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.