DC Area IWN Rollout Without DHS

An interesting article has appeared on line talking about the roll out of the new IWN DC area overlay trunked system:

http://psc.apcointl.org/2010/11/29/agencies-in-d-c-area-will-be-able-to-communicate-on-radio-system/

As I posted back in September, the new VHF IWN trunked sites started to appear recently in the Washington DC area, and will serve various subscriber agencies, primarily the Department of Justice. However, the article linked above indicates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not be participating in the DC area system.

Some DHS agencies are participating in the original IWN sites in the Pacific Northwest, with CBP Customs and Border Patrol being heavy IWN users along the US-Canada border areas.

LA USSS Back On The Air

On Monday, November 30th, while waiting for a flight at LAX airport, I had time for some scanning. While searching the federal bands I happened to catch some radio techs doing checks on the Los Angeles area US Secret Service radio sites. This comes after one of the sites serving the LA Metro area was destroyed by wildfires in August, 2009.


I caught some clear radio checks on:

165.2125 MHz, N001 - MIKE
165.3750 MHz, N001 - CHARLIE
165.7875 MHz, N001 - BAKER
171,7625 MHz, N001 - Input to BAKER repeater on Mt. Disappointment

I missed the radio checks, but other listeners reported:
164.4000 MHz, N001 - PAPA
164.6500 MHz, N001 - TANGO
164.8875 MHz, N001 - OSCAR

When they were finished, one technician proclaimed that they were "finally back on the air after a year and a half!"

New Border Patrol in Arizona

In the November issue of Monitoring Times, I mentioned a number of VHF P-25 repeaters that had been heard on the air in Southern Arizona over the past summer. It now appears that even more new frequencies are on the air and are being used extensively by CBP Border Patrol.

Since my last visit to the Tucson area last spring, there has definitely been an increase in activity on these new frequencies, but the traditional Border Patrol channels in the 163 and 168 Mhz range have become used less and less. If you live in the Southern Arizona area, start searching for new frequencies. Here is a list of what is being heard now:

163.6250 MHz, N206
163.7000 MHz, N201
166.7375 MHz, N30E
168.8250 MHz, N302 - RED MOUNTAIN
168.8250 MHz, N330 - WIDE AREA
168.8250 MHz, N710 - WIDE AREA
169.1625 MHz, N293 - CBP AIR 4 (More on this frequency in the January Fed Files!)
169.5500 MHz, N203 - TUBAC AREA BORDER PATROL ON 1-19
169.9375 MHz, N330
169.9375 MHz, N653 - GILIO 1
170.3500 MHz, N130 - WIDE AREA INTEROP
170.3500 MHz, N20C - WIDE AREA INTEROP
170.3500 MHz, N230 - WIDE AREA INTEROP (Nogalas, AZ)
170.3500 MHz, N340 - WIDE AREA INTEROP
170.4375 MHz, N301 - AJO
170.4375 MHz, N130 - AJO
170.4375 MHz, N230 - Far East Arizona
171.0375 MHz, N201
171.1875 MHz, N110
171.3250 MHz, N20C
171.6625 MHz, N210
172.0625 MHz, N20A
172.7625 MHz, N210
173.1750 MHz, N209
173.1875 MHz, N110
173.1875 MHz, N230 - INTEROP MT. LEMMON
173.5000 MHz, N20B
173.6125 MHz, N210 - May be input or simplex, called "SCAN 3"
173.6500 MHz, N206
173.7375 MHz, N130
173.9375 MHz, N304

This appears to be a major move towards a new network of Border Patrol and CBP operational repeaters that may continue across the southern United States, and along the lines of what has been in use along the Southern California region for quite some time.

FPS Chnges & Updates Continue

UPDATE - Reports from the Northeast US are that many cites in FPS Region 1 (New England) have switched over to 408.2000 MHz repeaters from 417.2000 MHz. It also appears the region is now using a P-25 NAC of N201. Some stragglers may still be using 417.2000 MHz, but should change soon. These moves are to update the repeater frequencies to a new standard 9 MHz offset, meaning the repeater inputs should now be 9 MHz from the repeater output.

Besides the primary region-wide repeaters, be on the lookout for simplex or stand-alone repeaters that might be in use in some specialized federal properties.

Despite some areas of the country already using new frequencies and P-25 digital radio, some areas of the Federal Protective Service are still awaiting updates to the communications systems. Here is a recent request for bids on replacing and upgrading radio gear for FPS Region 7, which includes sites in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c7a1f275c2f159ee8ac22a9e024608fb&tab=core&tabmode=list&=

Quick Scan at IAD-Update

Had some time between slights at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday and did a little searching while there. I managed to pick up several sites from the new IWN overlay system for the DC area, shows as System 010. The System 715 is part of the original IWN trunked system.

163.0500
167.4000
168.7625, N011 - SYS010, SITE 1001 (DC Mall Site)
168.9250
170.6250, N010 - SYS010, SITE 0301 (Bull Run VA Site)
170.9250, N719 - SYS715, SITE 0124 (Fairfax VA Site)
171.2750, N010 - SYS010, SITE 0201 (Independence Hill VA Site)
171.6250, N011 - SYS010, SITE 0701 (Fairfax VA Site)
173.9000, N011 - SYS010 (Gaithersburg MD Site)

414.5625 MHz

Over a year ago, while in the Houston, Texas area, I stumbled across some encrypted P-25 traffic on 414.5625 MHz, NAC 168. The traffic was simplex and have found no confirmed data on what agency might be using that frequency.

Recently another listener in the Houston area has reported hearing activity on that same frequency, also encrypted, so whoever it is, they are still in business.

However, now I have received a report from the Charlotte, North Carolina area of the same frequency and and NAC being used there. Again, always encrypted, so no agency identification has been determined yet.

Keep this one in your scan list and see if it is active near you!

World Series Game 2

Things settled down a bit in our part of the broadcasting compound for the second game of the 2010 World Series. so I had some time to listen to the scanner more. Here is what was busy during the game:

157.1750 MHz - Marine channel 83A with Coast Guard units patrolling the waters outside the ball park. Call signs heard were MARINE 1, MARINE 2, PIKE and PIKE 2
162.3500 MHz - Weak P-25 or analog with DES. No confirmation of what it was.
163.6125 MHz, 127.3 pl - Speaker Palosi Capitol Police security detail at the game again.
166.4625 MHz, 100.0 pl - Unknown agency operating outside the ballpark. Somewhat informal conversations. Frequency is known as DHS Common or Treasury Common, but is found in most federal law enforcement channel plans.
170.7500 MHz, N293 - Unknown agency, encrypted full time
170.9250 MHz, N167 - FBI units, probably on location at the game. During game 1, heard some units in the clear and confirmed they were in the stadium. Game 2 and everyone was secure, but signal strength seemed to indicate they were still on location and simplex.

Other frequencies were heard as well, but probably did not have anything to do with the World Series:
163.1375 MHz, N293
163.3750 MHz, 192.8 pl
163.4125 MHz, 131.8 pl
165.2375 MHz, 100.0 pl - DHS Customs Net 1
165.2875 MHz, N650 - BATFE Net 1
165.4375 MHz, N302 - Unknown security operations
166.0500 MHz
166.3000 MHz, N325
166.7375 MHz, N293 - US Mint security
167.2125 MHz, 167.9 pl
167.7875 MHz
168.4875 MHz, N293
168.9125 MHz, N510
169.2000 MHz, 114.8 pl
169.5500 MHz, 100.0 pl - DHS Customs with OTAR
172.7000 MHz, N293

SF World Series Game One

I'm in San Francisco for the 2010 World Series. We did game 1 on Wednesday night and only had a short time to listen to the scanner, but did find some federal activity in SF, some related to the events at the ball park...

162.6125, 127.3pl - US Capitol Police security detail for Speaker Palosi at the game.
164.4000, N001 - USSS PAPA-Active for FLOTUS visit to SF on Monday.
165.2125, N001 - USSS MIKE-Active for FLOTUS visit to SF on Monday.
165.3750, N001 - USSS CHARLIE-Active for FLOTUS visit to SF on Monday.
166.4625, 100.0 pl - Units outside stadium, not sure which agency.
167.0500, ?pl - What should be the FCC, simplex use around the stadium.
170.9250, N167 - FBI special event units on location in stadium.

Thats all so far, but will update with anything new from Game 2...

New TSA P-25 Frequency at BOS

I know the blog postings seem to be stuck in TSA mode these days, but I post 'em as they come in to me...

I've received confirmation of a new TSA P-25 digital channel in use at Boston Logan Airport, BOS. The frequency is 166.2875 MHz, N001, simplex. They seem to be using this frequency to coordinate passengers going throught the millimeter-wave X-ray machine, also known as the full-body scanner.

This is a new frequency for the TSA channel line up, joining a whole bunch of new frequencies that have turned up with the new Icom radios.

More TSA Radio News

Here are a couple of news items regarding TSA and their radio communications.

This item has some details about the purchase of the Icom F-50V radios as part of the efforts to equip everyone at the airport security checkpoints with radios. The article indicates that the original purchase was for 10,000 radios:

http://radioresourcemag.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=6260

Secondly, this item describes how the TSA is interested in adding OTAR (Over-The-Air Re-keying) of their existing radios:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7ed6d706b0f60fd6c019983e9d417567&tab=core&_cview=0

If you download some of the linked documents in this page, it describes the test procedures that indicate the OTAR encryption keys will be provided by the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Key Management Facility.

One could speculate on why the TSA needs to have OTAR. Almost none of the P-25 radios used by the TSA are using encryption, although they are all capable. Some airport locations are using encrypted communications full-time, but many are not. This request, along with a request from TSA for RF tracking devices, seem to indicate a more aggressive technical requirement that just airport security checkpoints.

More "New" TSA Analog Frequencies

Since the addition of the Icom F-50V radios to the TSA security checkpoints at US airports, some new frequencies have started showing up. These new frequencies are not part of the original TSA channel plan that is in all of the P-25 radios the TSA is using.

Recently I found two additional frequencies in use. First, at San Francisco International airport (SFO), I found the contract TSA look-alikes there using the FT-50V radios on 162.2750 MHz, 131.8pl with voice inversion. On another recent trip I found the TSA at Los Angeles International airport (LAX) in Terminal 3 using 166.7875 MHz, 123.0 pl, also with voice inversion.

Anyone got any additional TSA channels we haven't posted yet? Pass them along to us at Monitoring Times!

170.3375 MHz in Dallas - TSA?

I have received some reports of a new P-25 digital channel being heard in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex.

Reports are that 170.3375 MHz, NAC001 has been heard with clear traffic that seems to make references to possible TSA operations at DFW Airport in Grapevine.

This frequency does not appear in the previously known TSA frequency assignments, however, DFW Airport had always had some non-standard TSA radio operations. 169.1625 MHz and 169.1875 MHz have previously reported as being used but the TSA at DFW. Apparently they were concerned about TSA frequencies used at Dallas Love Field would interfere with operations at DFW.

New Federal VHF Trunking - Update

I recently posted that listeners were reporting many new VHF P-25 trunking sites starting to go live in the northern Virginia and Washington DC areas. Some additional information has been posted.

Here is what we know so far - The trunked system is showing a System ID of 010, WACN of BF58A, and at least 7 sites found so far. Only one talk group has been reported so far, TG 9301 doing radio checks.

168.2625 - Site 6-001
168.4875 - Site 8-001
168.6250 - Site 6-001
168.8250 - Site 6-001
168.8875 - Site 10-001
169.6000 - Site 2-001
170.6250 - Site 3-001
170.6625 - Site 1-001
170.8625 - Site 14-001
170.8750 - Site 2-001
170.9125 - Site 3-001
171.2750 - Site 2-001
171.5375
171.6250 - Site 7-001
171.7750 - Site 4-001
171.9875 - Site 11-001
172.0125 - Site 12-001
172.6250 - Site 5-001
172.6375 - Site 12-001
173.9000 - Site 14-001

So who does this system belong to? There is some evidence that this is the new National Capitol Region overlay of the Justice Department's Integrated Wireless Network (IWN). Although this system is utilizing a different System ID and WACN than the original IWN sites, this may be the next step to expanding the system to different regions of the country. Most of these frequencies are from the same new allocations and Justice Department allocations pool that the legacy IWN sites are using.

In the Justice Department budget requests for 2011, one of the major goals of the IWN is listed as,
"... the first Region 1 IWN implementation is scheduled to go live (e.g., receive authority to operate and begin transition of users to the new system) in the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C. and proximate areas), in late 2010."

The document this quote came from is available here:
http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011justification/pdf/fy11-lewc-justification.pdf

More information as it becomes available.

VHF Trunking in Northern Virginia?

I just spotted a post over on Radio Reference that someone is hearing "P25 control channels" on multiple VHF federal frequencies. No system ID, site ID, WACN or NAC information accompanied the frequencies that were posted.

Here are the frequencies that were posted:
168.8250
170.8625
170.9125
171.5375
171.6250
171.9875
172.6375
173.9000

I'd love to get some additional information from someone else that hears these so we can try to determine what they are. Many of these frequencies are being used in the federal Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) VHF trunked system in operation in Oregon and Washington. This possibly could be an expansion of the IWN sites in the DC area, but more information is needed.

Gifford-Pinchot National Forest

I recently spent some time near the Gifford-Pinchot NF Headquarters in Vancouver, WA. Us locals have been trying to piece together some of the new P-25 frequencies that have been heard recently. While I was there I searched for VHF or UHF frequencies coming from the tower there. Here is what I found active during my time near the tower:

406.3875 MHz, 136.5 PL
406.5750 MHz
408.5750 MHz
408.9875 MHz, N788
415.3875 MHz, 114.8 PL
415.4250 MHz, 162.2 PL
415.5250 MHz, N4F9
415.5750 MHz, N4CE
415.5750 MHz, N459
417.9875 MHz, N68F
418.1875 MHz, N47C
419.7875 MHz, N4F9

During the afternoon weather forecast broadcast, multiple channels were all transmitting at the same time. I did not find any active VHF transmissions from the tower while I was there. The frequency 415.5750 MHz showed two different NAC's, probably depending on something like what site they were controlling. Others have noted that the analog link frequencies sometimes have different CTCSS tones also.

We are still trying to figure out what VHF repeaters are associated with what UHF links. The work continues...

408.1875 MHz in Las Vegas?

On my last couple of trips to the Las Vegas area have found 408.1875 MHz keyed up continuously with no voice. The P-25 channel is showing a NAC of N001.

The frequency is listed as part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) UHF trunked system used through out southern Nevada by multiple agencies, including Nellis AFB.

Anyone know why this is keyed up all the time?

NGC 'Border Wars'

For those who have not seen it yet, I can highly recommend the National Geographic Channel's "Border Wars", airing on Wednesday nights.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/border-wars/all/Overview?sicontent=0&sicreative=5276946532&siclientid=804&sitrackingid=162443759&source=banner_semgngc_144

This is the second season of the program, which follows the front line activities of the Customs & Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security. Last season focused on CBP activity along the Arizona-Mexico border. This season has been located along the southern Texas - Mexico border along the Rio Grande.

DHS CBP Officers to Operate in France

I have previously asked about US CBP officers operating in Canadian pre-clearance areas, but now it appears they are being sent to France to help advise on potential high-risk passengers:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100902/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_us_airport_security

NASA GRIP Experiment

The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment is being conducted by NASA using various aircraft and flying missions surrounding Hurricane Alex:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/missions/grip/main/index.html



South Florida monitors report that a NASA DC-8 is staging out of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) for these missions.

In additon to the DC-8 aircraft, the NASA operated Global Hawk departed Edwards AFB to rendezvous with Hurricane Earl in the Atlantic Ocean.

Still awaiting any reports from listeners of NASA GRIP related communications.

UPDATE: Here is a link to the flight track of the NASA Global Hawk aircraft:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA872/history/20100901/2030Z/KEDW/KEDW

ARINC delivers new Huey II helicopters for CBP

According to this article, DHS CBP has taken delivery of 3 new helicopters for its Office of Air & Marine:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/21300?c=border_security

At one time the CBP air force was operated under the name Air & Marine Division. Then it appered to be reduced to simply CBP Air and Marine, but is being referred to as the CBP Office of Air & Marine (OAM). According to the writers of this article, the CBP Office of Air and Marine operates more than 260 aircraft of various types and nearly 200 maritime vessels from 80 sites around the country

The helicopters were upgraded and delivered by ARINC. ARINC Inc.provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government agenices. Many scanner listeners will recognize ARINC as a provider of voice and data communciaions systems for commercial airlines.