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.