.00625,30.00000,"Confirmed",0.00625,1

02,380.00000,0.00625,10.00000,"Confirmed",0.01250,1

03,406.00000,0.00625,9.00000,"Confirmed",0.01250,1

-Frequencies

#Format: Channel,Usage,Frequency(/Slot),Input Frequency(/Slot),Hit Count

"03-0026","vd",406.16250,415.16250,2

"03-0090","d",406.56250,415.56250,0

"03-0122","d",406.76250,415.76250,0

"03-0186","v",407.16250,416.16250,1

"03-0218","c",407.36250,416.36250,0

"03-0250","a",407.56250,416.56250,0

"03-0282","a",407.76250,416.76250,0

"03-0314","a",407.96250,416.96250,0

FEMA Moves From Nextel

As we have known, many federal agencies were heavy users of the Nextel "Direct Connect" push-to-talk radio and mobile phone service. With the demise of the Nextel network, at least one agency is moving to Sprints newest version of the Direct Connect service:

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/10/3755321/fema-moves-from-nextel-to-sprints.html

El Paso, Texas Federal Scanning

A few months ago I spent a few days in El Paso, Texas. As expected, the frequencies for CBP Border Patrol and Field Operations were hopping with activity. Here's what I was able to log over my stay there:

162.7250         N931   DHS CBP International Bridge, input to 169.5500

163.6250         151.4   DHS CBP Border Patrol

163.7000         D223   DHS CBP Border Patrol

163.7250                     DHS CBP

163.7750         D223   DHS CBP Border Patrol

164.6000         100.0   DHS CBP Field Operations

165.2875         N650   BATFE

165.6875         100.0   DHC CBP Field Operations

165.8250         D223   DHS CBP Border Patrol

166.2875         N002   TSA @ ELP - Backscatter X-RAY Operators

167.2375         N167   FBI

168.9500         151.4   DHS CBP Border Patrol

169.5500         N930   DHS CBP International Bridge, Field Operations repeater

170.6250         151.4   DHS CBP Border Patrol

170.6750         151.4   DHS CBP Border Patrol

170.7500         N293   US Marshals, Federal Courthouse

170.8625         N167   FBI

171.2250         N653   Unkown - P25 NAC used on Federal Interoperability systems

172.1500         N001   TSA @ ELP

406.8125                     Motorola Control Channel, SYS A516 - BOP 

407.1375         N482   US Postal Inspectors

407.8125         N164   Voice channel, SYS A516

408.2250         D226   CBP Link

408.2270         D226   CBP Link

409.3000         N2D0  P25 Control Channel, SYS 2D2, WACN BEE00 - Ft. Bliss

409.4750         N2D0  Voice channel, SYS 2D2 - Ft. Bliss

409.5125         N2D0  Voice channel, SYS 2D2 - Ft. Bliss

409.8250         N156   DEA Surveillance

409.8875         N2D0  Voice channel, SYS 2D2 - Ft. Bliss

409.9500         N156   DEA

410.1750         N2D0  Voice channel, SYS 2D2 - Ft. Bliss

410.3250         N2D0  Voice channel, SYS 2D2 - Ft. Bliss

410.8000         N709   Federal Protective Service

410.8125         N156   DEA

413.7250         151.4   CBP Link

418.8500         100.0   CBP Link

Pacific Northwest IWN System

In the July 2012 Fed Files column, I published the most recent compilation of the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN), the federal VHF P-25 trunked radio system.

I will update this list as further information comes in.
 ----
-->

Integrated Wireless Network, US Justice Department

System ID – 715

WACN – BEE0A

SITE 1 (101, 01) – Lookout Mtn., Bellingham, WA

167.0000

167.2375

167.6375

168.8375

172.8000

SITE 2 (102, 02) – Blaine, WA

167.3125

167.4625

167.7625

170.9375

SITE 3 (103, 03) – Bahokas Peak, Neah Bay, WA

167.7375

SITE 4 (104, 04) – Octopus Mtn., Forks, WA

171.6125

172.4125

SITE 5 (105, 05) – Striped Peak, Port Angeles, WA

170.7875

170.8875

171.6125

SITE 6 (106, 06) – Bank of America Building, Seattle, WA

167.2875

167.3875

167.4625

167.7125

SITE 7 (107, 07) – Gold Mtn., Bremerton, WA

167.3375

167.6875

170.9375

172.0625

SITE 8 (108, 08) – Grass Mtn., Enumclaw, WA

167.2625

167.3625

167.6125

168.8500

169.4125

SITE 9 (109, 09) – Marysville SR-9, WA

168.9125

170.6375

172.4125

SITE 10 (110, 0a) – Tacoma Fire Training Center, WA

167.2125

168.8875

167.3125

167.4875

SITE 11 (111, 0b) – Capitol Peak, Olympia, WA

167.5875

168.8750

170.6625

167.4875

SITE 12 (112, 0c) – Boisfort/Baw Faw Peak, WA

167.4375

167.7375

169.9125

171.6875

SITE 13 (113, 0d) – Naselle Ridge, WA

167.4125

167.7625

SITE 14 (114, 0e) – Green Mtn., Kalama, WA

168.8875

170.6750

171.9875

SITE 15 (115, 0f) – Portland International Airport, OR

167.4625

168.8250

169.4125

SITE 16 (116, 11) – Unknown (Never heard on air), WA

167.7375

SITE 17 (117, 12) – Keelers Corner, WA

171.1875

171.4375

SITE 18 (118, 13) – Cougar Mtn, WA

170.6250

170.9125

172.2125

172.6375

SITE 19 (119, 14) – Mt. Scott, Portland, OR

170.7250

170.8375

170.9125

172.0625

172.2125

172.4125

SITE 20 (120, 15) – Germantown Road, Portland, OR

168.5875

168.9125

169.2375

171.9625

SITE 21 (121, 16) – Metro Portland, OR

169.9375

170.6625

171.6625

SITE 22 (122, 17) – Lookout Mtn., Gresham, OR

170.6250

170.8625

171.6125

172.1875

SITE 23 (123, 18) – KGW-TV, Portland, OR

167.6125

168.8500

170.7875

170.9875

171.3125

171.4375

SITE 25 (125, 19) – Seattle Tacoma International Airport, WA

170.3375

170.4875

172.2375        

SITE 26 (126, 1a) – Eugene, OR

168.7625

168.9250

171.1875

SITE 27 (127, 1b) – Reedsport, OR

167.5125

167.6625

168.5875

SITE 28 (128, 1c) – Coos Bay, OR

167.6125

168.8250

169.4125

SITE 29 (129, 1d) – Oregon Coast, OR

172.2375

SITE 30 (130, 1e) – Mt. Spokane, WA

172.0125

172.1875

172.6375

SITE 31 (131, 1f) – Mica Peak, Spokane, WA

168.5875

168.8750

SITE 32 (132, 20) – Sprague Lake

171.1875

SITE 33 (133, 21) – 5 Mile, Spokane, WA

168.8250

168.9250

171.6125

SITE 34 (134, 22) – Stampede Pass, WA

167.5125

168.9875

171.9625

SITE 35 (135, 23) – Sky Meadows, Elum, WA

172.2625

SITE 36 (136, 24) – Whiskey Dick Mtn., George WA

172.6375

SITE 37 (137, 25) – Terrace Heights, Yakima, WA

167.5875

170.6750

SITE 38 (138, 26) – Sunnyside Slope, Yakima, WA

170.8375

172.2375

172.4125

SITE 39 (139, 27) – Jump Off Joe Butte, Richland, WA

168.9750

171.3250

172.0625

SITE 40 (140, 28) – Salem, OR

168.8750

170.3375

171.2500

SITE 41 (141, 29) – Eagle Point, Cottage Grove, OR

170.6625

172.2375

SITE 42 (142, 2a) – Roseburg, OR

167.5875

168.8500

169.2375

SITE 43 (143, 2b) – King Lake, Monroe, WA

167.0000

167.4125

167.6625

168.7625

SITE 44 (144, 2c) – Burlington Hill, WA

171.4625

SITE 45 (145, 2d) – Sumas Mtn., WA

169.6375

167.3375

168.0000

168.9625

170.1625

171.6125

SITE 46 (146, 2e) – Burch Mtn., Wenatchee, WA

171.6625

SITE 47 (147, 2f) – Goat Mtn., Pateros, WA

167.6625

170.9875

SITE 48 (148, 31) – Waitsburg, Walla Walla, WA

171.3000

SITE 49 (149, 32) – Monument Hill, Ephrata, WA

168.7625
170.6375

SITE 50 (150, 33) – Monumental Mtn., Colville, WA

170.8125

171.5875

SITE 51 (151, 34) – Mt. Defiance, OR

170.9625

172.2875

SITE 52 (152, 35) – Rattlesnake Mtn., North Bend, WA

168.5875

170.5375

172.6625

SITE 53 (153, 36) – Roosevelt Mtn., WA

168.8250

170.3375

SITE 54 (154, 37) – Schrag, Warden, WA

172.2875

SITE 55 (155, 38) – Skamania Mtn., WA

170.6375

172.0125

172.6625

SITE 56 (156, 39) – Haystack Mtn., The Dalles, OR

170.4375

172.5625

SITE 57 (157, 3a) – Steptoe Butte, WA

169.4125

SITE 58 (158, 3b) – Mt. Hebo, OR

168.7625

171.1875

SITE 59 (159, 3c) – I-5, Southern Oregon, OR

167.5875

SITE 61 (161, 3d) – Ashland, OR

167.6125

170.3375

SITE 62 (162, 3e) – Medford, OR

167.5125

171.6625

SITE 63 (163, 3f) – Grants Pass, OR

168.8875

172.6375

SITE 64 (164, 40) – ValleyCom, Kent, WA

170.7875

170.9625

171.6125

SITE 65 (165, 41) – Unknown location, north central Oregon

168.8250

SITE 66 (166, 42) – Possibly Emigrant Hill, WA

171.4375

171.6125

SITE 67 (167, 43) - Warm Springs, OR
171.4375

SITE 68 (168, 44) - Unknown location, north central Oregon
170.8125

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July to all from The Fed Files!

Sandy Hook NPS Frequency Change

Reports on Radio Reference indicate a change of radio frequencies used by the Sandy Hook unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area in new Jersey. The new frequencies are reported as:

169.7500 MHz, N225 - Law Enforcement/Park Wide Communications
166.7750 MHz, N225 - Lifeguards
168.4750 MHz, N225 - Maintenance?
164.9500 MHz, N225 - Input to 169.7500 MHz repeater

State VHF TRS Using NTIA Frequencies

On a recent trip to Northwest Arkansas, I was noticing many weak hits on 171.4375 MHz, N1CC. After a while I figured out this was a P-25 trunked control channel. I then monitored the control channel data and discovered that this was a trunked site that was part of the Missouri statewide radio system called MOSWIN. The site I was hearing was Site 12, using the frequencies of 161.8375 & 171.4375 MHz. It is reportedly located in St. Claire County, Missouri (well north of my location at the time). The system data can be found here:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6847.

The system consists of both 800 MHz and VHF trunked sites to provide statewide coverage. What is interesting is that the state has taken not only FCC controlled spectrum, but has a number of channels from the federal spectrum as well. My guess is that since VHF public safety allocations are getting difficult to find, they were able to get some VHF federal channels as a cooperative effort with the feds.

There were indications that the next deployment of the now unfunded, federal IWN trunked system would be in the Midwest. So it seems that giving the frequencies over the state of Missouri and letting them build the radio system (probably with federal grants), then getting federal agency access to the system is another method of getting what the Justice Department wanted in the first place.

Also, I have noticed a similar situation with the Nebraska state VHF trunked radio system, called the N-WIN: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6699 .

The WYOLINK system in Wyoming has only one site in Cheyenne that is using federal VHF channels, and I assumed that was for interoperability with the F.E. Warren AFB there:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=3939.

The Montana Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Radio System (MSIPSRS?), a VHF P-25 trunked system, features only 1 site (so far) that is using a single federal allocation - Site 44:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=3825

UPDATE 1 -
I was advised that the new State of Maine VHF P-25 trunked radio system is planned to utilized frequencies in the federal VHF band. The system is not yet built out, but planners are acquiring VHF frequencies from as many sources as they can.

Also, the State of Wisconsin is utilizing some VHF allocations in the 138 - 150 MHz bands that were given over in a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.

DEA New P25 UHF Updates

Just came up with some additional DEA UHF channels that had been previously unheard.

First, I received a report of DEA activity in the Boston area using 413.9750 MHz as an input to a 419.4250 MHz repeater. Both frequencies were using a NAC of N156. This would not only be reversed from other reports of a repeater on the 413 frequency with an input of 419, but it does not conform to the federal 9 MHz repeater offset.


Secondly, I was able to confirm that the DEA in El Paso, Texas is using 409.8250, 409.9500 and 410.8125 MHz, all with a NAC of N156. The 410.8125 MHz  frequency had not been reported before.


Here then is my current list of "new" P-25 digital DEA channels in use in some areas of the country:
409.6250 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F1
409.6750 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F6
409.8125 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F7
409.8250 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F8
409.9000 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F9
409.9500 MHz, N156 - Repeater, Possible F10
410.4125 MHz, N156 - Repeater/simplex, Possible F11
410.8125 MHz, N156 - Repeater
411.1250 MHz, N156 - Simplex (SPLX 1)
411.1500 MHz, N156 - Repeater/simplex? 
412.2000 MHz, N156 - Simplex (SPLX 2?)
412.5250 MHz, N156 - Simplex
413.9750 MHz, N156 - Repeater/Simplex (SPLX 3)
414.2000 MHz, N156 - Simplex (SPLX 4)
414.4500 MHz, N156 - Simplex (SPLX 5)
418.3250 MHz, N156 - Simplex or possible input to 409.3250 repeater (not heard)
418.6250 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.6250 repeater
418.6750 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.6750 repeater
418.8125 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.8125 repeater
418.8250 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.8250 repeater
418.9000 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.9000 repeater
418.9500 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.9500 repeater
419.4250 MHz, N156 - Input to 413.9750 repeater
419.9750 MHz, N156 - Input to 413.9750 repeater?

New Radio Systems for RNC in Tampa

While not specifically federal, this article describes the new radio systems that will be installed to support the Republican National Convention in Tampa this summer;

http://mccmag.com/onlyonline.cfm?OnlyOnlineID=318

There was this line in the article;

"Additionally the subcommittee is adding components to support federal agencies in the VHF band."

Des Moines, IA Area Logs

While working in the Des Moines, IA area I logged a few active federal frequencies.

165.2875, N650 - BATFE NET 1
167.8625, CSQ - VAMC Paging (Nationwide assignment)
170.8000, N293
172.9000, N001 - TSA at Des Moines International Airport
407.8375, N293 - VA Medical Center Police
416.1375, N482 - US Postal Inspectors, input to 407.1375 (GREEN Repeater)
419.0375 - Sounded like TRBO digital mode

There also appears to be quite a few channels at a major Postal Service sorting & bulk mail center:
406.3750, D065
407.3375, 103.5 pl 
408.0000, 67.0 pl
409.7375, 114.8 pl
410.2000, D065
414.7250, D306

The busiest appear to the from the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines airport (KDSM). Since my last visit to the area, the frequencies have gone from analog to P25 with full time encryption! Here is what was found:
163.4625, N300 - Base Security
163.4875
163.5125, N200 - Base Fire & Crash Response
163.5375, N850
163.5875, N100 - Civil Engineering
165.0375, N450
165.1125, NA00 - POL Trucks
165.1375
165.1625
173.4125, N350
173.4375, N250 - Munitions
173.5375, N400 - Maintenance
173.5625

Federal Lands Fire Management Plans

After what seemed like a long drought, with virtually no federal fire information found on-line, many federal fire planning documents are starting to be posted publicly on various Internet sites. Some have been compiled and posted on the Radio reference Federal Monitoring forum.

Here are a few that you can check out and see if the documents are still there!

Big Cypress  National Preserve:
http://www.nps.gov/bicy/naturescience/upload/FMP_2010_BigCypressNationalPreserve.pdf

Grand Teton National Park:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/dispatch/wy-tdc/documents/local-operations/teton-area/2012_Orientation_Guide_Visiting_Resources.pdf


The Jefferson County, Colorado Airtanker Base Operations Plan:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2ftc/documents/JeffcoOpsPlan2012.pdf


A notice of changes to some frequencies used by the US Forest Service Region 5 in California:
http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2012/safe/cwcg-safety-alert-frequencies.pdf


Information on the Klamath Falls, Oregon Airtanker Base:
http://scofmp.org/kfifc/airtank/OpsPlan.pdf

A very large map of Western US dispatching boundaries:
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/logistics/references/Western_US_Federal_Dispatch_Boundaries/Dispatching_Boundaries_West.pdf

The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership Channel Plan can be found here:
http://www.scofmp.org/channelplan.pdf

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest frequency guide is here:
http://bmidc.org/files/wwradioguide.pdf 
http://bmidc.org/files/2012%20Wallowa-Whitman%20National%20Forest%20Radio%20Guide.pdf

Fire frequency information for Malheur National Forest:
http://bmidc.org/files/2012%20Malheur%20National%20Forest%20Radio%20Guide.pdf

And Umatilla National Forest:
http://bmidc.org/files/2012%20Umatilla%20National%20Forest%20Radio%20Guide.pdf

More as I find them...

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.