DHS TOPOFF 4 Next Week

As you may have read on other lists or web sites, the DHS Exercise TOPOFF 4 will be held next week, October 15th through the 19th. More info can be found here:

http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1179350946764.shtm

http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1179430526487.shtm

http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1179422026237.shtm

The exercise will have "events" taking place in Phoenix, AZ, Portland, OR and in the US territory of Guam. These events will involve communications by first responders as well as government officials. This could be a good time to find out how the federal / local interoperability systems are working. The Guam location may provide some HF and SATCOM communciations as well.

NTIA Looks at 162-174 MHz

I recently came across this report on the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) web site;

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports/2006/land_mobile_DC_06_440.doc

It is an interesting look at the usage of the VHF federal band (162 - 174 MHz) in the Washington DC area. It talks about the different agencies that are using frequencies in this band and how many users there are. It also looks at the potential impact the Justice IWN trunked system will have on frequency loading in the area. Some of the report is very technical, and there are some frequencies mentioned.

Some additonal interesting reading can be found here;

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports.html

Federal VHF Low Band - TVA?

A couple of years ago I asked MT readers for any information on current federal (non-military) agencies that are still using VHF low-band (30-50 MHz). Unfortunately I did not receive any information, but I recently stumbled across some discussions on Radio Reference about line crews from the Tennessee Valley Authority, (http://www.tva.gov/) still using low band.

Here are the TVA Lo-Band channels and locations that I have in my database:

38.97 - AL, MS, US
38.98 - AL, KY, MS, NC, TN, US
40.50 - KY, MS, TN, US
40.57 - US
40.61 - US
40.62 - AL, KY, MS, NC, TN, US
40.73 - US
40.74 - AL, KY, MS, NC, TN,US
40.75 - US
40.85 - US
40.87 - MS, US

Can anyone in the states listed give these a listen and let us know if they are active?

FPS Chicago & Other Cities

I have received word that the Federal Protective Service (FPS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security under Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has changed frequencies.

406.7000 MHz, P-25 with no encryption, with an input of 415.7000 MHz, now seems to be the primary FPS channel in Chicago. The old analog repeater on 415.2000 MHz appears to be no longer in use.

UPDATE! - Both Cleveland and Toledo, OH have recently switched from 415.2000 MHz to 407.0000 MHz, P-25. Minneapolis, MN also reports that FPS has changed from 415.2000 MHz to 407.0000 MHz, P-25 within the last month.

Look for additional changes in the UHF federal bands as the NTIA band re-shuffling continues.

JENA Aircraft in Tampa FL

While listening to Tampa International (KTPA) approach on 08/28, I caught one of the controllers talking to JENA 32. At one point the controller called JENA 32 several times with no response, but JENA 024 ("Zero-Two-Four") came up and advised he was working with JENA 32 "on another radio" and he would pass along the instructions. The TPA approach controller just wanted to advise the JENA aircraft not to stray any further west as they would get mixed up with departing Tampa traffic. JENA 024 also advised TPA that they were trying to get JENA 32 on a target, then JENA 024 would depart the area.

Unfortunately I was not able to find what frequency the other radio might have been on.

Reports are that the "JENA" (here it was pronounced JENN-AH) aircraft are FBI operations using non-FBI pilots. The "ROSS" FBI aircraft call sign is still being used, and is reported to indicate that an FBI pilot is in command.

UPDATE!

Searching the Internet produced this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kldMbyNLXpM

The poster claims this is a military contractor flight landing at DCA and was using the call sign "JENA 611". Could the JENA flights heard on surveillance operations be DoD contractor pilots working FBI aircraft???

"VIPR" Airport Security Program

Local media is reporting an increase of federal law enforcement presence at the Portland International Airport (PDX) as part of a TSA program called VIPR. The program includes ramped-up security operations at randomly chosen airports and other facilities.

VIPR, standing for Visible Intermodal Protection and Response, has conducted missions at various events and transportation facilities over the last 18 months. The teams include canine teams, Transportation Security officers trained in behavior observation, air marshal supervisors, air marshals not scheduled for flights, surface transportation security inspectors and local police.

A quick search of the TSA web site (http://www.tsa.gov/) shows quite a few news releases on the VIPR program

VIPR Teams were also in Portland for the Rose Festival back in July, but local media did not report on this.

No specific communications frequencies have been noted, but increased traffic (encrypted) on the Justice IWN trunked system here in Portland may be a result of this operation.

More as it becomes available...

VHF EDACS Mystery Solved!?

It appears that our mystery VHF EDACS trunked radio system mentioned in a previous blog entry has been located. Someone tracked down the control channels on 173.4250 MHz and 170.7625 MHz, and they appear to be coming from the NASA Goddard Flight Facility at Wallops Island, VA:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html

The NASA web site does not mention this trunked system specifically, but there are some interesting downloads containing information about the range and it's facilities:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/multimedia/index.html

The information about the location of these control channels also indicated that NASA security there continues to utilize their VHF conventional repeaters on 170.0000 MHz and 171.1500 MHz. A quick look at previously monitored frequencies at Wallops Island seems to show a lot of VHF usage in the same area as these trunked systems:

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/Monitoring%20NASA%20and%20Space%20Communications.pdf

We'll try and track down more information on this new trunked system and pass it along in a future Fed Files.

VHF Trunking Mysteries

There are a couple of mysterious trunking control channels that have been reported in the VHF federal bands and so far we have no solid information on where they are coming from or who is operating them.

First, a listener in New Jersey as been reporting what he believes is an EDACS trunking control channel on 170.7625 MHz. 172.6875 & 172.9875 MHz might be analog voice channels associated with this control channel. The signal comes and goes as if it's being heard via skip, but from which direction is unknown. EDACS federal trunked systems are rare, but a VHF system would be a first. Listeners in Philadelphia, where 170.7625 MHz is used as by DHS/ICE have not confirmed a trunked system there. The 172.6875 and 172.9875 are previously un-assigned frequencies.

The originator of this information has theorized that it's an ICE/DHS trunked system somewhere. But so far he hasn't reported any specific voice traffic heard. I find that difficult to accept with as little information as we have so far. It makes no sense to me that the DHS would set up an analog EDACS trunked system, totally incompatible with what they are doing everywhere else, and not using the P-25 standard, which has been mandated by specifications in federal budgets for interoperability.

In the south, another monitor in Florida is reporting a P-25 control channel on 170.1250 MHz. It is reporting a System ID of 910. Speculation is that it might be military or Department of Energy, but nothing is confirmed. This signal is also being heard via skip from an unknown location in the Southeast US.

Anyone else hear any of these signals? Let us know at the Fed Files!

New CBP A&M Units?

I've been receiving information that there is a new call sign being heard on some of the Customs & Border Protection radio nets in the Southwest US. Listeners in Arizona have started reporting references to "1100 TAC" units, sometimes in association with CBP air units. The call sign does not appear to refer to a base location or station, but mobiles that operate as a group under that call. Sounds like it could be a Task Force unit of some kind, perhaps National Guard units working along the border?

Also, the CBP division that we used to refer to as Air Marine Interdiction Division (AMID) is now simply Air & Marine:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/air_marine/cbp_air_marine_overview.xml

And it appears that the CBP A&M has added two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to its aircraft fleet:

http://www.verticalmag.com/control/news/templates/?a=5042&z=6

DoE / BPA Activity

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is an agency under the U.S. Department of Energy. They operate a series of VHF repeaters in the Pacific Northwest that is normally used for transmission line and facilities maintenance. All of these repeaters operate on 172.5250 MHz.

Recently I caught a transmission from "KOD900 Denver" calling an aircraft (who's call sign I failed to catch) about his landing at Portland Internatnional Airport. I assumed that the aircraft was probably involved in aerial inspections of tranmission lines. I also had not realised that BPA had a centralized dispatch center that was NOT in Portland!

170.7250 MHz - Harrisburg, PA?

I was recently forced by an airline flight cancellation to drive from Pittsburgh to Atlantic City, NJ for work. While driving across on I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I started picking up a lot of P-25 clear activity on 170.7250 MHz. As previously blogged, this frequency has been used as a Federal Interoperability repeater in some cites, but I have not received reports of it being used in the Philadelphia area. The signal was quite strong and seemed to be centered around the Harrisburg area. It finally got weak and was not heard in the Philadelphia area.

The activity was a surveillance operation. First names were used and no specific locations were identified. Could have been anyone of a dozen federal agencies. Similar traffic has been heard in the Pittsburgh area on a P-25 repeater on 169.8000 MHz. Pittsburgh monitors report that some locations heard on this repeater seem to indicate that the operations were taking place in Philadelphia, and this frequency was somehow tied in to the Philly repeater.

It's quite possible that this Federal Interop system has these repeaters in various cities tied together, but I have not confirmed this yet.

"VOLCANO - Out"

With the passing of Lady Bird Johnson this past week, I was reminded of many trips through the Austin, Texas area in years past. Often I could pick up the US Secret Service detail that was stationed at the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City, Texas. They could be heard using the call sign VOLCANO. I think that they used to use the Secret Service CHARLIE channel, 165.3750 MHz, but my old logs from those trips have been lost for a while... UPDATE: A friend in Texas reminded me that VOLCANO had a MIKE (165.2125 MHz) repeater.

By the way, LBJ's call sign was VOLUNTEER and Lady Bird was known as VICTORIA.

164.9625 MHz Anyone?

I am curious if anyone is hearing any law enforcement activity on 164.9625 MHz in your area. This frequency has been a long used Customs tac frequency that folks in South Florida have been hearing for years. In the old Customs channel plan, this was often referred to as "A-7", and under the new DHS channel plan it may be known as TAC 21. It appears to be used primarily by the Customs Air Marine Division and was very active at the recent Super Bowl in Miami.

What I am curious about is if anyone outside of South Florida has heard the use of this channel. This frequency is not an exclusive DHS Customs assignement, so I'm curious if it is used anywhere else. If you hear any activity on this frequency in your area, please let us know at the Fed Files!

UPDATE - Here is what readers have sent me so far:

Boston - US Postal Service - 164.9625, 162.2 pl - input to 173.6375, 162.2 pl repeater

Federal Interop "25 Cities" Frequencies

In the January 2007 Fed Files, I mentioned the Justice Department's "25 Cities Project". Basically the program focuses on 25 major US cites and helps plan and provide radio interoperability between federal and local radio systems. You can find some very informative downloads at the project’s web site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/commtech/25cities/

(NOTE: It appears that the DoJ has moved all the 25 Cities downloads behind a login page. However you can do a search for "Department of Justice High Risk Metropolitan Area Interoperability" and you should still find access to all of the individual PDF files for each city.)

I have recently received some additional frequencies that may be part of the 25 Cities Project. Here are a list of what I have so far. If you have anything to add, please let us know!

Chicago
168.8875 - P25 repeater
168.9125 - P25 repeater
170.8125 - P25 repeater
171.4375 - P25 repeater
171.6875 - P25 repeater
172.2125 - P25 repeater

Dallas / Ft. Worth
170.7250 MHz - P25 repeater "Dallas East"
171.4375 MHz - P25 repeater "Dallas West"

Houston
170.7250 MHz - P25 repeater "L-1"
171.4375 MHz - P25 repeater "L-2"

New York City
167.7875 MHz - P25 repeater

Philadelphia
171.4375 MHz - P25 repeater "FIO"

Postal Inspectors Update

I recently had a nice email from a Fed Files reader who was interested in finding the US Postal Inspectors active frequencies. As we have noted here, the Postal Inspectors are in the process of changing around some of their frequencies and upgrading to P-25 digital radios. Some cities are still analog with DES encryption, others have moved to P-25 digital and some have both!

I thought I would compile what I currently had logged and share them. If anyone has some additional info, please feel free to pass it along!

Atlanta - 407.7250, P-25

Boston - 407.7750, 409.9375, 414.7500

Chicago - 406.3375, 414.7500, 415.0500

Cleveland - 409.9375, 414.7500

Dallas - 414.7500, 417.6000

Houston - 407.1375, 407.7250, 414.7500

Little Rock - 406.9625 (Not Confirmed Yet)

Los Angeles - 415.0500

Memphis - 407.1375, 407.7750

Miami - 407.7750

Minneapolis - 407.7250, 407.7750

NYC - 414.7500, 415.0500, 416.2250 + UHF trunked system on Manhattan

Newark - 407.7250

Oklahoma City - 417.7000

Orlando - 406.3375

Philadelphia - 406.8125, 409.3250, 409.9375

Pittsburgh - 406.3375, 407.1375, 407.7250, 407.7750, 415.0500

Portland - 407.1375, 407.7750, 415.0500 - P25

San Jose, CA - 413.6000, 414.1500, 414.7500, 415.0500

Tampa - 407.1375, 415.0500

Washington DC - 407.7750

In most cases, the 406 through 409 MHz repeaters are P-25 digital and the inputs to those repeaters should be +9 MHz. The 414 and 415 MHz repeaters are still analog, most with DES or AES encryption. In areas that have moved to new 406 or 407 MHz P-25 repeaters, keep listening to the 414.7500 and 415.0500 frequencies, as they can still show up as simplex surveillance channels!

UPDATE - Several Fed Files fans have provided some updates to the list I posted. Thanks for all the information! I will continue to update this blog entry as more information is received!

Coast Guard New Haven

I was recently in the New London/Groton Connecticut area and was monitoring a lot of Coast Guard Station New Haven activity. The area of responsibility (AOR) for Station New Haven consists of almost 2/3 of Long Island Sound,extending from Black Rock Harbor to Clinton Harbor on the Connecticut shoreline and from Mattituck Inlet to approximately 2nm East of Mt. Sinai Harbor on the Long Island shore.

Besides the normal VHF marine channels, I did catch quite a few transmission on 162.1250 MHz, once known as LANT 03 or TAC 1. However, I was hearing the units calling New Haven refer to this frequency as CC-9 ("See-See-Nine"). Anyone hear channel designators like this before?

UPDATE - A kind blog reader suggested that I might have heard "CG" instead of "CC". Quite possible I guess...

Secret Service Call Signs

With all the candidates running for President in 2008, the Secret Service will have to come up with new radio call signs for each protectee. This article from the Washington post mentions that candidate Barack Obama has been dubbed "Renegade",

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601079.html

This article mentions that President Bush (43) has a call sign of "Tumbler", which it was when he was Governor of Texas. But I do recall that after he was elected to President, his call sign was changed to "Trailblazer", with the First Lady known as "Tempo".

The July Fed Files column will feature a focus on Secret Service radio frequencies.

AMTRAK Police Operations

I'm currently working on a show in New York City that has us parked near Penn Station in mid-town Manahattan, and there are usually 3-6 AMTRAK police vehicles parked in the area between Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. This got my interest up in what AMTRAK police officers were using for radios.

I've seen requests on some lists for information about AMTRAK police operations and frequencies. A search of the Internet turns up little information, but I decided to try and piece together as much of it as I could. I think I saw a thread on AMTRAK police on the SCAN-DC list a while back. The frequencies of 173.3500 MHz and 173.3750 MHz came up, and someone pointed to an archived edition of the Capitol Hill Monitors newsletter that has some great info on the AMTRAK police radio channels: http://henney.com/chm/0299/.

Other web sites have indicated that the AMTRAK police in New York City may have additional channels besides the ones listed in the previous link: F2-160.8150 MHz, F3-161.2950 MHz, F4-161.2050 MHz, F5-161.2950 MHz, F6-161.2050 MHz. 161.3650 MHz is also listed in some sources as an AMTRAK police frequency. These are all channels in the standard US railroad allocations, so in theory they may be using any of the 99 available VHF channels. The 173.3500 and 173.3750 MHz frequencies are not exclusive federal allocations, so you may hear other users on these channels.

Here on location, I have been hearing what appears to the AMTRAK police operations on 161.2950 MHz, 131.8pl. There have been a few incidents over the last few days at Penn Station involving NYFD units, but nothing that seems to have made the news.

Got any confirmed AMTRAK police frequencies you want to pass along? Send them to the Fed Files and Monitoring Times!

NYC FBI Interop Check-In

I finally had a chance to catch the weekly (I think) test of the Federal Interoperability repeater in the New York City area. The test started at 10AM with "FBI Operations" calling a list of participating agencies on 167.7875 MHz, P-25 digital. The agencies that checked in with FBI Control included:

ATF New York
ATF Newark
US Attorney Eastern District
DEA New York
DEA Newark
FEMA
US Marshals Southern District
US Marshals Eastern District
US Marshals New Jersey
ICE New York
ICE New Jersey
CBP New York
CBP Tactical JFK
Coast Guard Sector New York
Secret Service New York
Secret Service New Jersey
IRS New York
Park Police Manhattan
Park Police Brooklyn
Postal Inspectors New York
Postal Inspectors New Jersey
US Attorney Long Island
Air Marshals New York
Essex County SO
Nassau County Police

Previous reports that I had received on this interop repeater said that they had heard this repeater tied to 414.750 MHz during these tests, but I did not hear any activity on the UHF frequency during this morning's test.

Earlier in the morning, I caught two FBI radio techs checking coverage of this repeater with a hand held radio. The gentleman that was mobile was north of the NYC area on I-287 near the White Plains area, which is apparently the northern limit on this repeater.

Washington DC Trip

I just spent a few days working in the Washington DC area. Too much to listen to there!!! Besides all the new trunked systems and military stuff, the federal bands are just hopping there with almost every federal frequency allocation being used.

Notes and frequencies from my trip will be featured in an upcoming Fed Files, but a couple of interesting notes:

In the July Monitoring Times Fed Files, there will be a feature on the Secret Service. As I noted on that column, the Secret Service has switched over the P-25 digital modes, but does not seem to be 100% full time encrypted. Some transmission on 165.7875 MHz (BAKER) were in clear P-25.

The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service is highly visible and very busy with encrypted P-25 operations on their VHF frequencies (also featured in the upcoming MT).

167.4125 MHz was busy with what sounded like a large, rolling surveillance operation by the FBI. Strangely it was all analog, in the clear. Perhaps units from different areas without the right encryption keys?

Most of the UHF federal band is full of Motorola and LTR PassPort trunked systems. But there are a few conventional systems in the UHF band there.

DoD military APCO P-25 trunked systems in the 380 MHz band are springing up like weeds in a back yard around the DC area. Hard to keep track of who's on first with those, as they are encrypted on about 80% of the traffic heard.