Effingham County ARES Mini Field Day, 26 January 2008

Effingham County ARES (ECARES) held a mini field day this past Saturday and the R.B. Park in Springfield, GA. Despite the cold temperatures, I thoroughly enjoyed my short time there (I stopped by a for a couple of hours on my way to work). Todd, NT6H and crew had a nice setup with two HF radios and an Echolink station. Wire antennas such as simple dipoles and a G5RV were in use as was a portable QRP antenna (clamped to a metal grill in a field expedient fashion). The event seemed to make for a good training exercise. Experience was gained working with the equipment in less than ideal weather and conditions. An antenna problem came up that was methodically worked through, providing practical experience in troubleshooting. Doug, KF4EFP was on hand and cooked up a great pot of chili, which helped keep us all warm in the misty, mid-40's weather conditions.

I hope they have another one of these next year. The bands were less congested because it wasn't Field Day, so I think I would have enjoyed working the radios more. I really don't enjoy the congested noise mess that the bands become on Field Day.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

MedStar Ambluance Service on the Chatham-Effingham TRS

MedStar's talkgroups on the Chatham-Effingham County TRS have become more clear since I first started hearing them a few weeks ago. They are utilizing two Dispatch channels, a Non-Emergency Transport channel, and an Admin channel. Additionally, there is a fifth talkgroup that may be assigned to MedStar although I haven't heard anything other than some "ker-chunks" on it yet. All ID's below are based on monitoring usage of the channels and when heard how the channel was referred to by users.

TG 7920 - MedStar Dispatch 1
TG 7952 - MedStar?
TG 7984 - MedStar Non Emergency Transport (NET)
TG 8016 - MedStar Dispatch 2
TG 12944 - MedStar Admin (Digital)

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Communications Training at the Savannah CRTC

I saw several recent television news reports on a new communications training facility at the Savannah CRTC, but there wasn't much information on just what type of communications training would be taking place. This morning, the Savannah Morning News ran a very informative article on the new training facility:

http://savannahnow.com/node/438343

The new building houses the Theatre Deployable Communications Training Center, where active duty, reserve, and guard personnel will be trained on how to set up various types of communications networks in the field. Classroom training will be followed by practical training in actually setting up the networks.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

MLK Jr. and St. Pat's Parades: A Commentary

I normally stay away from social commentary, but two things that are obliquely radio related got under my skin this week. I listen to Savannah's Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and St. Patrick's Day Parade every year on the scanners, mostly listening to public safety coordination of the events. Happenings around the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and controversy surrounding the St. Patrick's Day Parade are what prompted this commentary.

While listening to SCMPD operations on and around the parade route Monday morning, it was saddening to hear the police working fights and other criminal activity right along the parade route. It's a shame that on a day set aside to honor a man who preached and practiced non-violence that ignorant teenagers instead decided to fight and steal alongside the parade in his honor. I honestly hope that the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade does not become what the St. Patrick's Day Parade has become: nothing more than an excuse for partying and boorish behavior.

Note: This was the first parade since SCMPD went to digital talkgroups, SCMPD was using B10 (TG 54112) for parade operations.

Later in the week, the St. Patrick's Committee decided to reject the application of FDNY firefighters wishing to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. For several years, the FDNY marchers (not the Pipe and Drum Band) have ignored rules regarding drinking while marching and throwing beads into the crowds. I have seen them throwing beads during TV coverage and I seem to recall seeing one of the firefighters with a six pack under his arm either last year or the year before. They were asked several years running to abide by the rules. They did not, therefore the Parade Committee had to make a decision. It was certainly an unpopular one in some circles, but in my opinion the right one to make. My only concern is that they consider applying that same line of thinking to some of the families marching in the parade; while they may not throw beads, some are certainly drinking as they march. It's not water they're drinking out of some of those cups... It is not hard to notice that some are sloshed by the time the parade is over, if not before; if you are going to apply the rules, apply them fairly and equally.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 01-13 January 2008

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
309.000 - PMSV
126.200 - Base Ops
77.725 - 224 MI Bn Ops
123.475 - 224 MI Bn Air-to-Air
38.150 - B-169 AVN Ops
345.000 - USCG Air Sta Savannah Ops
157.175 - Marine VHF 83, Air Sta Maintenance
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert

ARMY 03746 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26367 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 00295 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6561 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
TESTHOOK ## (CH-47D, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6503 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COBB 28 (C-130, 94 AW)
GUARD 26340
GUARD 26620 (UH-60L)
LOCKHEED 99 (C-5M)
PABLO 0# (A-10, 23rd Wing)
VDA 4625 (AN-124, Volga-Dnepr)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
225.750 - 165 AW CP
225.050 - 165 AW

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165 AW)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.625 - Marne Radio


MCAS Beaufort
118.450 - Approach/Departure
301.200 - Approach/Departure
119.050 - Tower
340.200 - Tower
281.800 - Base Ops
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
269.700 - VMFA-122 Tac 3
305.800 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)


Shaw AFB
252.100 - SOF
140.350 - SOF
342.500 - PMSV
311.200 - 55th FS "SHOOTER OPS"
141.900 - 55th FS V8
139.750 - 55th FS V10
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
143.800 - 77th FS V8
141.750 - 77th FS V9
138.950 - 77th FS V10?
320.525 - 79th FS :"TIGER OPS"
138.150 - 79th FS V8

CONAN (F-16CJ, 55th FS)
HYDRA (F-16CJ, 55th FS)
DECK (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
GAMBLER (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
LUCID (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
NAIL (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
SLOT (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
GUNDOG (F-16CJ, 79th FS)


McEntire ANGB
298.300 169 FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 169 FW V14
143.625 169 FW V15
143.250 169 FW V16
141.925 169 FW V17
149.625 169 FW Air-to-Air

MACE ## (F-16CJ, 169 FW)
VIPER ## (F-16CJ, 169 FW)
DEMON ## (F-16CJ, 169 FW)


125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - Jacksonville Approach/Departure
251.250 - 125th FW FANG OPS
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

FANG (F-15, 125 FW)
SNAKE (F-15, 125 FW)
VENOM (F-15, 125 FW)


Robins AFB
372.200 - Dispatch
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"

PEACH 3# (E-8C, 330 CTS front end)
DANDA 97 (C-17, 62 AW)


Charleston AFB
306.925 - Approach/Departure
134.100 - PALMETTO OPS
349.400 - PALMETTO OPS
344.600 - PMSV

GRITS ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
REACH 805S (C-17, 437th/315th AW)


Ranges/MOAs
228.400 - Townsend Range/Coastal MOA
343.750 - Bulldog MOA


SEALORD (W-157/158)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
133.950 - South Primary
267.500 - South Primary
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
341.100 - Sealord Discrete


DOUBLESHOT (W-161/177)
127.725 - Primary
279.725 - Primary
258.400 - Discrete
381.350 - Discrete
283.900 - AR-601


Miscellaneous
143.150 - 23rd Wing Air-to-Air
143.725 - 23rd Wing Air-to-Air
228.225 - 71st RQS "ANGEL OPS"
234.600 - NORAD Discrete
285.000 - USN TSC Jacksonville "FIDDLE"
288.400 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
321.000 - KING OPS, Patrick AFB
328.550 - VMFA-142 Tac 1

ANIMAL ## (A-10, 23rd Wing)
DEECEE 5# (KC-135, 459 ARW)
GATOR ## (F/A-18A, VMFA-142)
KILLER ## (A-10, 23rd Wing)
KING 24 (HC-130, Patrick AFB)
RANGER 19 (KC-130, VMGR-234)
RED TALON 7## (P-3C, VP-16)
SCUD 2# (F-15E, 4th FW)


ARTCC
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross low
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
273.600 - Atlanta Center Macon
323,000 - Atlanta Center Macon
322.400 - Jacksonville Approach/Departure


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

4th Cavalry Brigade Talkgroup Assignments

I have been using the ID Tracker and BC796D combination to track the 4th Cavalry Brigade activity on the Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF TRS much as I have been using it to figure out the new MedStar activity on the Chatham-Effingham TRS. It has been an invaluable tool because it allows me to run it unattended while it matches audio to talkgroup IDs. I have been able to sit down the last few mornings and afternoons and match ID Tracker's data and audio to my own scribbled notes from mobile monitoring.

As a result, I have been able to identify a few more 4th Cavalry Brigade talkgroup assignments. My listing of identified 4th Cav Bde assignments are:

TG 6992 = 4th Cav Bde "SABER NET"
TG 7184 = 4th Cav Bde Net (possibly Fires Net)
TG 8240 = 1-409 CAV, RENEGADE Net
TG 8272 = 1-410 MLRS, RAIDER Net
TG 8432 = 3-410 EN, THUNDER Net
TG 8464 = 3-337 CS/CSS, WOLVERINE Net
TG 8528 = 1-411 LSB, BLACKJACK Net
TG 4432 = unknown unit designator, BUSHMASTER Net

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

MedStar Admin Talkgroup

ID Tracker, running on the BC796, turned up another new MedStar talkgroup yesterday.

TG 12944 is another talkgroup that showed up at the same time as 7920 and 7984. After not running ID Tracker for a few days, I set it up to track and record audio from unidentified talkgroups. It recorded almost 10 minutes of audio from 12944, revealing it to be MedStar's Admin channel. Unlike the other new MedStar talkgroups, 12944 is a digital talkgroup. Based on yesterday's recording, the users are mostly MedStar supervisors rather than MedStar EMS units.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

4th Cavalry Brigade at Fort Stewart

On 08 January 2008, Larry Van Horn, on his Monitoring Times MilCom blog, posted the following report about the 76th Brigade Combat Team, IN ARNG deploying to Fort Stewart for training:

http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2008/01/guards-76th-brigade-mobilizes-for-iraq.html

The 76th BCT is indeed at Fort Stewart training. Another unit, the 4th Cavalry Brigade, has deployed to Fort Stewart to train the 76th BCT. The 4th Cavalry Brigade is a unit dedicated to training other units to deploy to combat areas. They are normally based at Fort Knox, but have deployed to Fort Stewart to conduct the 76th BCT's training.

I have not been able to monitor any of the 76th BCT's traffic. I have been able to monitor some of the 4th Cavalry's training coordination communications on the Fort Stewart Trunked Repeater System. There has been no tactical communication to monitor, but there has been interesting coordination traffic.

I have been able to determine callsigns for most of the 4th Cavalry Brigade units:

SABER = 4th Cav Bde
BLACKJACK = 1-411 LSB
BUSHMASTER = unknown, apparently recently joined Bde
RAIDER = 1-410 MLRS
REDLEG = 2-410 FA
STALKER = 2-340 CS/CSS
THUNDER = 3-410 EN
WOLVERINE = 3-337 CS/CSS

Listed below are some of the Fort Stewart TRS talkgroups being used by the 4th Cavalry Brigade to coordinate training operations. Keep in mind that these talkgroups may not be used for the same purpose at Fort Stewart in the future; they are in temporary use by the 4th Cavalry Brigade and are not permanent assignments.

TG 6992 = 4th Cavalry Brigade "SABER NET"
TG 8240 = 1-409 CAV Net
TG 8272 = 1-410 MLRS Net


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Update: MedStar on Chatham-Effingham TRS

TG 7920 is indeed MedStar dispatch based on today's monitoring. I've heard no other traffic except for MedStar dispatch and MedStar units. TG 7984 has been active with MedStar dispatch and NET 1; NET 1 seems to be a Non-Emergency Transport unit, for instance it has been transporting patients to dialysis, etc.

TG 7952 has not been heard, but based upon what has been heard on 7920 and 7984 I think it would be safe to assume that it would be a MedStar talkgroup as well. I have programmed it into my scan banks in order to find out.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

They're Back - The 125th FW Flies Again

After a long forced absence from the air due to the well publicized F-15 structural problems, F-15A's from the 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville IAP have been back in the air the last two days. I've heard SNAKE 0# flights and VENOM 0# flights as well as other flights that were probably FANG 0# flights.

234.800 - 125 FW Aux 6, probable FANG 0# flights
253.700 - 125 FW Aux 7, SNAKE 0# flights
343.000 - 125 FW Aux 9, VENOM 0# flights

After hearing the 125th day in and day out for years, not hearing them on the radios was like not hearing from a good friend. I'm glad to hear them back in the air and I look forward to listening to them sharpen their air-to-air combat skills in the skies off of the Georgia and Florida coasts.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

MedStar on the Chahtam-Effingham TRS

It seems that MedStar Ambulance Service is now using the Chatham-Effingham TRS for communications between MedStar dispatch and their ambulances. Throughout yesterday, I heard TG 7920 active with communications between MEDSTAR and MEDSTAR ## units.
If TG 7920 is indeed MedStar dispatch, it is about time that they moved onto the system with everyone else.

I first heard TG 7920 active back on 7 January; ID Tracker caught several "kerchunks" but never any voice traffic. I plan on running ID Tracker some more in order to confirm and ID on this talkgroup.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

VMFA-251 Back in the Air

Over the last couple of days, I've heard VMFA-251's F/A-18s back in the air after their recent deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. Like VFA-86, who also deployed on the Enterprise, VMFA-251 has resumed using their same Base and Tac frequencies now that they have returned to MCAS Beaufort.

313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Bulldog MOA Controversy

http://www.themillennews.com/news/2007/1226/Front_Page/006.html

While it is not mentioned by name in the article above, the Bulldog MOA is the military training airspace mentioned in the article. It seems that expansion of the Bulldog MOA airspace is not popular in Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Jenkins Counties.

There are two addresses (one for the ACC and one for the FAA) listed to send comments to on the airpsace expansion. My suspicion is that the Millen News is looking for people to write in opposing the plans, but there is on reason folks couldn't write supporting the plans either.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

VMFA-122 "Werewolves"

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/story/129343.html

VMFA-122 at MCAS Beaufort have become the "Werewolves." Previously known as the "Crusaders," they have dropped that nickname prior to going on a deployment to the Middle East out of cultural sensitivities. The Crusades have quite a negative connotation in many areas of that part of the world.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

New 93rd Wing at Moody AFB

http://newsblaze.com/story/20071208095436tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html

The USAF is standing up a new wing at Moody AFB that will consolidate command for the 3rd ASOG and 18th ASOG, which handle Tactical Air Control Party duties and the 820th Security Forces Group. The new wing will be the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing.

Interestingly enough the 93rd Wing was the JSTARS Wing at Robins AFB before it was combined with the 116th Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard to become the blended 116th Air Control Wing.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

LOCKHEED 99 Visits Hunter AAF

LOCKHEED 99, a C-5M from Lockheed at Dobbins JRB Atlanta visited Hunter AAF for fuel this afternoon after doing some testing out in W-157. I managed to get this photo as it approached Runway 28. LOCKHEED 99 used 120.950 with SEALORD while in W-157 and used 124.975, Hunter Tower and 126.200, Hunter Base Ops while at Hunter AAF.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

New Fire Department Talkgroups to Monitor

There are a couple of new Fire Department talkgroups to listen to on the Chatham-Effingham TRS now. Isle of Hope Fire Department appears to have a department channel and Pooler Fire Department has a new fireground channel.

Isle of Hope FD has been heard on Analog TG 7760. A good time to catch activity on this talkgroup is on Monday nights, which is their drill night (although I haven't heard many callsigns being used). That said, I think I've been hearing Isle of Hope FD using either 7## or 17## numbers for personnel and 7# numbers for their apparatus. If this is the case, it could be a move to fit into the numbering scheme that the westside Fire Departments are using (17## would be a good pick because there is no county Fire Department and Isle of Hope has no police department to base the FD numbers off of). I would love to hear from anyone that catches the callsigns or designators that Isle of Hope FD is using for their personnel and apparatus.

Pooler FD has been using TG 7888 for a fireground channel. I've heard their units switch there for tactical traffic as well as unit-to-unit traffic off of the Dispatch talkgroup 5424.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Moody AFB A-10s Increase Activity at Townsend Range

A-10s from the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA have become frequent visitors to Townsend Range in the last few months. The increase in A-10 activity correlates to the increasing number of A-10s that arrived at Moody from their former home base of Pope AFB. That move is now supposed to be complete, although I understand that the number of A-10s at Moody will be fluctuating due to aircraft being upgraded to A-10C standards.

Unfortunately I have not been able to ascertain which squadron the A-10s have belonged to as they have worked at Townsend, but I have begun a callsign and frequency listing for the 23rd Wing A-10s:

Callsigns:
BANZAI
BEAST
CLAW
DUDE
EASY
MUNG
NAIL
NARD
PABLO
PORK
PYTHON
SAGA
SHARK
TIGER

Air-to-Air Frequencies:
133.550
138.150
139.275
140.150
140.200
143.150
143.700
143.750


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net