Back in November, 2012 when I was in the Staten Island area right after hurricane Sandy hit, I noted several UHF FEMA frequencies that had P25 radio traffic right after federal aid started moving into the area. The one frequency that seemed to show the most "hits" was 407.6625, N421.
I'm back in the NYC area and am still hearing a lot of short transmissions on this frequency, but I'm not sure if this is a permanent FEMA repeater in the area, perhaps part of a wide-area FEMA network. I have also heard these same key-ups with no voice on the same frequency in the Atlantic City, NJ area.
The key-ups with no voice may be the repeaters being in a "vote-scan" mode that allows field radios to select the nearest repeater automatically.
UPDATE: Just to clarify, there is encrypted voice traffic on these repeaters, not just voiceless key ups...
UPDATE 2 - On my last two trips to the Atlantic City area, the key ups on 407.6625 are no longer being heard.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
US Park Police Prepping for Inauguration
Reports from the Washington, DC area have the US Park Police doing some sort of radio programming changes in preparation for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration. Postings indicated that USPP officers were being notified to bring radios in for re-programming last week. And recently there were some indications that there were some on-air testing of a "Special Events Channel". No indication of what frequency that channel might be, but some speculation that it may be on the NCR IWN trunked system. More as it becomes available.
You can get a preview of possible active radio frequencies for the Inauguration on the latest issue of the Capitol Hill Monitor newsletter. You can find the latest issue here:
http://henney.com/chm/0113/chm0113.pdf
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Inauguration Preparations Underway
The Presidential Inauguration, scheduled for January 21st, has Washington DC area public safety agencies prepping for the upcoming event. Here is some information regarding the Coast Guard and their security zones in the DC area:
http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/28188?c=maritime_port_security
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Pittsburgh FPS Update
I have been able to confirm a change in the Federal Protective Service frequency for the Pittsburgh, PA area. Previously they had been using 413.8750 MHz, but they have now switched to 409.4000 MHz, 103.5 PL. Reports are that Philadelphia, PA is also using this same frequency & CTCSS tone.
Monday, December 31, 2012
NNSA DC Overflights
News reports are circulating that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is doing radiation monitoring flights around the Washington, DC area over the next couple of weeks.
http://nnsa.energy.gov/mediaroom/pressreleases/dcflyover122612
These flights will be using NNSA helicopters equipped with sensors designed to monitor normal background levels of radiation. The NNSA’s Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) out of Joint Base Andrews will be performing the assessment for local law enforcement of D.C. area.
As far as active frequencies, the NNSA has assignments all over the federal spectrum, so searching might reveal something new. However, I'm not sure how much radio chatter there will be during these flights. You might catch the helicopter on some of the VHF low-altitude VFR aircraft frequencies, possibly using the ENERGY call sign.
http://nnsa.energy.gov/mediaroom/pressreleases/dcflyover122612
These flights will be using NNSA helicopters equipped with sensors designed to monitor normal background levels of radiation. The NNSA’s Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) out of Joint Base Andrews will be performing the assessment for local law enforcement of D.C. area.
As far as active frequencies, the NNSA has assignments all over the federal spectrum, so searching might reveal something new. However, I'm not sure how much radio chatter there will be during these flights. You might catch the helicopter on some of the VHF low-altitude VFR aircraft frequencies, possibly using the ENERGY call sign.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas From The Fed Files!
Merry Christmas to all the Fed Files and Monitoring Times fans out there!
Friday, December 21, 2012
406.9125 P25 Mystery in TN
A poster on Radio Reference has linked to a video showing a trunking control channel that was being received in the Springfield, TN area (north of Nashville). The video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik2GFMKF6sc&feature=youtu.be
There is all manor of speculation over what this is. It is clearly a P25 signal, probably a control channel for a P25 trunking system, but the radio is not displaying the System ID or Site. This is not uncommon on federal P25 trunked sites, as they sometimes utilize a message format that scanners cannot display properly. The trunking information is still viewable with a program like Unitrunker or PRO96COM.
406.9125 MHz is the only site information available, and it's showing a P25 NAC of N005. One posted on the thread seems to indicate that it comes in full strength north and east of Nashville. One suggestion is the Old Hickory dam, but I'm not sure the Army Corps of Engineers would be running a UHF P25 trunked system. Others have suggested a federal prison facility, but there really aren't any near Nashville.
UPDATE!
Further information reveals that this is most likely part of a new P-25 UHF trunked system being built out for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The control channel mentioned above reveals the following:
406.9125 MHz
System ID = 372
WACN = 00001
Site = 505
Reports are that Harris is building this new system throughout the TVA area of responsibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik2GFMKF6sc&feature=youtu.be
There is all manor of speculation over what this is. It is clearly a P25 signal, probably a control channel for a P25 trunking system, but the radio is not displaying the System ID or Site. This is not uncommon on federal P25 trunked sites, as they sometimes utilize a message format that scanners cannot display properly. The trunking information is still viewable with a program like Unitrunker or PRO96COM.
406.9125 MHz is the only site information available, and it's showing a P25 NAC of N005. One posted on the thread seems to indicate that it comes in full strength north and east of Nashville. One suggestion is the Old Hickory dam, but I'm not sure the Army Corps of Engineers would be running a UHF P25 trunked system. Others have suggested a federal prison facility, but there really aren't any near Nashville.
UPDATE!
Further information reveals that this is most likely part of a new P-25 UHF trunked system being built out for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The control channel mentioned above reveals the following:
406.9125 MHz
System ID = 372
WACN = 00001
Site = 505
Reports are that Harris is building this new system throughout the TVA area of responsibility.
Monday, December 03, 2012
FPS Updates
A couple of updates on the Federal Protective Service, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The FPS had been active on 417.2000 MHz in the Los Angeles area for some time, but recently the frequency went silent. They have moved to 410.8000 MHz, 127.3 PL, part of the reorganization of the federal 406-420 MHz band. They still have not moved to P-25 digital as of this week, when I heard them on the new frequency. Other cities in the Southern California area are reported to be using 406. 2000 MHz, also in analog. The inputs to these new repeater frequencies are +9 MHz, part of this new organization of the UHF band.
In the Pacific Northwest, the FPS has long been active on 408.2000 MHz, in P25 digital and not encrypted. At some point last week, nearly all the transmissions in the Portland, OR area on the FPS primary frequency have been encrypted. An occasional unit will transmit in the clear, but the response from the FPS MegaCenter dispatcher is encrypted.
Word was out that encryption was coming for some time. Some mobile units were occasionaly using encryption, but the dispatchers would usually respond in the clear. Some areas of the country have had encryption on the FPS channels since the switch over to new frequencies or P25 digital. But some areas remain in the clear.
The FPS had been active on 417.2000 MHz in the Los Angeles area for some time, but recently the frequency went silent. They have moved to 410.8000 MHz, 127.3 PL, part of the reorganization of the federal 406-420 MHz band. They still have not moved to P-25 digital as of this week, when I heard them on the new frequency. Other cities in the Southern California area are reported to be using 406. 2000 MHz, also in analog. The inputs to these new repeater frequencies are +9 MHz, part of this new organization of the UHF band.
In the Pacific Northwest, the FPS has long been active on 408.2000 MHz, in P25 digital and not encrypted. At some point last week, nearly all the transmissions in the Portland, OR area on the FPS primary frequency have been encrypted. An occasional unit will transmit in the clear, but the response from the FPS MegaCenter dispatcher is encrypted.
Word was out that encryption was coming for some time. Some mobile units were occasionaly using encryption, but the dispatchers would usually respond in the clear. Some areas of the country have had encryption on the FPS channels since the switch over to new frequencies or P25 digital. But some areas remain in the clear.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Atlantic City NJ - Sandy Recovery
I just spent some time in the Atlantic City, NJ area after Hurricane Sandy went through a couple of weeks ago. I was able to spot some debris and beach cleanup operations south of the hotels and casinos.
On the way into Atlantic City, I did catch some traffic from FEMA on 407.6625 MHz, N421. And as with the FEMA communications I heard in New York City, some were in the clear.
Once in the city, I came across several trucks with federal government license plates that were apparently with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). In addition to the WAPA vehicles, there were some additional power service trucks that were contractors working to restore power. All the vehicles carried VHF-hi band antennas, but I was never able to catch any radio transmissions from them.
But things must be getting back to normal, as both the FBI and the DEA were busy in the area during my time on the boardwalk!
On the way into Atlantic City, I did catch some traffic from FEMA on 407.6625 MHz, N421. And as with the FEMA communications I heard in New York City, some were in the clear.
Once in the city, I came across several trucks with federal government license plates that were apparently with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). In addition to the WAPA vehicles, there were some additional power service trucks that were contractors working to restore power. All the vehicles carried VHF-hi band antennas, but I was never able to catch any radio transmissions from them.
But things must be getting back to normal, as both the FBI and the DEA were busy in the area during my time on the boardwalk!
Friday, November 09, 2012
UHF Changes in Oak Ridge?
A recent posting in the Radio Reference forums has some information on what appears to the an additional P25 UHF trunked site from the National Nuclear Security Administration facility in Oak Ridge, TN. You can see the posting here:
http://forums.radioreference.com/tennessee-radio-discussion-forum/252895-i-found-p25-trunked-system-i-cant-identify.html
The original poster did not list any system information, other than it is reporting as Site 002. The control channel frequencies he was hearing were 408.7125 & 410.1125 MHz. He also reported a voice channel of 408.2250 MHz. My suspicion is that this is an additional site to the already existing Oak Ridge DoE NNSA P25 trunked system:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4446
If anyone has any additional information you want to pass along, please do!
http://forums.radioreference.com/tennessee-radio-discussion-forum/252895-i-found-p25-trunked-system-i-cant-identify.html
The original poster did not list any system information, other than it is reporting as Site 002. The control channel frequencies he was hearing were 408.7125 & 410.1125 MHz. He also reported a voice channel of 408.2250 MHz. My suspicion is that this is an additional site to the already existing Oak Ridge DoE NNSA P25 trunked system:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4446
If anyone has any additional information you want to pass along, please do!
UHF Changes in Pittsburgh?
I recently spotted an entry to the Radio Reference database showing a "new" federal UHF trunked system. You can check out the entry here:
The system is not new, and for you Fed Files readers, it appeared in the March, 2006 column. It belongs to the National Nuclear Security Administration Bechtel Bettis Navy Reactor Facility in
West Mifflin, PA a suburb of Pittsburgh. You can see more about this facility
at these web sites:
The entry in the Radio Reference database indicates that they may have changed some frequencies in the system since I last monitored it. Originally I had it using these channels:
406.9750 MHz
407.1375 MHz
407.3875 MHz
407.7875 MHz
408.1750 MHz
New new listing has added a frequency of 406.3375 MHz and deleted the 407.1375 MHz channel. Probably some additional re-shuffling of the federal UHF assignments.
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Sandy Recovery NYC Area
I have been in the Brooklyn/Staten Island area for the last few days have have been monitoring some of the federal recovery efforts. Federal agency activity has started to increase on Saturday, with FEMA finally setting up some communications along with some DoD assets. Some FEMA communications were heard in the clear.
I have been monitoring mostly from the Ft. Wadsworth area on Staten Island. Ft. Wadsworth is the location of the US Coast Guard Sector New York. They have had numerous fly overs by USCG helicopters and have been landing some at the baseball field on Ft. Wadsworth. I've also been seeing many other military and other helicopters flying over the area over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The National Guard and active duty military units have begun to arrive and are staging at various locations, one of which is Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. I have not been able to confirm any military or National Guard communications yet, but the National Parks Police are very busy supporting operations in their areas.
Here is what has been busy:
-->
UPDATE:
During the evening I heard multiple communications on 123.1 MHz from "AVIATION BASE". They were apparently directing inbound helicopters to landing and parking areas somewhere. There was mention of parking on a baseball field near a flight line. I thought it might have been at the old airfield at Floyd Bennett, but haven't been able to confirm that. Reports on Radio Reference have 242.2 MHz and 283.0 MHz being used by the National Guard helicopters operating in the area.
And I forgot to include in the list above the Red Cross frequency of 47.42 MHz, which I caught some transmissions Saturday.
I have been monitoring mostly from the Ft. Wadsworth area on Staten Island. Ft. Wadsworth is the location of the US Coast Guard Sector New York. They have had numerous fly overs by USCG helicopters and have been landing some at the baseball field on Ft. Wadsworth. I've also been seeing many other military and other helicopters flying over the area over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The National Guard and active duty military units have begun to arrive and are staging at various locations, one of which is Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. I have not been able to confirm any military or National Guard communications yet, but the National Parks Police are very busy supporting operations in their areas.
Here is what has been busy:
-->
| 162.3250 | N293 | USCG NET 111 |
| 164.3125 164.4000 |
N293 N001 |
USCG NET 115 USSS PAPA |
| 165.1750 | N225 | |
| 165.2375 | N301 | DHS CBP DNET 1 |
| 166.0500 | 100.0 | FORT WADSWORTH NPS OPERATIONS/SECURITY |
| 166.3250 | 136.5 | US PARK POLICE - NEW YORK AREA F1 |
| 167.7875 | N653 | FEDERAL I/O |
| 168.9125 | N935 | |
| 169.7250 | N824 | |
| 169.8250 | N225 | NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA |
| 173.6625 | N167 | FBI |
| 345.0000 | AM | USCG AIR OPERATIONS |
| 406.3375 | N482 | USPS POSTAL INSPECTORS |
| 407.6625 | N421 | FEMA |
| 408.2000 | N270 | FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE |
| 408.8625 | N421 | FEMA DMATS |
UPDATE:
During the evening I heard multiple communications on 123.1 MHz from "AVIATION BASE". They were apparently directing inbound helicopters to landing and parking areas somewhere. There was mention of parking on a baseball field near a flight line. I thought it might have been at the old airfield at Floyd Bennett, but haven't been able to confirm that. Reports on Radio Reference have 242.2 MHz and 283.0 MHz being used by the National Guard helicopters operating in the area.
And I forgot to include in the list above the Red Cross frequency of 47.42 MHz, which I caught some transmissions Saturday.
Monday, October 15, 2012
167.2500 At LAX
I was near the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for a few days this past week, and was hearing someone using 167.2500 MHz, 100.0 PL for some sort of general communications. The traffic appeared to be simplex, construction related and occurred over several days. Finally on Sunday, while waiting at LAX for a flight, I heard traffic that indicated they were painting the edge lines on new taxiways at LAX.
I have no idea who this might be and why they are using this frequency. This frequency is part of the federal interoperability pool of channels set aside for federal/local communications. This particular frequency is known as "LE-2", if a repeater, or "LE-6" if simplex.
This frequency is part of the federal interoperability channel plan found in the DHS National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG), which can be found here: http://www.dhs.gov/national-interoperability-field-operations-guide
I have no idea who this might be and why they are using this frequency. This frequency is part of the federal interoperability pool of channels set aside for federal/local communications. This particular frequency is known as "LE-2", if a repeater, or "LE-6" if simplex.
This frequency is part of the federal interoperability channel plan found in the DHS National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG), which can be found here: http://www.dhs.gov/national-interoperability-field-operations-guide
Monday, October 08, 2012
Post IWN, Justice Moves On
Here is an article about what the Justice Department intends to with updating their communications systems, now that they have cancelled the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) project;
After IWN's cancellation, DOJ continues to push for radio modernization - FierceGovernmentIT
Contained in the body of the article is a link to a PDF file that was obtained from the Justice Department with some related (and some redacted) information on the future of DoJ communications.
After IWN's cancellation, DOJ continues to push for radio modernization - FierceGovernmentIT
Contained in the body of the article is a link to a PDF file that was obtained from the Justice Department with some related (and some redacted) information on the future of DoJ communications.
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Denver Presidential Debates
The first of a series of debates between the presidential candidates is tonight in the Denver, Colorado area. An anonymous source sent me an interesting photo taken at the debate site. This trailer has sprouted quite a few interesting antennas!
A similar setup has appeared at other large Presidential events, including political conventions and such. No indication as to who it belongs to, but the trailer itself appears military. I suspect the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) is probably involved.
A similar setup has appeared at other large Presidential events, including political conventions and such. No indication as to who it belongs to, but the trailer itself appears military. I suspect the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) is probably involved.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
LightSquared Continues Spectrum Quest
The broadband company that was thwarted by the FCC in its efforts to utilize spectrum near the GPS frequency band is now requesting permission to share some federal government spectrum.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2010843/lightsquared-asks-to-share-weatherballoon-spectrum-for-its-lte-network.html
"What LightSquared wants to do is take one 5MHz band that it already uses for its satellite service (at 1670-1675MHz) and combine that with the next band up (1675-1680MHz), which is used for federal purposes including National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration weather balloons."
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/lightsquared-still-wont-give-up-on-spectrum-near-gps-band/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/108594377/Lightsquared-Response
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2010843/lightsquared-asks-to-share-weatherballoon-spectrum-for-its-lte-network.html
"What LightSquared wants to do is take one 5MHz band that it already uses for its satellite service (at 1670-1675MHz) and combine that with the next band up (1675-1680MHz), which is used for federal purposes including National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration weather balloons."
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/lightsquared-still-wont-give-up-on-spectrum-near-gps-band/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/108594377/Lightsquared-Response
Saturday, September 29, 2012
More Mexican Cartel Radio Towers Dismantled
An AP story on the discovery of more drug cartel radio towers in Mexico:
http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/19671161/mexico-finds-cartel-radio-network-300-foot-tower
Rumor had it that the cartels were being supplied by radio communications dealers in Texas, but I haven't found any information to support that yet.
UPDATE:
Another interesting and more detailed story about this has appeared here:
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/10/can-you-hear-me-now.html
Sunday, September 23, 2012
NYC Activity
I'm in New York City and noted a marked increase in radio traffic on known Secret Service and Department of State Diplomatic Security channels this weekend. It is most likely due to the arrival of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, here to speak at the United Nations. Unknown if this radio traffic is related to any other VIPs in for this event. If you in the area, search the VHF & UHF bands and see what pops up...
UPDATE:
I now see that the UN General Assembly is gathering this week, as well as the "Global Initiative" with the Clintons happening today. So a true monitoring extraviganza in New York City this week!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Dallas Area DEA
As reported previously, there are a number of VHF frequencies in use around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that are reported to be used by the DEA. All are using APCO P-25 and encryption, but all are using a P25 NAC of N156. Today I see reports of 163.2000 MHz, N156 being active, possibly being the input to the repeater on 173.7250 MHz.
I have updated the DEA frequency page, which you can find at the top of the Fed Files blog home page.
I have updated the DEA frequency page, which you can find at the top of the Fed Files blog home page.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Portland TSA Off of IWN?
A while back I discovered that the TSA at Portland International Airport (KPDX) seemed to have moved their primary radio operations to 4 talk groups on the federal Integrated Wireless Network or IWN. I was able to confirm the TSA was using this system by scanning the IWN site at the airport in conjunction with some Close Call captures of transmissions at the same time.
Sometime over the last month of so, they seemed to have moved off of the IWN for their main operations and have gone back to 172.1500 MHz, N001 and 172.9000 MHz, N001, (The Icom analog radios have always been on 169.3000 and 172.1500 with voice inversion). 172.9000 is set up as a wide area repeater that covers the Portland metro area. I have heard some encrypted traffic on this repeater, as well as clear traffic that seems to be supervisors at PDX airport.
Why this move has taken place is unknown. Perhaps the TSA was being billed for the use of the system and it was eating up more system capacity than they expect.
More information as it becomes available.
Sometime over the last month of so, they seemed to have moved off of the IWN for their main operations and have gone back to 172.1500 MHz, N001 and 172.9000 MHz, N001, (The Icom analog radios have always been on 169.3000 and 172.1500 with voice inversion). 172.9000 is set up as a wide area repeater that covers the Portland metro area. I have heard some encrypted traffic on this repeater, as well as clear traffic that seems to be supervisors at PDX airport.
Why this move has taken place is unknown. Perhaps the TSA was being billed for the use of the system and it was eating up more system capacity than they expect.
More information as it becomes available.
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