US Troops Deployed to Border

National Guard troops are beginning their deployment along the US-Mexico border. Troops will be deployed in Texas, New Mexico , Arizona and California to help support the Border Patrol with border security.

Monitors along the border areas can check for additional frequencies that might be in use by the National Guard troops. I have heard that some troops have received training in the use of the DHS CBP digital radios prior to being deployed.

Previous troop deployments to the border areas in Texas have included some additional antennas being installed at the Border Patrol checkpoints along major highways. The old checkpoint near Laredo, Texas had what appeared to be a military style VHF low-band antennas, most likely for the National Guard SINCGARS radios, operating from 30-88 MHz.

More From USFS Mt. Hood

In past blog posts I have mentioned some changes taking place in the Mt. Hood National Forest and Gifford-Pinchot National Forest areas of northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington state.

I have been searching through the UHF federal bands lately as new P-25 links keep showing up as the radio work continues. I just installed a new UHF Yagi antenna to try and help pull in some of these UHF frequencies. Here's what I found today:

406.3875 MHz, 136.5 pl - USFS Columbia Dispatch
407.1375 MHz, N482 - US Postal Inspectors, Portland
408.2000 MHz, N107 - Federal Protective Service, Portland
408.8125 MHz, analog carrier
408.9875 MHz, N788
409.1875 MHz, N555 - USFS Columbia Dispatch
410.7875 MHz, analog
412.8375 MHz, analog - May have been US Corps of Engineers
414.0375 MHz, analog, Should be one of the UHF federal interoperability naional calling channels. I heard someone heard finishing a test count, "3,2,1, test out...", but did not catch a PL tone.
416.1375 MHz, N482 - US Postal Inspectors, repeater input

More as the new antenna sucks it in!

Palm Springs Area Update

I spent a few days in the very warm Palm Springs area for work last week. I had only a few brief periods to scan the federal bands and came up with these. Some I have identified thanks to the work of the Southern California listeners who send me updates. A couple I haven't figured out for sure.

163.6250,N141 DHS BORDER PATROL-INDIO
164.9375,103.5 USFS ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - ADMIN NET
165.2875,N650 DOJ BATFE NET 1
166.6375,N183 DHS BORDER PATROL-TEMECULA EAST
166.9125,N245 DHS BORDER PATROL-MA 4 SANTIAGO PEAK
166.9750,97.4 DOI BLM?
168.8000,N170 DHS BORDER PATROL-JIOPSP JOINT OPS
169.8750,123.0 USFS-SAN BERNARDINO NF?
169.8750,151.4 USFS-SAN BERNADRINO NF?
170.2250,103.5 ?
171.4750,103.5 USFS-SAN BERNARDINO NF?
171.6250,N153 DHS BORDER PATROL?
172.2250,103.5 USFS SAN BERNARDINO NF-ADMIN NET
172.3750,103.5 USFS ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
172.9000,N001 DHS TSA @ KPSP
173.7125,167.9 FBI SURVEILLANCE OPS, SOME DES
415.0750,CSQ USFS LINK
419.5250,167.9 RELATED TO 172.7125?

169.8250 P-25

While driving to the airport in Portland, OR today, I came across at least two mobile units talking on 169.8250 MHz, simplex, P-25 NAC293. From the conversations they were definitely not from the area and were looking at maps trying to figure out how to get through Portland on I-84 to I-5 northbound.

This caught my attention because this frequency is part of the assignments used by the US Geological Survey at Mt. St. Helens, (http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2010/05/usgs-mt-st-helens-frequencies.html). A few times a year, listeners in the Portland area have reported weak P-25 traffic on the USGS channels, but we could never figure out where it was coming from.

No real idea who these guys are with, but one mentioned that one of the vehicles in their convoy was a "full sized truck". One unit also pointed out a "tower" and said that they had "worked on those lines before". Don't know if they meant power or RF type of tower.

The frequency could be any number of agencies, mostly Department of the Interior agencies, including USGS, BLM, Bureau of Mines, etc..

More TRBO Digital on Federal Frequencies

I just received a report of confirmed use of the MOTOTRBO digital mode on 409.7375 MHz, somewhere in the Southern California (LA) area. MOTOTRBO is a propriatory digital radio product sold by Motorola, and appears to be gaining favor with hospitals, casinos and possibly some non-law enforcement federal opertions.

I have not copied any TRBO traffic on that frequency in my past SoCal visits, but have heard what I suspect to be TRBO digital on 407.3375 MHz and 413.5250 MHz, which I highly suspect to be coming from the VA Medical facility along I-5 north of San Diego.

Back in May, while in Las Vegas I heard many transmissions on 406.9375 MHz that sounded a lot like the known MOTOTRBO users in my home area. I've heard several other federal users, including 406.6625 MHz, the Federal Reserve Branch in Chicago, 407.9375 MHz coming from somewhere in the Seattle/Tacoma area, and 409.4375 MHz confirmed as coming from the VA Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

USFS Columbia Dispatch Using P-25 Digital

Over the last year or so there have been rumors of upgrades to the radio systems used by Mt. Hood National Forest and Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington. They have apparently combined some of the radio dispatching and are now identifying as "Columbia Dispatch" in the two National Forests, but so far no new frequencies have been discovered - until a couple of weeks ago.

The two national forest areas utilize VHF repeaters and UHF point-to-point links for radio communications. Recently the frequency of 417.9875 MHz, N68F has sometimes been heard carrying the dispatcher in P-25 digital. The frequency should be paired with 408.9875 MHz, but we haven't heard anything on that link yet. The P-25 NAC of N68F is interesting, as this NAC has previously been identified as being used on the federal interoperability systems.

Despite being a digital link, the VHF frequencies are all still analog. However, this may indicate that they have upgraded the core of the system to digital and can flip the switch at any time!

A while back I found this document on line that lists the frequencies for some of these UHF links:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7d3481f79285eab7adb988ff06dfa778&tab=core&_cview=1

According to the frequencies listed on this document, the 417.9875 MHz link is to Mt Mitchell in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.

DOJ LEWC Budget

Found this document on the web with some updated information on the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) and what might be next:

http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011justification/pdf/fy11-lewc-justification.pdf

It is not noted when this document was released, but a couple of interesting items are listed;

* The Southern California Border Patrol system, formerly referred to as the EVRP (Encrypted Vice Radio Project) when it began, is apparently now apparently considered part of the total IWN project. This document refers to the San Diego IWN, but I have not seen or heard any evidence that this conventional P-25 system of repeaters throughout the southern California border area is using trunking technology yet. But several times the IWN has been described as a combination of trunked and conventional technology.

* Planned expansion of the NCR (National Capitol Region) section of the IWN. Deployment of the IWN in the Baltimore area is scheduled for late 2011.

* System planning and design for the Western Great Lakes and Chicago areas is in the 2011 budget.

* Continued implementation of the IWN Systems Operations Center and Region 1 Regional Management Center for interconnection between the IWN and other networks.

Despite not seeing or hearing much new in the IWN project, there are definitely advances being made.

Federal Cell Phone Jamming

A recent mention in another radio forum lead me to this article from Toronto, Canada:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/821623--g20-security-to-jam-cellphone-signals?bn=1

Although the article is specifically about the use of mobile cell phone jamming "bubbles" at the Canadian G20 events, the same technology surely has been in use at US based events.

There has been much discussion over the years about the WHCA mobile communications vans around the Presidential motorcades and how they have jamming capabilities. There has not been much said in the media about the use of cell phone jammers by the US Secret Service or WHCA and certainly no mention of getting exemptions from federal law forbidding such jamming.

I have not yet been able to confirm or deny the use of cell phone jamming at POTUS events and such. There were rumors of such jamming at the last set of political conventions in Denver and St. Paul, but I had no personal confirmation of any intentional interference of cell systems. There were areas inside the secured buildings that were considered "RF Sensitive" and cell phones were not allowed, however...

Denver Federal Scanning

Just had some short time with the radios during a recent trip to the Denver area. Here's some of what I was able to catch:

162.2250, CSQ - US Postal Service
165.2375, 100.0 - DHS CBP Customs with some OTAR
166.2750 - Mixed mode P-25 and analog, probably US Mint
166.4625, CSQ - Unknown agency doing aerial survellance
166.5875, 100.0 - DHS CBP Customs with more OTAR
167.4625, N167 - Denver FBI
167.6875
168.4625
168.5250 - Unknown agency, heard multiple DTMF tones
169.0000
170.1000, N167 - More FBI?
170.6750, N875 - Unknown agency
170.7500 - US Marshals Federal Courthouse
413.9250 - Federal Reserve

In addition to these conventional channels, heard lots of traffic on the Federal Front Range Trunked system that serves Denver and Buckley ARB. Also caught the UHF system at the Federal Correctional Institution aat Englewood.

Border Patrol Birthday

Today, May 28th, marks the 86th anniversary of the United States Border Patrol. It was originally started in 1924 to combat the illegal entry of aliens, contraband, and the flow of illicit liquor from Mexico and Canada into the United States. The El Paso Border Patrol Sector began operations on July 1, 1924 as the first uniformed division of the Immigration Bureau.

For frequencies that the CBP Border Patrol are using these days, check out this previous Fed Files Blog post:

http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2007/03/cbp-border-patrol-update.html

Arizona Border Activity

Down in Arizona on a short vacation and have been observing some new and previously unknown frequencies active. The usual CBP Border Patrol and Customs channels are busy as always. But the unknown ones, mostly encrypted, keeping the users unknown for now, but I've got some guesses:

163.6250 MHz, 151.4 pl - Still hearing an analog Border Patrol repeater somewhere.
167.8250 MHz, N293 - Western Area Power Administration (WAPA - http://www.wapa.gov/)
167.9250 MHz, N293 - WAPA
167.9750 MHz, N293 - WAPA
168.8250 MHz - Heard with multiple NAC's of N167, N340 & N710
169.9375 MHz, N330
170.3500 MHz, N340
170.4375 MHz, N230 - Reported as a repeater in Nogales, AZ
173.0500 MHz, N001
173.1875 MHz - Heard with both N001 and N230
409.4000 MHZ, N910
414.9750 MHZ, N115

I suspect the 169.9375, 170.3500, 170.4375 and 173.1875 might be DHS ICE repeaters.

US Fish & Wildlife Activity

Reports from the Georgia Coast are that US Fish & Wildlife Service is active with Loggerhead Turtle tracking and support activities. I have not had much luck catching FWS traffic on the radios, so this information interested me.




Here are some of the active frequencies:
169.8250 MHz
171.6500 MHz
172.4500 MHz - USFWS Skidaway repeater
172.6500 MHz

These repeaters are apparently linked and all activity was reported as P-25 digital (sorry, no NAC data).

USGS Mt. St. Helens Frequencies

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, the US Geological Survey had an open house at their facility in Vancouver, WA;

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/30Years/CVO_openhouse_flyer.pdf

Thanks to those who were able to attend the open house, here is a list of the US Geological Survey frequencies in use at the Cascades Volcano Observatory:

164.6750 MHz - Link to North repeater
167.0750 MHz, 110.9 - North repeater input
167.0750 MHz, 127.3 - South repeater input
168.4250 MHz - Mt. St. Helens North & South repeaters
169.8250 MHz - USGS simplex

More Federal MOTOTRBO?

I recently came across what sure sounds like another federal frequency using the proprietary MOTOTRBO digital mode.

In Las Vegas I heard many transmissions on 406.9375 MHz that sounded a lot like the known MOTOTRBO users in my home area. I've heard several other federal users, including 406.625 MHz, the Federal Reserve Branch in Chicago, 407.9375 MHz coming from somewhere in the Seattle/Tacoma area, and 409.4375 MHz confirmed as coming from the VA Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

FPS in Phoenix

After searching through the UHF federal band many times during my past visits to Phoenix, I finally caught the Federal Protective Service. They are using 409.4000 MHz, NAC920. Seems like they are not as busy as some areas of the country, so they have eluded my searches in the past. But it just proves the point that you need to have patience when looking for those elusive federal frequencies!

So Cal I-10 Road Trip

I had a chance to drive across I-10 from Ontario, CA to Phoenix, AZ this weekend. I was trying to confirm more of the CBP Border Patrol P-25 system, which continues to be used ONLY in Southern California. As soon as I crossed into Arizona, all the regular Border Patrol frequencies came back in use.

I had the scanners running and logging during the trip, but was not able to positively ID everything. Here is a quick listing of what was heard;

162.2500 N132 PALM SPRINGS AREA
163.5125 131.8
163.5250 114.8
163.6250 N141 PALM SPRINGS AREA
163.6250 N001 CBP BORDER PATROL ARIZONA
163.7000 N001 CBP BORDER PATROL ARIZONA
164.2750 N293 WESTERN AREA POWER ADMIN-PHOENIX
164.7500 85.4 SKIP FROM MEXICO?
165.6000 110.9
166.0125 D114
166.3750 103.5 BLM - SO CAL
166.8500 N310 PHOENIX
166.9125 N245 CBP MA-4 SP - PALM SPRINGS AREA
167.2125 N167 ARIZONA
167.3375 N167 FBI PHOENIX
167.3625 N167 FBI PHOENIX
167.4500 N137 CBP CALEXICO EAST - SO CAL
167.5125 N167 FBI PHOENIX
167.6500 N135 SO CAL (CBP EL CENTRO EAST USES NAC 237)
167.7625 N167 SO CAL
167.7750 N125 CBP BP - PALM SPRINGS AREA
168.0875 N710 SO CAL
168.1750 103.5 USFS
168.4750 100.0 USFS
168.8250 N104 CBP - SO CAL
168.8250 N710 PHOENIX
169.3000 N710 SO CAL - ?
169.8875 N430 ARIZONA/PHOENIX
170.3500 N340 ARIZONA/PHOENIX
170.5875 D156 PHOENIX
170.6000 N133 PALM SPRINGS AREA
171.3250 N410 PHOENIX AREA
171.4750 103.5 SAN BERNARDINO NF
171.6750 103.5 JOSHUA TREE NP?
171.8500 D445 PALM SPRINGS AREA
171.9250 162.2 ARIZONA/PHOENIX
172.9000 N001 TSA PALM SPRINGS / PHOENIX
172.9000 N013 TSA PHOENIX
173.0500 N670 PHOENIX
173.1000 N330 ARIZONA
173.1625 N209 CBP BLUE 1 - PALM SPRINGS CAREA
173.5000 N50B ? ARIZONA
173.5500 N167 PHOENIX
173.7125 N167 PHOENIX
173.7125 N730 PHOENIX
173.8375 N167 PHOENIX
173.8875 N508 SO CAL
173.9375 N340 ARIZONA/PHOENIX

More Coast Guard UHF?-Updated!

I have received information that 412.9750 MHz, NAC293 is being heard around the Boston, MA area. This frequency has been identified in the San Francisco area as being used by the Coast Guard as "NET 409".

Reports are that so far all traffic is encrypted P-25, and this frequency is new to the area.

These new UHF channels are part of a radio upgrade program for Coast Guard law enforcement and homeland security activity. But we still don't have a good handle on other frequencies that might be in use, so keep searching!

UPDATE - Bits and pieces of information continue to come in. First, the frequency of 413.0250 MHz, NAC293 has been heard active in the Southeast Florida area. It has been encrypted full time so positive ID has not been made. From a separate source, I have confirmed that Coast Guard assets in the Miami / Ft. Lauderdale area do indeed have UHF radios installed in them. They have been reported as using "NET 411", but no one has yet confirmed the frequency. Does NET 411 = 413.0250 MHz? We shall see if anyone can connect these pieces.

TSA Analog Radios-Continued

Just spotted a report that the TSA screeners are using 173.0875 MHz in analog with voice inversion at the Bellingham, WA airport (KBLI). This is a new frequency for TSA operations since the addition of the analog "screener" radios started around the first of the year (2010).

The Bellingham airport is also home to Customs & Border Protection Air Marine assets.

I will be expanding on the TSA analog radios in a future Fed Files column.

New DEA Frequencies-Continued

As we recently reported, the DEA has been utilizing some new UHF frequencies in the Houston, TX area. Previously a new P-25 repeater was heard repeating traffic from 418.6750 MHz on 409.6750 MHz with a NAC of 156.

Now a new repeater has been heard on 409.9000 MHz, also with a P-25 NAC of 156. In keeping with the 9 MHz repeater offset, the input should be 418.9000 MHz, the old Channel 2 in the DEA nationwide channel plan.

Also heard in Houston as been simplex DEA traffic on 413.9750 MHz, NAC 156. These frequencies (409.6750, 409.9000 and 413,9750) are all new assignments to the DEA, so obviously some changes are in the works. I have not seen any reports of these new frequencies in any areas other than Houston yet.

The old DEA channel plan is still available here:
http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2006/09/dea-update.html

St. Paul MN Logs-Update

I have been fortunate enough to stay in touch with some folks in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area after the RNC Convention in St. Paul back in September of 2008. One listener was kind enough to send along a sample of what has been heard in the St. Paul area recently. Most entries were P-25 digital and I have added what these frequencies are most likely used for:

164,4000 MHz, N001 - US Secret Service PAPA
167.4375 MHz, N167 - FBI
167.5000 MHz, N293
167.6375 MHz, N167 - FBI
168.2375 MHz, N293 - FBI
170.6250 MHz, N653 - Federal Interoperability
170.7500 MHz, N293 - Most likely US Marshals
171.4375 MHz, N167 - FBI
171.6125 MHz, N653 - Federal Interoperability
171.6875 MHz, N167 - FBI
171.9250 MHz,
172.9000 MHz, N001 - TSA at MSP Airport
173.5000 MHz, N167 - FBI
173.8125 MHz, N167 - FBI

406.1125 MHz, N293
406.8625 MHz, N421
407.0000 MHz, N201
408.8125 MHz, N1e1 - Federal Correctional Institution Waseca TRS
409.2125 MHz, N1e1 - Federal Correctional Institution Waseca TRS
410.0125 MHz, N1e1 - Federal Correctional Institution Waseca TRS
410.4000 MHz, N1e1 - Federal Correctional Institution Waseca TRS
415.8625 MHz

VA Medical Center TRS

For some time there was some discussion on the Radio Reference site about the frequencies used by the VA Medical Center Mountain Home in Johnson City, TN. It apparently has been confirmed that the VAMC is using a UHF Passport LTR trunked system. Here are the frequencies in use:
407.8375, 408.0375, 409.7000, 410.9000

There are no Logical Channel Numbers (LCN's) listed, but since there are no Passport capable scanners out there, it might be a while before we see that information.

Providence, RI

Just a couple of quickies before I board my flight home.

While driving in to Providence this morning, I caught what sure sounded like MotoTRBO digital on 173.9875 MHz. The signal was moderate but not real strong as I entered the airport area (KPVD). The frequency has been associated with a number of agencies in the past, including FBI, DoD, FAA, USFS and the Department of the Interior.

Oh, and the TSA at PVD is using 172.9000 MHz, 162.2 pl in analog with voice inversion for the checkpoint screeners. Normal TSA ops continue on 172.9000 MHz, NAC 001.

I think the new TSA radio rollout is pretty much everywhere, so the only remaining mystery is a channel plan and PL tones for the different airports. And I have confirmed that the radios are using simple voice inversion, no rolling-code encryption.

OOPS! Typo in March Fed Files

Before I get a lot of emails, I wanted to correct a small typo in the March 2010 Fed Files column.

In the column, I referred to the new 9 MHz repeater offset in the federal 406-420 MHz band. I gave an example of the new offset, saying that a 408 MHz repeater would have an input of 418 MHz. Of course, I meant to say that the input would be 417 MHz, because as we all know, 408 + 9 = 417, not 418 as I wrote in the column!

Harris Wins Federal Contract for Multi-Band Radios

http://www.rfcomm.harris.com/talkasone/

http://www.rfcomm.harris.com/talkasone/pdf/Unity_XG-100_Prod_Guide.pdf

Radios Will Be Provided to Departments of Interior, Agriculture and FBI Training Academy through U.S. General Services Administration Blanket Purchase Agreement

ROCHESTER, NY, February 5, 2009 — Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) to provide land mobile radios to the U.S. Departments of Interior, Agriculture and FBI Training Academy. Harris is one of 13 companies receiving an award under a five-year delivery order with a ceiling of $500 million from the U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM).

Under terms of the contract, Harris will compete to sell land mobile radios to the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, FBI Training Academy, U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies. Harris will provide multiband, multimission software-defined radios recently introduced by its newly formed Government and Public Safety business unit.

More Cities with New TSA Radios

Just passing through another set of airports this week and found the TSA at my home airport of Portland International (KPDX) is now starting to use the new Icom radios. I found them to be using 172.1500 MHz, 136.2 PL, but not always using the voice inversion option. They also continue to use 172.1500 MHz, P25 with various NACs depending on what checkpoint they are at.

However the personnel who were carrying the new radios also had the larger XTS digital radios as well. Not sure how they are using them as most TSA checkpoint staff have no radios at all.

TSA in Portland also continues to use the 172.9000 MHz, N001 repeater with encryption enabled. A few units are still in the clear, but I suspect the encrypted traffic are some specialized units, perhaps assigned to the ports.

DoS UHF Changes As Well

Besides the changes going on with the DEA UHF channels, there seem to be some changes afoot with the Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, http://www.state.gov/m/ds/ .

For many years the primary DoS Field Offices used 409.6250 MHz as their nationwide frequency. But recent installations of new P-25 gear has them using 409.5250 MHz, NAC 293. Dallas, Houston, Boston, San Francisco and Washington DC are currently using the new frequency. Originally when the DoS went to P-25 in New York City and Washington DC, they were using a P-25 NAC of N0f0, but sometimes N293 would show up.

Why the change? If you add 9 MHz to the old frequency of 409.6250 MHz, you end up on the DEA's primary repeater of 418.6250 MHz. Accident? Chance? Or will 409.6250 be the new DEA repeater frequency?

DEA Changes In The Works?

Recently there have been some possible changes to the DEA's UHF channel plan. It's been long expected as the DEA original frequencies were not going to be compliant with the NTIA's new UHF federal channel plan, including a 9 MHz repeater offset.

There had long been rumors and some confirmation that the DEA was headed towards VHF to be more interoperable with other Justice Department agencies. But after a recent Justice Department budget stated that the DEA was going to remain on UHF for "tactical" considerations, there has been some guessing as to what would happen with DEA frequency assignments. The original best guess at the DEA's assignements can be found here:

http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2006/09/dea-update.html

Recently in the Houston area, it has been reported that 418.6750 MHz, which has been a simplex DEA surveillance frequency, is now being repeated on 409.6750 MHz. Both signals were reported as using a NAC of 156. The 409.6750 frequency is a new assignment to the DEA, and seems to be based on being 9 MHz from the original simplex channel.

Also from the same area, probable DEA operations are being heard on 413.9750 MHz, also N156. This frequency has been used as a repeater input channel in some areas, but in the new NTIA channel plan this would be a simplex frequency.

So keep searching the 406-420 MHz band for more changes!

Super Bowl XLIV

Well, it's Super Bowl time in Miami again. Operations have been underway for this National Security Special Event for some time, with all sorts of new federal frequencies popping up.

There is also the added bonus of having the Pro Bowl the weekend prior to the Super Bowl this year, so things will be busy in South Florida for the next couple of weeks!

A complete wrap-up of what was found at the Super Bowl will be featured in an upcoming Fed Files column in Monitoring Times magazine.

TSA Analog Radio Update

I have been through a few more airports recently and have not found the new Icom radios in use at very many yet. No analog activity at Houston Intercontinental (IAH) or Portland, Oregon (PDX). The only new confirmation is at Ft. Lauderdale International (FLL). I heard analog with voice inversion on 169.3 MHz, but was not able to confirm if this was simplex or actually repeated on 172.9 MHz. I believe the CTCSS tone was 123.0 Hz.

In addition to the airports I have been through, I have heard from others that Detroit (DTW), Las Vegas (LAS) and Nashville (BNA) are all using the new Icom radios. All were heard on 172.1500 MHz using voice inversion. No PL tones were noted in the reports. Also heard that Miami (MIA) and Atlanta (ATL) are using the new radios in analog.

More as it becomes available.

More Coast Guard UHF Activity!

More reports have come in regarding the Coast Guard's Short Range Communications Upgrade System or SRCU.

P-25 digital communications have been heard in the San Diego area on 416.5500 MHz, N293. And just received word that 412.9750 MHz, N293 has been active in the San Francisco Bay area. The 416.5500 MHz frequency was not identifed by a NET number, but apparently the 412.9750 MHz frequency is known as NET 409. Reports are that NET 409 was patched to NET 113 (163.1375 MHz) and 164.9000 MHz was heard active with the same radio.

I have included a listing of previously known Coast Guard UHF allocations and identified the current P-25 channels that are known. Keep searching for new allocations to possibly pop up.



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
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

Oh, and the photo is the USCG tower in Kelso, Washington, with two VHF and one UHF land mobile antenna on board.

NOAA VHF Trunking

So far, P-25 trunking in the federal VHF band is pretty rare. But in 2008 I stumbled on this Request for Information from the NTIA and NOAA. It was regarding hardware for a VHF trunked radio system that was to be located in the Boulder, Colorado area:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b9fc10eca8957361d0183329c46dcbaf&tab=core&_cview=0&cck=1&au=&ck=

Just recently I stumbled upon a thread on Radio Reference indicating that this P-25 VHF trunked system is on the air, probably undergoing testing.

The system information is sketchy, but here is what has been reported:

System ID = AD5

WACN = BEE07

Control Channel = 172.0875 & 172.1000 MHz

More as it becomes available!

New TSA Radios Are Analog! UPDATED!

In late 2008 there were news reports of the Transportation Security Administration requesting funding for newer, smaller radios that were supposed to help keep the security checkpoints quieter.

Now I have seen a report that the TSA at Newark Liberty Airport is using new Icom F50 portable radios at the screening areas. Interestingly, the person reporting this says they were using them on 172. 1500 MHz in analog mode (136.5 pl), but with voice inversion scrambling!

The TSA is apparently still using the APCO P-25 radios for other operations in Newark, and I have not heard this analog activity at other airports, but I will be looking for these changes as I travel this week.

UPDATE!

I have received some additional information on the "new" TSA radios, specifically they are using 169.1625 MHz, 131.8 pl with inversion scrambling in Oakland, CA (OAK) and I have personally confirmed that the TSA at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (PHX) are using the Icom F50 radios on 172.1500, 123.0 pl with inversion scrambling.

They are still using the XTS P-25 radios, but only a few TSA officers (supervisors?) are carrying them. Almost all the screeners dealing with the public at security checkpoints were wearing the Icom radios. If you have the TSA programmed in your scanner as "digital only", watch out! They've taken a small step backwards to analog!

More TRBO On Federal Frequncies

On a recent trip out of Seattle, I started picking up what sounded like MotoTRBO digital signals on 407.9375 MHz somewhere south of town. I can not confirm who is using this frequency in the area yet, but my gut feeling is that it is one of the VA Medical Facilities in the area.

Washington DC Pit Stop

Just passed through Washington DC after New Years and had a couple of things to post about...

First, things were fairly quiet while I was there, but did hear a number of FBI repeaters key up with no one talking several times on Sunday the 3rd. The following frequencies all keyed up simultaneously and all were analog with a 167.9 CTCSS tone:

167,3625
167.4375
167.4875
167.9500
168.1250

Secondly, there have been reports of a second site of the IWN federal trunked system being heard near Washington DC.

Somewhere in Washington area is IWN Site 160, usually heard with its control channel on 168.2625 MHz. I don't know exactly where the trunked site is located, as I have only picked it up marginally from downtown DC, near the Verizon Center. Recently a control channel on 171.4375 MHz has been heard somewhere in northeren Virginia. It reports as System 715, and Site 124. And Site 160 does not report this as a neighboring site yet.

New Years Eve in NYC

Here is a quick After Action Report from Times Square this past Thursday evening. Obviously security concerns were at a peak after the attempted terror bombing on Christmas Day, so federal frequencies were very busy.

163.7500, N167
164.4000, N001 - USSS PAPA
164.7750, N167
165.2375, 100.0 - DHS CBP
165.9250, N167 - This frequency/NAC was used by FBI at MLB All Star Game at Yankees Stadium.
167.7875, N653 - NYC Federal Interop
167.7875, N94C - Confirmed, multiple transmissions using this NAC.
168.2250, N167 - NYC FBI G1/G2
168.8250, N167 - NYC FBI H1/H2, busiest frequency all night long.
169.7250, N864
170.3750, N167 - NYC FBI G5/G6
170.6250, N167 - NYC FBI C7
170.9000, N167 - NYC FBI, input to 168.8250? Also busy all night.
171.1750, N653 - Possible input to 167.7875
171.1750, N94C - Again, possible input to 167.7875
171.5500, N167
172.1875, N167
172.4250, N167 - NYC FBI B5/B6
173.6625, N167 - NYC FBI A1/A2
173.8125, 167.9 - Analog repeater w/DES

I wasn't able to hear much on the 406-420 federal channels due to interference from local UHF use near my location.

Patrolling the US Border via Webcam

I found an interesting story about folks being able to watch US border web cams and report suspected illegal crossings from home:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8412603.stm

According to the story, you can log on here to sign up to view the border cams:

http://www.blueservo.net/

Happy Holidays 2009

Happy Holidays to all from The Fed Files and Monitoring Times!

More on Coast Guard UHF Usage & SRCUS

Following up on the reports of Coast Guard operations on 413.0000 MHz, I have received some information regarding acquisition of UHF tactical radios by the Coast Guard:

http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/srcus.asp

This web page describes the installation of new radios in CG vessels under 87 feet in length. It specifically mentions new tactical VHF and UHF radios, and requires APCO P-25 operation with AES encryption capabilities. It also specifies that the UHF radios be capable of operations on the DoD 380 MHz trunking systems, known as the Enterprise Land Mobile Radio systems (ELMR).

It appears that this is all part of the Coast Guard's Short Range Communications Upgrade System or SRCUS;

http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/srcusfaq.asp

Coast Guard P-25 UHF Nets

I received a report from the Southeast US that the Coast Guard has started utilizing some frequencies in the 406-420 MHz band for its operations.

413.0000 MHz, P-25 (NAC not reported but I suspect N293) was heard in use by Coast Guard Sector Charleston along with 2 MH-65C helicopters.

They referred to this as "CG-410", which makes some sense in the new NTIA naming schemes. The other CG P25 net channels all start with 1, such as NET 101, since they are all in the VHF band and the frequencies start with 1. The 400 MHz channel frequencies all start with 4, so the NET numbers will apparently start with 4 as well.

I have not heard of any routine use of the federal UHF band by the Coast Guard, but there have been some vague references to new UHF radios for CG cutters and law enforcement use. Keep watching this band for more Coast Guard operations. Here are some known UHF allocations for the US Coast Guard:

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
413.0250
413.0375
414.7625
415.6250
415.7750
415.8250
415.9250
416.2250
416.3875
416.4750
416.5500
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

New Federal Prison

As had been rumored for a while, the federal government will acquire a state-built prison facility in Thomson, Illinois to house terrorist prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/14/illinois-prison-house-gitmo-detainees/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/15/AR2009121500095.html?hpid=topnews

This will most likely mean a new federal trunked radio system will be built at this facility as part of the takeover by the US Bureau of Prisons. I have no firm information on what frequencies will be used here, but most likely will be similar to the other BoP trunked systems and use 406-420 MHz. Because of the high profile terror suspects to be held at this facility, there will be encryption in use for sure.

Keep watching for further developments on this.

South Florida New TRS?

A source has reported a new trunking control channel in the Miami/Dade County area of South Florida. Here is what has been spotted:

Motorola Type II
406.8125 MHz Control Channel
System ID: e723

Although not much to go by, this frequency is used in many of the US Bureau of Prisons trunked systems located all over the country. As was noted in previous blog posts, some of these systems are not compliant with the newer NTIA channel plan using a standard 9 MHz repeater offset. In some cases, these systems are being upgraded or replaced. Since it is close to the end of the year, there may be a rush to get these systems up and running as soon as possible.

If you have any federal UHF trunked systems near by, keep and ear on them for possible changes in the near future.

Houston BoP Updated!

I have received some information from the Houston, Texas area that seems to indicate a new UHF trunked system has shown up and is apparently located at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Houston. The current system information is:

Motorola Type II
System ID: 7707
Base: 408.0000
Step: 12.5
Offset: 380
408.1000, 409.6500, 410.0250, 412.4250, 414.3000

The new system is showing this information:

Motorola Type II
System ID: e726
407.4125, 408.4500, 409.4125, 410.2125

Listeners are reporting that 407.0125 MHz may also be part of this new system, but that has not been confirmed yet.

I am guessing this is being done to bring the old system in line with the new NTIA federal UHF channel plan, with 9 MHz repeater offsets. And it may have been easier to simply replace the system than upgrading all the system components already in place. We'll watch for further system info as it becomes available.

UPDATE: As of 12/18.09, this new system is in use and the old system (7707) has been deactivated.

BoP Update

I recently received some information on a Bureau of Prisons trunked system at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It has been tough to come up with information on some BoP facilities, as many of them are located in remote areas of the country with not too many listeners around to send in reports. As with most BoP facilities, they are using a Motorola trunked system. Here is the information that I received:


FCI Loretto
Motorola Type II
System ID: 744b
Base: 406.2000
Step: 12.5
Offset: 380
406.2125, 407.0125, 409.0125, 409.2125, 409.7375, 410.9000

NOTE: I know I promoted the updated BoP list as being available on the Monitoring Times web site, but the site is undergoing some re-design and the Readers Only area is no longer an option. As for now, if you wish to receive a copy of the latest Bureau of Prisons update, pleasase drop me an email at the Monitoring Times address at the top of the blog.

UPDATE - 169.6 MHz NYC

A couple of weeks ago, some listeners in the New York City area reported some clear, P-25 traffic on this previously un-heard frequency. Reports were that they were hearing 169.6000 MHz, NAC 169 repeating traffic from the Federal Protective Service UHF repeater. Then it appeared to be carrying traffic from a New York PD Citywide channel, and later traffic from Newark PD was heard.

A poster on Radio Reference has indicated this was being used by a group from the Department of Homeland Security as a test project. Although saying it was DHS still leaves a lot of speculation as to what the specific agency and purpose was, this frequency is definitely worth keeping an ear on.

I'll hopefully have more information after a couple of trips I'm scheduled on to NYC over the next few weeks.

UPDATE - 409.4 MHz is Las Vegas FPS

Back in mid-September I reported on some activity on 409.4000 MHz, NAC 940 in the Las Vegas, NV area. Listeners had reported sporadic, clear activity on this frequency and had not been able to identify who it was.

I was in Las Vegas for a week and listened to that frequency when I could. I was only able to copy a few transmissions, but they all occurred in the mornings between 07:30 and 08:00 AM each day. A unit would call in to "DENVER" and report in service. DENVER would then acknowledge, and nothing else was heard by me. Others have reported hearing traffic stops and requests for backup from LV Metro PD units on this repeater.

Some have suggested this is the Federal Protective Service. At first glance that might make sense, but I have some concerns:

A) The frequency is not one used by FPS in any other region or city that I have found.

B) Every other FPS Region does regular check ins with units during shifts.

C) The total lack of traffic other than checking in each morning is also baffling. And only seems like one or possibly two units on duty.

Still not enough information to positively identify the agency yet, but we'll keep listening.

UPDATE - I have received some reliable information that this is indeed the Federal Protective Service repeater for the Las Vegas area. The FPS apparently has a very small presence in the LV Metro area and that explains the lack of radio traffic and the lack of roll calls. FPS MegaCenter in Denver is indeed the dispatch point for the LV repeater.

166.4625 MHz Las Vegas TSA?

I've been hearing numerous transmissions in the area of McCarren Airport in Las Vegas on 166.4625 MHz, P-25 with a NAC of 001. It appears to be the Transportation Security Administration operators working with the full body scanners at the security checkpoints. The operators are apparently in a different area from the scanners themselves, and are calling out when the subject being scanned is clear and if there are any anomalies detected by the scanner. The transmissions are all simplex and low-powered.

The frequency is assigned as Treasury Common as well as DHS Common in many federal agency radios. This frequency and P-25 NAC is known to be Channel 13 in the standard TSA channel plan. I have heard similar traffic in other locations, specifically at the Tampa airport during the Super Bowl last year.

169.6000 MHz NYC

I've received some reports of a mystery P-25 frequency active in the New York City area.

169.6000 MHz, NAC 169 was first reported as being a patched simulcast of the Federal Protective Service UHF channel, 417.2000 MHz. I was first wondering if this might be the reason some FPS vehicles have been seen with VHF antennas on them.

But further reports have come in that say this frequency has been heard repeating various NYPD Citywide channels and Newark NJ PD channels as well.

The frequency itself has been used by many different federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, US Coast Guard, Customs and Department of Energy, to name a few. It's unknown who is using this frequency for what purpose, but further monitoring may give us a clue.

World Series Game 3

I was working in Philadelphia for game 3 of the World Series baseball game between the Phillies and the Yankees on October 31st. I was pretty busy with getting the TV coverage of the game on the air, but just before the rain-delayed start of the game, I spotted a motorcade of 6 black SUVs and a limo headed into the stadium. So I thought I'd better get the scanner fired up.

It turned out that our VPOTUS, Joe Biden was in attendance. The Secret Service was in the stadium providing protection for the VP. During the game, TANGO (164.6500 MHz) was in use, but just prior to the departure, CHARLIE (165.3750 MHz) became active, and both frequencies seemed to be busy when the motorcade left the stadium. All communications were encrypted P25, with a NAC of 001.

There is a marked difference between the protection details the Vice President gets versus the POTUS, although there was still a large Secret Service detail, complete with counter-sniper teams all over the stadium.

FPS moving from ICE to NPPD

As was rumored to be the case, DHS announced today that the Federal Protective Service (FPS) will be moved from Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the National Protections and Programs Directorate (NPPD). The announcement can be found here:

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1256829032272.shtm

More information on the NPPD can be found here:

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0794.shtm

"The realignment allows FPS to focus on its primary mission—securing General Services Administration (GSA)-owned and leased federal buildings by performing building security assessments and deploying appropriate countermeasures—while enabling ICE to focus on the smart and effective enforcement of immigration and customs laws."

SoCal UHF

I've been down in the Orange County, California area the last week and have come across some active channels that remain a mystery.

408.4000 MHz, 412.6500 MHz and 417.4000 MHz are all being heard in P-25 with a NAC of $167. It appears that 417.4000 MHz might be the input to 408.4000 MHz. Others have reported some surveillance and radio checks on the 408.4000 frequency, but what agency?

The 408.4000 frequency used to be a federal agency common, but that assignment changed at the beginning of 2005 when the UHF federal band began to be re-channeled. Many military bases have been heard using the 408.4000 frequency in the past. The 412.6500 frequency has some Justice Department assignments, as well as the 417.4000 frequency.

Some would probably look at the $167 NAC as proof of being the FBI, but there are plenty of other possible agencies that might use this NAC. And I still haven't seen enough evidence hat the FBI routinely uses their UHF assignments for surveillance operations, but things might be changing.

Further monitoring will be required. If anyone in the SoCal area has any further information on this activity, let me know!

Interoperability Channel Names

APCO International has released a draft copy of it's "Proposed Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperability Channels". The draft can be viewed here:

http://apcointl.org/new/commcenter911/documents/APCO-NPSTC-ANS-1-104-1DraftPRC.pdf

This is to help standardize the channel names for the federal and non-federal interoperability frequencies through out the US. The document also provides a complete list of the frequencies for reference.

USCG San Francisco - Update

While passing through SFO (San Francisco International Airport) recently, I had some time to search the federal bands. I came across Coast Guard Sector SF working with craft in the bay on 171.3500 MHz, P-25 with a NAC of 293.

This seemed to be their normal operations channel for the area, and several times I heard them refer to this as "LE-6" on their radios. Previously "LE-6" has been part of the federal interoperability channel plan as 167.2500 MHz. Could it be that this is a repeater with LE-6 as the input? Or could this be a different LE-6?

The 171.3500 MHz is a Coast Guard allocation, and I have heard it used at CG Air Station Astoria as a helicopter maintenance channel.

UPDATE: I was informed by some good folks from the Bay Area that this is a long established Coast Guard "L-E" frequency that is still being used, but now in P-25 mode. The "L-E" repeaters (short for Law Enforcement) were common in some areas that the Coast Guard operated. In theory, the old LE repeaters should be superseded by the new CG NET channels as the RESCUE 21 system is expanded.

FPS Operation Shield

I heard some Federal Protective Service units on roll call this morning report that they were participating in "Operation Shield" activities. Roll call was on 408.2 MHz here in the Portland, OR area.

A quick search of the Internet told me that Operation Shield is an ongoing program that is part of the FPS operation. Here is a link to see what they are up to:

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/fps/pdf/fps_02_08_newsletter.pdf

Pittsburgh G20 MACC Operational

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured a story on the start up of the G20 Multi-Agency Command Center in Pittsburgh:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09266/1000178-482.stm

So far lots of G20 related action on the federal, state and local frequencies, including many of the national interoperability channels. Among the federal agencies that are participating are the Coast Guard, Secret Service, State Department and aviation units probably with Customs & Border Protection Air Marine division. I'll have more later on as information comes in.

409.4 MHz - Las Vegas

A while back, a poster on Radio Reference asked about who might be using 409.4000 MHz, P-25 in the Las Vegas area. Several suggestions were posted about is possibly being part of the NNSA UHF trunked system, federal contractors, etc..

The UHF federal band, 406.1 to 420 MHz, is pretty saturated in southern Nevada. The NNSA trunked sites, as well as the NTTR EDACS sites take up a lot of available channels, and there are some conventional users as well. But I had never logged any activity on this frequency in my past visits to Las Vegas.

One poster on Radio Reference says that one party on a previously heard transmission may have used DENVER as their call sign. That made me think of the Federal Protective Service dispatch center in Denver. But, this frequency has not been previously associated with FPS operations in any other areas. The frequency itself has been used as part of many federal and military UHF trunked systems, as well as conventional assignments to the VA and Department of Energy.

I purposely set up one scanner just on 409.4 during my visit to LV this past week. I only caught two brief transmissions, and was able to confirm a P-25 NAC of 940. This indicates to me that this is not a normal FPS dispatch channel, as they often run routine check ins and units are always calling in service.

Anyone want to see if they can figure out who is using 409.4 in the Las Vegas area? Let me know what you hear!

FAA Porcupine

While running between terminals at San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), I spotted a van literally covered with antennas. The van carried federal GSA license plates, but when I got along side, it had well worn FAA decals on the doors.

You probably can't tell by the cell-phone camera photo I snapped, but the van had 12 to 15 antennas cut to almost every radio band you can think of, including what appeared to be a CB antenna. I'm sure this van is used by the FAA electronics support technicians, but it sure looks like they enjoy radio of all types & frequency bands.

The smallish SUV in front of the radio van was also an FAA vehicle, but carried no antennas that I could see.

TSA Encryption

I've started noticing some changes in the TSA communications in my area and wondering if the same is happening in other areas as well.

Until recently, all of the TSA P-25 communications at my home airport of Portland, Oregon (KPDX) have been unencrypted. Simplex communications at all the security checkpoints has been on 172.1500 MHz, with different NAC's for each, and some administrative type communications have been heard on a repeater on 172.9000 MHz, N001 (169.3000 MHz input). About three weeks ago, I started hearing a lot more activity on the 172.9000 MHz repeater, but it was all encrypted. Until that time, I was only catching some random, brief encrypted traffic when someone accidentaly switched the secure mode on.

With some exceptions, most TSA traffic seems to be in the clear. San Diego has been encypted for quite a while now, and perhaps others.

While I'm not sure if this might be related, but I recently spotted some marked TSA vehicles that indicate they are operating more than just baggage screening and passenger checkpoints. The new-looking trucks were marked "EXPLOSIVE DETECTION K-9 TEAM", and were parked on the ramp area of a major aiport. Could these secure communications be tied into more activity by TSA activity not normally seen by the public?

Another Federal Mototrbo User

On a recent trip to the Chicago area, I discovered that the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago is using Mototrbo radios on 406.6625 MHz.

Mototrbo is a product line of digital radios marketed by Motorola. It is not compatable with any of the digital scanners available today.

The Federal Reserve seems to have a habit of doing their own thing when it comes to radios. Each branch of the FRB has something different, some analog, some digital and now some are Mototrbo. It still amazes me that they would go against the APCO P-25 standards the have been championed by the federal government for interoperability. But on the other hand, who would they have to be interoperable with?

406.6626 MHz is a common frequency used by Federal Reserve facilities across the country, along with 410.4875, 413.9250 and 415.6625.

Pittsburgh G20 Summit - New Frequencies?

With a little more than 5 weeks until the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh starting, I've started to receive reports of unusual activity across the radio spectrum in the area.

Reports are that multiple frequencies were transmitting APCO P-25 digital, with many unusual frequencies for the area and many using a NAC of 167. Here is what was recently reported as active with apparent testing:

150.5625 NAC 167 - Frequency is a Civil Air Patrol assignment
150.6000 NAC 167
153.2225 NAC 167
157.6425 NAC 167
163.9500 NAC 173
165.9750 NAC 167
168.5000 NAC 100
168.8250 NAC 167 - Previously known Pittsburgh FBI
169.4000 NAC 167
171.3875 NAC 167

Besides these previously unknown frequencies, here are some that were heard active, but may not be related to the G20:

169.0125 NAC 357 - VAMC Police
169.8000 NAC 389 - DHS ICE wide area network

We will see what else comes alive as the G20 approaches. Past events such as this often reveal unusual frequencies being used by some of the foreign security details. Stay tuned!

"Axe Men" Production - 168.050

While searching the federal bands at home in northwest Oregon, I recently came across some unusual radio traffic on 168.0500 MHz. It sounded like someone in a helicopter (I could hear the turbine whine in the background), talking with someone on the ground (unheard by me). The conversation seemed to be from a producer with the "Axe Men" TV reality show, working on shooting and getting some particular topics on the audio track. I believe it is the "Axe Men" show based on some of the logging company names that were heard on the radio traffic, companies that were featured in the past shows.

The frequency of 168.0500 MHz is often used by the US Forest Service and National Interagency Fire Center as a tactical channel. Why these folks were using it at this time is unknown. Perhaps there were working with the Forest Service and had a USFS helicopter, and that frequency was handy to talk to the folks on the ground.

The "Axe Men" TV show airs on The History Channel and is produced by Original Productions, http://www.origprod.com/.