NCAA Final Four Houston

From the looks of the on-line posting, the Final Four games in Houston this past weekend were loaded with local and federal radio action. As I posted, a lot of federal law enforcement activities were planned for the weekend of the Final Four games, called by some as "Super Bowl levels" of federal planning.

The folks in and around Houston did a nice job of keeping the scanners going and even posted what they heard in a wiki article on Radio Reference:

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/NCAA_Final_Four_2011

One interesting item that was noted during all the activities was some clear traffic that referenced some Department of Energy personnel involved with federal activities, possible monitoring for radiation levels. There was some activity noted on 171.2000 MHz, analog, and that is a nationwide DoE allocation. I did not see anything noted, but would not be surprised if there was some Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) activity during the weekend as well...

Justice Department "25 Cities Project"

I've written about the DoJ "25 Cities" federal interoperability project in several Fed Files columns, but thought I would post some information here as well.

Some information on the “25 Cities Project” is available on the Internet, but much of it has not been updated in years, and may not reflect the actually current project status:

http://www.npstc.org/documents/commtech/CommTech%20Presentation%2025%20Cities.pdf

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/wirelesscomm_ritter.pdf

http://www.search.org/conferences/2006interop/DOJ%2025%20Cities%20Fact%20Sheets.pdf

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=1518

Web pages and documents available on line now do not have any frequency information available in them, but confirmation from local monitoring and some have verified frequencies for these DOJ radio systems. Here is a rundown of the cities involved in the “25 Cities” project, and what the known radio systems are. Unless noted with a CTCSS tone squelch value, all these repeaters are using P-25 digital mode with a P-25 Network Access Code or NAC of N653.

ATLANTA, GA

“ATL FIO” 170.4750 MHz

BALTIMORE, MD

“BAL FIO” 170.6625 MHz

BOSTON, MA – UPDATE!

Reports from local listeners in the Boston area have reported that the “Boston FIO” channel has had very little use in recent times. The frequency was derived from a US Coast Guard channel used for natural gas terminal operations, but since the Coast Guard has started using the new P-25 “CG NET” channels, traffic on this frequency has pretty much dried up.

“BOS FIO” 165.3250 MHz

“BAPERN FIO” 167.4375 MHz, 167.9 pl–patch to BAPERN 470.7875

“BPD FIO” 158.9100 MHz

CHARLOTTE, NC

Federal agencies in the Charlotte region have access to the large Charlotte-Mecklenburgh County trunked radio system. A cache of portable 800 MHz trunked radios is provided to agencies such as DHS CBP & ICE, DEA, US Marshals Service, the Secret Service and the North Carolina Air National Guard.

CHICAGO, IL

“CG CMD C” 171.6875 MHz (CHICAGO COMMAND CENTRAL)

“CG CMD N” 170.8125 MHz (CHICAGO COMMAND NORTH)

“CG CMD S” 171.4375 MHz (CHICAGO COMMAND SOUTH)

“CG TAC C” 172.2125 MHz (CHICAGO TACTICAL CENTRAL)

“CG TAC N” 168.8875 MHz (CHICAGO TACTICAL NORTH)

“CG TAC S” 168.9125 MHz (CHICAGO TACTICAL SOUTH)

DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX

“DFW EAST” 170.7250 MHz

“DFW WEST” 171.4375 MHz

DENVER, CO – UPDATE!

Originally the project described the Denver Metro area as being served by a pool of 800 MHz trunked radios programmed to operate on local public safety trunked systems. It now appears that the 25 Cities Project has opted to install 5 VHF P-25 repeaters located around the Denver metro area.

“DEN IO N” 170.6625 MHz (DENVER NORTH)

“DEN IO E” 171.9875 MHz (DENVER EAST)

“DEN IO C” 171.4375 MHz (DENVER CENTRAL)

“DEN IO S” 172.1875 MHz (DENVER SOUTH)

“DEN IO W” 167.2625 MHz (DENVER WEST)

DETROIT, MI - UPDATE!

In the first version of the 25 Cities Project, federal interoperability in both the Detroit area and Michigan statewide was supported through the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS). However, new information indicates that Detroit will also be getting a stand-alone VHF repeater for federal interoperability communications.

“DET FIO” 170.5625 MHz

NORFOLK/ HAMPTON ROADS, VA

The Hampton Roads/Norfolk metropolitan area is using a single VHF repeater for federal interop use. Listeners have reported both clear and encrypted traffic on this channel, as well as weekly check-ins between the various agencies utilizing this system.

“HRN FIO” 165.7000 MHz

HONOLULU, HI – UPDATE!

In addition to having access to the local public-safety radio systems, federal agencies in Honolulu have several VHF repeaters for federal interoperability. The “LE-4” repeater is part of the NTIA nationwide interoperability channels available to both federal and non-federal agencies.

“HNL FIO” 170.6250 MHz

“HNL FIO 2” 168.9875 MHz

“LE-4” 168.1125 MHz, N68F

“HNL FIRE” 154.280 MHz, D364

HOUSTON, TX

Two VHF repeaters in the Houston area are now available for federal agency interoperability. These frequencies have also been referred to by FBI units as “L1” and “L2”, which are the channel numbers in the FBI radios that were originally testing these repeaters. The channel names are short for COMMAND and PATCH.

“HOU CMD” 170.7250 MHz

“HOU PAT” 171.4375 MHz

JACKSONVILLE, FL

A single VHF repeater serves the Jacksonville area federal interoperability needs. This repeater can be patched to other area pubic safety radio systems if needed. The US Navy facilities in Jacksonville and Mayport have control stations that access this repeater.

“JAX FIO” 171.4375 MHz

LOS ANGELES, CA – UPDATE!

Two standalone VHF P-25 repeaters in the Los Angeles area service the 25 Cities Project:

“LA FIO 1” 163.1000 MHz

“LA FIO 2” 172.4125 MHz

In addition to these federal repeaters, the Los Angeles Regional Tactical Communications System (LARTCS) has been providing interoperability between federal, state and local agencies. The federal “25 Cities” frequencies listed above do not appear to be part of the LARTCS. Here is a rundown of the LARTCS frequencies that can be patched together:

California National Guard 036.5000 MHz

HEAR 155.3400 MHz

NALEMARS 155.4750 MHz, 156.7 PL

Coast Guard Channel 23A 157.1750 MHz

LA INTEROP D 159.0300 MHz

LA INTEROP C 159.1800 MHz

Federal UHF I/O 406.8000 MHz, 156.7 PL

LACSO MA-1 483.5875 MHz, 186.2 PL

LACSO MA-2 484.0875 MHz, 186.2 PL

LACSO MA-3 483.7875 MHz, 186.2 PL

LACSO MA-4 484.1375 MHz, 186.2 PL

LACSO MA-5 484.0625 MHz, 186.2 PL

I-CALL 866.0125 MHz, 156.7 PL

CLEMARS 8 868.5125 MHz, 156.7 PL

MIAMI, FL

“MIA FIO” 171.4375 MHz

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – UPDATE!

The original rundown of cities for the 25 Cities Project did not include the Minneapolis / St. Paul Metro area. Since then, the Twin Cities have apparently been elevated to be among the 25 “high-risk” cities (Sharp Fed Files readers will note that this brings the total number of cities to 26!). Both of these repeaters were heard on the air during the Republican Convention in late 2008:

“FEDCOM MP” 170.6250 MHz

“FEDCOM SP” 171.6125 MHz

NEW ORLEANS, LA

“NOLA FIO” 171.4375 MHz

NEW YORK CITY, NY – UPDATE!

The Big Apple has three repeaters available as a federal interoperability system. The VHF repeaters are using P-25 digital and the UHF repeater is analog. Also, I was recently advised of another VHF P-25 channel that might be linked to these. The frequency 173.8625 MHz, N653 was heard active, but unknown if this is a permanent part of the NYC Federal Interoperability nets.

“NYC FIO” 167.7875 MHz

“NYC FIO2” 171.1750 MHz

“NYC FIO” 414.7500 MHz, 82.5 PL

PHILADELPHIA, PA

“PH FIO” 171.4375 MHz

PHOENIX, AZ

Federal interoperability communications in Phoenix can use multiple radio systems. One is the Inter-Agency Radio System, or IARS. This is a series of VHF and UHF repeaters tied together to link agencies with dissimilar radio bands. Federal agencies also have radio consoles and portable radios on the Phoenix Regional Wireless Network (PWRN) and the Mesa Trunked Open Arizona Network (TOPAZ).

PORTLAND, OR

Federal agencies operating in the Portland area have access to the local 800 MHz public safety trunking systems. There are talk groups allocated for the various agencies sue, as well as control stations and radios available. The federal IWN trunked system is operational in and around the Portland metro area and there is some interconnection available between the IWN P-25 trunked system and the Portland area 800 MHz radio systems.

SAN DIEGO, CA

San Diego area federal agencies can make use of the San Diego City and County 800 MHz trunked systems with control station and portable radio access. Communications dispatchers also have the ability to patch from their trunked systems to some federal “mutual aid” or “multi-agency” channels. These channels are not directly related to the “25 Cities Project”, but are part of the DHS Border Patrol P-25 network throughout southern California. Listeners have reported patches between these federal frequencies and other agencies:

“MA-4 SP” 166.9125 MHz, N245

“MA-4 PM” 167.3750 MHz, N249

“MA-4 DM” 167.5250 MHz, N247

“MA-4 MCC” 167.7250 MHz, N244

“MA-4 CP” 170.8375 MHz, N248

“MA-1 CP” 171.1750 MHz, N362

“MA-1 PM” 172.2875 MHz, N363

“MA-1 SP” 172.4500 MHz, N148

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – UPDATE!

The Bay Area recently received some upgrades to their federal interoperability system. There now appear to be 2 VHF and 2 UHF federal repeaters in both analog and P-25 digital:

“SF FED-V” 171.6127 MHz

“SF FED-U” 410.4125 MHz

“SF MA V-A” 168.7625 MHz, 167.9 pl

“SF MA U-A” 409.0125 MHz, 167.9 pl

In addition to these federal repeaters, the interoperability system includes these state and nationwide public safety channels:

“CELMARS 7” / “LLAW” 045.8600 MHz, 156.7 pl

“SF MA T-A” 483.1375 MHz, 156.7 pl

“8TAC94” 851.0125 MHz, 156.7 pl / 866.0125 MHz, 156.7 pl

SEATTLE, WA

The Seattle / Tacoma, WA metropolitan areas are served with several large 800 MHz trunked radio systems. Federal interoperability in these cities relies on control stations and portable radios that can access these trunked systems. It also involves patches to these systems as well as the federal IWN trunked system.

ST.LOUIS, MO

“STL CALL” 171.4375 MHz

“STL TAC” 171.6875 MHz

TAMPA, FL

“TAM FIO” 171.6875 MHz

WASHINGTON, DC

“DCIO 1” 159.1500 MHz, MPD Citywide Patch

“DCIO 2” 168.8750 MHz

In addition to the above interoperability channels, there were plans for three additional repeaters, but they do not appear to be on the air at the time I compiled this list. Can anyone in the DC area confirm any activity on these frequencies?

“DCIO 2 N” 173.7500 MHz

“DCIO 2 S” 168.0875 MHz

“DCIO 2 W” 166.7875 MHz

Upcoming Final Four in Houston

A recent article from the Houston Chronicle talks about expected security plans for the NCAA Final Four events:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkc/men/7488677.html

Although it mentions that the security operations will be of "Super Bowl proportions", the NCAA events in Houston do not appear to be declared a National Security Special Event, as Super Bowls and other large pubic events have been.

According to the article, multiple federal agencies will be assisting state and local law enforcement with security, so start searching for activity. The game is scheduled for the first week in April, 2011.

Securing Presidential Communicnations - SCIF

Here's an interesting story from the BBC concerning how they secure Presidential communications while traveling the world with a portable Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF);

Barack Obama's top secret tent

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12810675

Integrated Wireless Network Faces Cancelation

Once again, the future of the Justice Department's Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) is in doubt due to proposed budget cuts:

http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/dojs-iwn-faces-cancelation/2011-02-28

The linked article also contains a link to this interesting IWN document, containing some additional details of the proposed system layout and the new sites around the National Capitol Region;

http://assets.fiercemarkets.com/public/sites/govit/iwnreport.pdf

POTUS Visit to Portland

On February 18th, President Obama made a visit to the Portland, Oregon area, specifically the Intel Ronler Acres campus near Hillsboro Stadium. I was unable to be in town when the visit occurred, but was able to catch some traffic from the Advance Teams in the days prior to the visit. I was also able to spot the motorcade rehearsing the routes out of Portland International Airport on the day before the POTUS arrival.

Here is what was active:

164.6500, N001 - USSS TANGO
164.8875, N001 - USSS OSCAR
165.3750, N001 - USSS CHARLIE
166.5125, N001 - WHCA ALPHA
167.0375, N001 - USSS Executive Protection Detail *

In the past I have received many emails complaining that when the President or other dignitaries visited the areas that they never heard anything on the usual Secret Service channels. As I have explained in past Fed Files columns, the Secret Service tends to set up low power and simplex radio systems in areas that are needed rather than try and cover large areas with temporary repeaters.

* - Thanks to all that emailed me information on the "name" of this channel and 167.0125 MHz. The opinion seems to be that 167.0125 MHz is the Vice Presidential Protection Detail, and 167.0375 MHz is the Presidential Protection Detail., called VPPD and PPD. However, I have heard both frequencies used at events/situations where neither the P or VP are in the field, so they do get used for other things, apparently...

DHS to Launch Harris Multiband Radio Pilot in Phoenix, AZ

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate will launch a 30-day pilot of Harris multiband radios in the Phoenix area, starting Feb. 23rd. More information can be found here:

http://radioresourcemag.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=6696

NIFOG Version 1.4 Now Available

The latest version of the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) is now available from the Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.dhs.gov/files/publications/gc_1297699887997.shtm

Version 1.4 is now the most up to date version, with some additional information added. Get it while it's still available for download!

More New DEA UHF P-25

More new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) P-25 channels are being reported active along the Gulf Coast area. Most of the new channels appear to be active in and around the Houston area, but now I'm seeing reports along the Gulf from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle of new active frequencies.

During my recent visit to Arlington for the Super Bowl, the DEA still appears to be using the old UHF channel plan and are still analog.

Still looking for some P-25 repeaters using the 418.750/409.750 frequencies, which I haven't heard of yet.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the new activity:

409.6250 MHz, N156 - Possible new F1
409.6750 MHz, N156 - Possible new F6
409.8125 MHz, N156
409.8250 MHz, N156 - Possible new F7
409.9000 MHz, N156 - Possible new F9
409.9500 MHz, N156 - Repeater
410.4125 MHz, N156 - Repeater/simplex
411.1750 MHz, N156 - Simplex
412.2000 MHz, N156 - Simplex
413.9750 MHz, N156 - Simplex
414.2000 MHz, N156 - Simplex, possible new F5
414.4500 MHz, N156 - Simplex
418.3250 MHz, N156 - Simplex or possible input to 409.3250 repeater (not heard)
418.6250 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.6250 repeater
418.6750 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.6750 repeater
418.8125 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.8125 repeater
418.8250 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.8250 repeater
418.9000 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.9000 repeater
418.9500 MHz, N156 - Input to 409.9500 repeater

Inside the Secret Service

An interesting article in The Atlantic Magazine about the US Secret Service. Several communications issues discussed, so it's well worth the read:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/03/inside-the-secret-service/8390/

163.2125 MHz

While up on Rocky Butte in Portland, Oregon on Friday, I picked up 163.2125 MHz, N100 conventional P-25 traffic. All encrypted so I don't know who is using this. I noted that I had heard this and 163.6375 MHz active in December of 2006 here in Portland as well.

The frequency is a newer allocation, so I don't have any history on it. It has also been heard active with the same NAC of 100 in Southern California and Washington DC.

Ao anyone hearing 163.2125 MHz active near you?

CBP Provides Air Support over Super Bowl XLV

Nice video presentation highlighting the CBP Office of Air and Marine participation in covering Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas last week:

http://nemo.cbp.gov/opa/videos/2011/spbl_xlv.wmv

I was outside the stadium while these shots of the Blackhawk helicopter orbiting the stadium were shot and should have some ground level stills in an upcoming Fed Files column.

TSA Halts Screening Partnership Program

The TSA has decided to halt the expansion of the Screening Partnership Program, which allowed airports to choose private security screeners in place of the TSA screeners:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/01/29/tsa.private/index.html?hpt=T2

There are currently 16 US airports that have opted out of using TSA security screeners. They are:

• San Francisco International Airport (KSFO)
• Kansas City International Airport (KMCI)
• Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC)
• Sioux Falls Regional Airport (KFSD)
• Jackson Hole Airport (KJAC)
• Tupelo Regional Airport (KTUP)
• Key West International Airport (KEYW)
• Charles M. Schultz-Sonoma County Airport (KSTS)
• Roswell Industrial Air Center (KROW)
• Frank Wiley Field (KMLS)
• Sidney Richland Regional (KSDY)
• Dawson Community (KGDV)
• L.M. Clayton (KOLF)
• Wokal Field (KGGW)
• Havre City County (KHVR)
• Lewiston Municipal (KLWS)

The March edition of Monitoring Times Fed Files column will contain additional details of the TSA communications.

Super Bowl XLV Update

Haven't had much time to update the blog, but things are starting to get busy here in Arlington. Some radio systems checks have been heard, as well as some military units checking communications.

Things will be getting busier as the big game day approaches. Hopefully I will have some time to play with the scanners!

US Forest Service Radio Purchase

The US Department of Agriculture / US Forest Service has purchased a large number of P25 radios from RELM Wireless Corp:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/relm-wireless-receives-15-million-order-from-us-department-of-agriculture-forest-service-112930354.html

As I have mentioned in some of the recent Fed Files columns, the US Forest Service has began to upgrade system infrastructure in US Forests near me for P25 operation. Some USFS systems in other areas have been operating in P-25 digital already.

Super Bowl XLV

Things are starting to ramp up for federal activity related to Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas this February. There were rumors of the possible installation of some sites of the federal IWN (Integrated Wireless Network) in the Dallas Metroplex prior to Super Bowl. However it appears that money and time issues got the best of the proposal.

170.6250 MHz, N167 and 170.9375 MHz, N167 have both been noted as "new" frequencies for the area. They very well may be additions to the are for the Super Bowl, but will remain in place after the big game is over. Also, there have been reports of activity on 171.4375 MHz, a nationwide federal interoperability channel. 170.6625 MHz, N167 had been noted before the new year in Dallas, also a new channel for the area.

I will try to provide updates prior to the big game, and a complete wrap-up will appear in the May 2011 Fed Files column in Monitoring Times magazine.

DEA Updates

Some additional information has surfaced about the new UHF federal frequencies used by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As we have previously reported in the Fed Files blog, the DEA will be re-channeling their UHF frequencies and have started using these new frequencies in Texas and other southern US areas.

The frequency of 409.8250 MHz, N156 has been heard from the Houston area, but reports were that it is most likely a repeater in the outlying areas and not in Houston. 409.9000 MHz, N156 has been confirmed as a repeater, referred to as "Channel 9" on the west side of Houston.

Also, New Orleans now has a new P-25 DEA repeater on 409.6250 MHz, N156. This is the first confirmation of the new DEA channels being used outside of Texas.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the Fed Files! Once again I was working at Times Square in New York City on New Years Eve helping broadcast the event. I had some time to scan and got a few hits on federal frequencies. Some were most likely normal New York City area frequencies, but a few were new. Here is a quick look at what I was able to log. Most of the communications were encrypted, but a few bits and pieces were in the clear. Quite a few radio checks were heard on the 167.7875 MHz Federal Interoperability repeater.


162.0250 MHz
162.3375 MHz
162.7375 MHz, N167
164.4000 MHz, N001 - USSS PAPA
164.7750 MHz, N167*
165.2375 MHz, N310 - CBP
165.9250 MHz, N167* Used at All Star Game simplex
167.4625 MHz, N207
167.7875 MHz, N652 - NYC Federal Interop VHF
167.7875 MHz, N94C
168.2250 MHz, N167 - NYC FBI G1/G2
168.3000 MHz, N167 - NYC FBI H3/H4
168.8250 MHz, N167 - NYC FBI H1
169.7250 MHz, N864*
170.3750 MHz, N167*
170.4250 MHz, N167 - FBI G3/G4
170.6250 MHz, N167
170.6250 MHz, N730
170.9000 MHz, N167
171.1750 MHz, N653 - Perhaps the input to 167.7875 MHz repeater?
171.2000 MHz, N293
171.5500 MHz, N167*
171.6875 MHz, N9C5 - DHS ICE Network
171.7250 MHz, N159
172.6625 MHz, N615
173.6625 MHz, N167 - NYC FBI A1

The frequencies noted with an asterisk were heard last year in Times Square as well. I'm not sure if these are normal NYC area FBI frequencies or not. Perhaps some local listeners can confirm these. But things were definitely hopping this New Years.

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the Fed Files and Monitoring Times readers out there!

Another New DEA P-25 Frequency Found

Listeners in the Houston, Texas region have reported finding another active P-25 frequency that is most likely a new DEA channel.

410.4125 MHz, N156 has been heard active and at this time is presumed to be a repeater in the downtown Houston area. All comms so far on this channel have been reported as being encrypted.

This appears to be part of the move by the DEA to follow the new 9 MHz repeater offset in the federal UHF band. In theory, the input frequency to this repeater should be 419.4125 MHz, but that has not been confirmed yet.

I also forgot to post a previously heard simplex channel, 414.4500 MHz, N156. Also being reported in the Houston area.

Not sure why Houston seems to be the area chosen for the rollout of the new P-25 frequencies, while most of the rest of the country appears to still using the standard UHF channels.