30 December 2008

Echolink Update

As I mentioned yesterday, Jerry, W4SGA is running a temporary Echolink setup for the 146.700 repeater from his home. The node will be active, for the time being, when Jerry is home and able to keep an eye on things. Once it runs well for an extended period of time it will be active more often. To access it, look for W4SGA-R on Echolink.

Thanks to Jerry as well as Dan, KF4MND, Ryan, AJ4MY, and Guy, K4GTM for their work yesterday in getting things off the ground.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Second USB to Serial Interface and ID Tracker

I picked up a second USB to Serial Interface cable this morning so that I can run more than one DB9 equipped device. I've been switching the first interface back and forth between the scanners and the FT-897D. Now I can leave the first one on the FT-897D to run Ham Radio Deluxe for it and use the second to use ID Tracker and programming software with the 780's, the 796, and the portable scanners.

I blogged about this quite awhile back I think, but it's worth going back over again; ID Tracker is a great little program. You can log and record talkgroups or frequencies from various scanners, assisting in finding and IDing new talkgroups and frequencie. You can get more information on both ID Tracker and ID Tracker II here.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

29 December 2008

Echolink via 146.700 Repeater

Jerry, W4SGA, Dan, KF4MND, Guy, K4GTM, and Ryan AJ4MY have been working on getting an Echolink node up and running on the 146.700 repeater this afternoon. The equipment is located at Jerry's house; while they've been there working on the equipment I've been here assisting with signal checks, DTMF tests etc.

Earlier this afternoon, the node was successfully linked with Terry, KB5V in Tuscon, AZ. Audio checks went well and DTMF sequences to bring up and drop the link were tested successfully.

Keep an ear out for future activity. If testing goes well and the setup is approved by the Coastal Amateur Radio Society, there could be an active Echolink node in Savannah soon.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

East Ship Island QSL Card

Back in October, I worked East Ship Island in Mississippi when the Magnolia DX Association activated it. W5S activated East Ship Island as IOTA NA082, US Island MS009S, and as lighthouse USA-756. Today, the QSL card from K5S arrived in the mail; it is a very nice folding card with photos of the island and operation along with information on the Ship Islands inside:





Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

26 December 2008

Echolink

This day after Christmas, I went out and picked up a microphone headset for the computer and installed Echolink on the computer. After making some adjustments to the wireless router, I was able to get the software up and running. I connected to Dan Scott, KF4MND's node to try out and things were working good except for low transmit audio. After a bit, I found a microphone boost setting in the computer's audio settings; after turning it on Dan gave me a good audio report.

The microphone headset I bought is a Plantronics from Staples. I've tried it on the radios just as headphones and it works good as just a headset as well.

For the time being, I'm just running Echolink via the computer. Once I get a soundcard interface for the radio, I'll start running a temporary Echolink node at times. Hopefull that will develop over the next couple of months.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
Savannah, GA

21 December 2008

Boar's Nest LFE

Last week, there was a Large Force Exercise (LFE) utilizing Townsend Range and SEALORD's offshore operating areas. Some of the aircraft checking in for the exercise referred to it as "Boar's Nest." Among the participants were F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort, F-5s from VMFT-401, a B-52 from the 2nd Bomb Wing, a P-3 from VP-45, Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTACS), and the ground radar units MACS-2 and 117th Air Control Squadron. I didn't get the chance to monitor much except for Tuesday and Wednesday and there were weather issues both days. With air-to-air and air-to-ground combat aspects to the exercise, it made for very interesting monitoring.

350.675 - N. TACTS Range Discrete
-encrypted traffic
-ALLEYCAT (E-8C, 128 ACCS)
-STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16 ACCS)
-DOOM 92 (B-52, 2 BW)
-PELICAN (P-3C, VP-45)
-SPARTA 01/02 (A-10, 23 FG)
-CLETUS

228.400 - Townsend Range
-ALLEYCAT
-STRIKESTAR
-BANJO (JTAC)
-DOOM 92
-SPARTA 0#; 143.600 a2a

252.900 - Townsend Range
-DOOM 92
-SPARTA 0#
-VENOM (JTAC, 165 ASOS)

335.975
-STRIKESTAR
-DOOM 92
-BENGAL 4# (F/A-18DD, VMFA-224); 250.300 Tac 1

225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
-ALLEYCAT wkg EAGLE 01

318.300 - JSTARS Discrete?
-ALLEYCAT wkg sim assets) for tasking
-STRIKESTAR

341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
-STRIKESTAR
-PELICAN

372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
-ALLEYCAT
-STRIKESTAR
-CLETUS

364.200 - AICC
-encrypted traffic
-ALLEYCAT
-STRIKESTAR
-DOOM 92
-DEUCE (MACS-2)
-STEALTH (117 ACS)


120.950 - SEALORD North Primary
-FLASH 01 (KC-135)

284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
-TBOLT 51/52 (F/A-18C, VMFA-251); 290.000 Tac 1, 327.475 Tac 2
-TBOLT 53 (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
-BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224); 250.300 Tac 1
-SNIPER 4# (F-5, VMFT-401); 318.350 Tac

267.500 - SEALORD South Primary
-LN 452 (P-3C, VP-45)

376.900 - W-157 Discrete
-SNIPER 4#

385.300 - W-157 Discrete
-BOLT 51/52 wkg DEUCE
-BENGAL 4#
-DOOM 92

327.400 - Aerial Refueling
-TBOLT 5# AR with FLASH 01


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 01-15 December 2008

Note: 3-17 CAV's OH-58s have finally arrived and have been flying in the Hunter AAF and Fort Stewart area.

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
44.475 - FARP/Hot Refuel
54.500 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAKW OPS"
51.375 - 3-17 CAV Internal
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "ASSAULT OPS"
30.300 - 4-3 AVN
51.500 - 4-3 AVN
77.725 - 224th MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
51.050 - Helicopter Common
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops
157.175 - Marine VHF Ch. 83, Savannah Air MX Control
323.125 - Hunter AAF ATIS
127.525 - Hunter AAF ATIS (New)

ARMY 25293 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25300 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25306 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35354 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35370 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35377 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35391 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35399 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35401 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35404 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26260 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26271 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26555 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26558 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
HOOKER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24618 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24637 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24749 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 30955 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30958 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30966 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40053 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50005 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50015 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 26444 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26478 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26512 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26521 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26525 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26528 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26543 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26631 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26633 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27039 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27040 (UH_60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27065 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27066 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27068 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26410 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03747 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03761 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 252 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
COAST GUARD 6548 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6560 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6581 (HH-65C, Savannah)
NAVY JV 834 (C-40, VR-58)
PAT 802


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
121.900 - Ground
348.600 - Ground
120.400 - Approach/Departure
353.775 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
371.875 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165th AW CP
138.050 - 165th AW
225.050 - 165th AW
128.925 - Gulfstream Service Center

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165 AW)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flights)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.626 - Marne Radio
126.250 - Wright AAF Tower
269.275 - Wright AAF Tower
51.050 - Helicopter Common


MCAS Beaufort
328.425 - Approach/Departure
292.125 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
264.500 - PMSV
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
339.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
344.200 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
313.800 - VMFA(AW)-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
289.275 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 1
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
305.800 - VMFT-401 Base?
268.300 - VMFT-401 Tac
300.550 - VMFT-401 Tac
313.850 - VMFT-401 Tac

BLADE 2# (F/A-18C, VMFA-115)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18C, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
SNIPER ## (F-5, VMFT-401)


Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
372.200 - Charleston AFB PTD
340.600 - 437th/315th AW) air-to-air
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

BASCO ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
GRITS ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
IMPAC ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
LIFTR ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW
FAME ## (C-21)


Shaw AFB
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
139.975 - 77th FS air-to-air
143.800 - 77th FS air-to-air
320.525 - 79th FS Ops "TIGER OPS"
138.150 - 79th FS air-to-air
139.925 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.550 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.600 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.700 - 79th FS air-to-air
142.400 - 79th FS air-to-air

LUCID ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
POKER ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
BEAST (## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
BRONCO ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
BULL ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
DEADLY ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
JAKE ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
MADCAT ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
PROWL ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
SLASH ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
SNEAKY ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
TOPCAT ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)


McIntire JNGB
298.300 - 169th FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th FW V14
143.625 - 169th FW V15
143.250 - 169th FW V16
141.925 - 169th FW V17
149.625 - 169th FW V19

MACE ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
VIPER ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
DEMON ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
HEAT ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)


Jacksonville IAP
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
273.900 - 125th FW SOF
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
314.200 - 125th FS Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

FANG ## (F-15, 125th FW)
SNAKE ## (F-15, 125th FW)
COIL ## (F-15, 125th FW)
RATTLER ## (F-15, 125th FW)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
324.650 - JSTARS Discrete
328.050 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 3# (E-8C, 330 CTS)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA


SEALORD (USN FACSFAC Jax)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
339.700 - SEALORD Discrete
311.500 - BRISTOL Discrete
320.500 - BRISTOL Discrete
301.000 - S. TACTS Range
350.000 - S. TACTS Range
381.875 - S. TACTS Range


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


Miscellaneous
BACKY ## (KC-135, 916 ARW)
DRAGNET (E-3, 966th ACCS backend)
GRUMMAN 0# (E-2C, Grumman Test)
NAVY LN 452 (P-3C, VP-45)
PISTON ## (KC-135, 6th AMW/927th ARW)
POPS ## (A-10, 23 FG)
SENTRY 6# (E-3, 966th ACCS frontend)
WARDOG (A-10, unknown unit)

311.000 - ACC Command Post
371.350 - CRPW-11 Base
260.900 - NORAD Discrete
277.800 - USN Fleet Common
324.600 - AR-207
364.000 - Grumman Test?
142.700 - WARDOG A-10 air-to-air


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
281.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross Low
319.200 - Jax Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
370.950 - Jax Center Georgetown High
379.100 - Jax Center Charleston Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

19 December 2008

More CARS Repeater News

Yesterday brought more news on the Coastal Amateur Radio Society repeaters. First the good news: The new antenna for the 146.700 repeater is up, enhancing it's performance. This was done yesterday after the new antenna for the 442.700 repeater was installed. Now the bad news: the 147.210 repeater is off the air until further notice due to interference issues. It has apparently been contributing toward interference to other signals, so it has been turned off until those issues can be addressed.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

17 December 2008

442.700 Repeater on the Air With the New Antenna

The new antenna is on the 442.700 repeater. Dan, KF4MND was able to hit it from Long County on 5 watts from his fixed station and I was able to hit it from inside the house here in midtown Savannah with an HT.

This repeater should have an excellent coverage area now that it has a proper antenna up!

Thanks to Lowell, N4ZLJ and his crew for the work out at the tower site. From what Lowell says, the 146.700's new antenna should be up sometime tomorrow.


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

16 December 2008

Shack Reorganization

Yesterday, I reoganized the radio shack/monitoring post in an effort to clean things up a bit and fit in some new computer equipment. I bought a newer computer to run Ham Radio Deluxe and other radio related software more efficiently that how the old computer was. Everything is now working not only correctly but more quickly, helping me enjoy my radio time more.



For scanning and monitoring, there is a PRO-2005 for VHF/UHF conventional monitoring and BC796D for monitoring trunked and digital systems. For aviation and military monitoring, there is a BC895XLT for air traffic control and related frequencies, 2 BC780XLTs for military aviation frequencies (one for unit frequencies and another for operating area frequencies) and a PRO-2006 for low band FM. The two BC780XLTs and the PRO-2006 are stacked next to the LCD Monitor. Underneath the LCD monitor, from left to right are the PRO-2005, the BC796D, and the BC895XLT.


For amateur radio, there is a Yaesu FT-28oo (top) for 2 meter FM a Yaesu FT-897D (bottom)for HF/VHF/UHF multi-mode operation. I use a G5RV for an HF antenna, so the FT-897D has an LDG AT-897 tuner attached. The FT-897D also doubles as a general coverage reciever for utility and SWL monitoring. I utilize Ham Radio Deluxe for logging and occasional control of the FT-897D.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

6 Meter Sporadic E

Last night after the Southeast GA 6 Meter Ragchew Net, I caught the tail end of some 6 Meter E-skip. 6 Meters was open into the northeast US, Ontario, and Quebec; I worked VE3EN in Ontario and VE2XK in Quebec.

Michel, VE2XK mentioned that there had been a winter storm in his area yesterday morning with a lot of wind and ice that had knocked power out. It seems that his quad survived just fine as he worked several stations down here in the southeast!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

11 December 2008

Ham Radio Deluxe Fixed

As I posted earlier today, the QRZ lookup function on HRD stopped working due to QRZ's 2.o upgrade. The problem is already fixed with executable files from Ham Radio Deluxe. You can download the fixes here.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

DX Logs - 11 December 2008

I haven't had much DX lately, but I finally got some after lunch today:

CT3FT - 1655Z, 14.259 USB, 57, Cedric in Madeira Island
EA8BWW - 1744Z, 14.288 USB, 57, Damian in Canary Islands


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Problems with Ham Radio Deluxe and QRZ 2.0

There wasn't much on the scanners today with the poor weather conditions, there just wasn't much military activity to be heard. Given the lack of milcom activity, I hooked up the FT-897 and decided to play around with HF for a bit.

While logging the net stations and dx stations I worked, I found that Ham Radio Deluxe would not get the station information from the QRZ website. I went to QRZ and discovered that they have switched to their new QRZ 2.0 format. Apparently with this format, Ham Radio Deluxe is unable to access the station information. Hopefully, HRD will soon release an update to remedy the situation.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

09 December 2008

VMFT-401 "SNIPERS" at MCAS Beaufort

VMFT-401 F-5s arrived at MCAS Beaufort yesterday afternoon and worked with various F/A-18 flights from Beaufort this afternoon using their usual callsign SNIPER.

Air-to-air frequencies were 268.300, 300.550, and 313.850. Common frequencies for the air combat training with the F/A-18s was the W-157 Discrete 385.300 (376.900 and 349.800 may be used as well).

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

08 December 2008

3-17 Cav OH-58s at Hunter AAF

Earlier this year, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division swapped helicopter units. The 3rd ID swapped 3-3 AVN, now 1-10 AVN (AH-64D) for 10th Mountain's 3-17 Cav (OH-58D).

Last week, I began hearing 3-17 Cav's OH-58Ds flying in the Hunter AAF and Fort Stewart area. They have been using LIGHTHORSE ### and ARMY ##### callsigns with Hunter AAF and Marne Radio at Fort Stewart. The callsigns used so far equate to the following tail numbers:

93-0955
93-0958
95-0005
95-0015

Thanks to a local spotter for help with 93-0955 and 93-0958.

The OH-58Ds have been arranging for fuel with 2-3 AVN Ops on 54.600. Air-to-air traffic has been heard on 51.375.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Chatham County Online Scanner

A Savannah-area scanning enthusiast has put an online scanner feed up for Savannah and Chatham County:


Currently, it includes Bloomingdale, Thunderbolt, Tybee, Port Wentworth, Pooler, and Garden City Police and Fire Departments and Southside and Isle of Hope Fire Departments. Based on his post to the Scan Savannah Yahoo Group, Savannah Chatham Municipal PD will be added to the feed in the future.

Note: I am not the provider of this feed, so I do not control what is or isn't provided in the feed.


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Pearl Harbor Day

I usually attend the Fleet Reserve Association Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at the 8th Air Force Museum each Pearl Harbor Day but this year I had to work. This being my first Pearl Harbor Day with HF priveleges, I honored the day by working some of the memorial amateur radio HF special event stations on the air:

W5KID - USS Kidd Pearl Harbor Special Event
W0VFW - VFW Post 3115, Wichita, KS
NB5EQ - USS Altair Memorial Assn. Special Event

There were other special event stations on the air for Pearl Harbor Day, including several other ship stations but unfortunately many were just coming on the air as I had to get ready for work.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

07 December 2008

Skywarn Recognition Day

Saturday, 6 December 2008, was Skywarn Recognition Day. As part of SRD 2008, there were amateur radio operators at over 100 National Weather Service offices operating special event stations. Before going to work yesterday, I worked 15 of those stations:

N0W - NWS Grand Junction, CO
K0DMX - NWS Des Moines, IA
WX5NWC - NWC Norman, OK
WX3PIT - NWS Pittsburgh, PA
W5A - NWS Little Rock, AR
WX4RNK - NWS Blacksburg, VA
WX9ILX - NWS Lincoln, IL
WX4TOR - NWS Ruskin, FL
WX0GLD - NWS Goodland, KS
W9NWS - NWS Indianapolis, IN
W4P - NWS Paducah, KY
WX4NWS - NWS Louisville, KY
W0NWS - NWS Omaha/Valley, NE
NA4CC - NWS Greenville/Spartanburg, SC
WX4PTC - NWS Peachtree City, GA

All but two of the above stations were worked on 40-meters. Band conditions on 20-meters didn't seem to be very good. WX0GLD and W0NWS were the two stations I worked on 20-meters.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

01 December 2008

Life Star News

Back on 14 September 2008, I posted about hearing Life Star work through a different dispatch center on the weekends. I recently confirmed that they are no longer dispatched by "Life Star Base" through Med Star Dispatch. They are being dispatched by OmniFlight, their parent company. They are still using 426.975, seemingly through a Motobridge to OmniFlight's east Communications Center in Kennesaw, GA. The callsign for dispatch is simply "RADIO." There is still traffic on frequency between Life Star and Memorial ER.


Additionally, if anyone is interested in what the OCC number is that Life Star needs for each mission, OmniFlight's website has a link about their Operations Control Center.


Effingham County is attempting to land Life Star's base from it's current location at Savannah International Airport. From the Effingham Herald on 10 November 2008:

The LifeStar air ambulance still isn’t cleared for landing at a new home in Effingham County.

County commissioners tabled a lease agreement with OmniFlight Helicopters, the Addison, Texas-based company that operates the LifeStar service, last Tuesday. Commissioners are expected to revisit the issue Nov. 18, but some are getting antsy that the delay may mean Effingham will lose out on landing the service.

The full text of the article can be found here.


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Bulldog MOA Changes - Shaw AFB and Augusta Regional Airport Compromise

The Augusta Chronicle featured an article on the Bulldog MOA that Shaw AFB, McEntire JNGB, and other services use on November 29, 2008. Augusta Regional Airport and the Air Force have come to a compromise on airspace changes, but Swainsboro-Emanuel County Airport is still resisting those changes. Below is an excerpt from the article, you can read the entire article here.

MILITARY AIRCRAFT TRAINING PLAN

THE PROPOSAL: Shaw Air Force Base has proposed expanding military aircraft training operations into air space used by facilities in Augusta, Swainsboro and Millen.

THE IMPACT: Military aircraft would be allowed to fly at an altitude of 500 feet, a drop from 11,000 feet in some areas.

THE DEAL: Augusta Regional Airport officials negotiated to have the path changed; Augusta will not be affected by any changes.

THE CRITICISM: An official from the Swainsboro Emanuel County Airport says civilian aircraft planning to land at the facility would face delays that could hurt area commerce. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the request to exclude Swainsboro Emanuel County's airspace.



Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

P-3 Units to Relocate from NAS Brunswick to NAS Jacksonville

I noted the following USN P-3 unit relocations in an email from the NAMAR e-mail group last week. It looks like there will be increased P-3 activity off of the GA/FL coast beginning in mid 2009.

  • VP-10 will relocate from NAS Brunswick to NAS Jacksonville on 1 June 2009. However, it will belong to Commander Patrol Reconnaissance Wing 5(CPRW-5) until 1 Dec 2009, at which time it will belong to CPRW-11.
  • VP-8 will relocate from NAS Brunswick to NAS Jacksonville on 1 June 2009 and switch from CPRW-5 to CPRW-11.
  • VPU-1 will relocate from NAS Brunswick to NAS Jacksonville on 1 July 2009 and switch from CPRW-5 to CPRW-11.

There was also a movement listed away from NAS Jacksonville. One of the USN H-60 units will be moving and changing aircraft type:

  • HS-3 will be redesignated HSC-9 on 1 June 2009 and switch from theSH-60F/HH-60H to the MH-60S helicopter. The squadron will relocate fromNAS Jacksonville to NS Norfolk.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 15-30 November 2008

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
54.500 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAWK OPS"
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "ASSAULT OPS"
51.050 - Helicopter Common
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops

ARMY 25293 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25300 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35377 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35415 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26555 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26596 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
HOOKER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23999 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24618 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24637 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26444 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26501 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26525 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26528 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26542 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26543 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26585 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26629 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27039 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27065 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27066 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26408 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26489 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03753 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03754 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 295 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6560 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6581 (HH-65C, Savannah)
OASIS (MV-22)
PAT 621A


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
121.900 - Ground
348.600 - Ground
120.400 - Approach/Departure
353.775 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
371.875 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165th AW CP
225.050 - 165th AW

DAWG 0# (C-130H, 165 AW)
DAWG 98 (C-130H, 165 AW)
NAVY HQ 473 (SH-60, HSL-46)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.626 - Marne Radio
126.250 - Wright AAF Tower
269.275 - Wright AAF Tower
51.050 - Helicopter Common


MCAS Beaufort
328.425 - Approach/Departure
292.125 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
264.500 - PMSV
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
339.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2


BLADE 2# (F/A-18C, VMFA-115)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
FOX 511 (C-12, USMC)


Charleston AFB
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

GRITS ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
IMPAC ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)


Shaw AFB
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
138.200 - 77th FS air-to-air
139.975 - 77th FS air-to-air
143.800 - 77th FS air-to-air
320.525 - 79th FS Ops
138.150 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.650 - 79th FS air-to-air

DECK ## (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
DIAMOND ## (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
JACKPOT ## (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
LUCID ## (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
PEAK ## (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
BRONCO ## (F-16CJ, 79th FS)
HOOTER ## (F-16CJ, 79th FS)
PROWL ## (F-16CJ, 79th FS)
TOPCAT ## (F-16CJ, 79th FS)


McIntire JNGB
298.300 - 169th FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th FW V14
143.625 - 169th FW V15
149.625 - 169th FW V19

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


Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
273.900 - 125th FW SOF
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
314.200 - 125th FS Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

FANG ## (F-15, 125th FW)
SNAKE ## (F-15, 125th FW)
RATTLER ## (F-15, 125th FW)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
228.050 - JSTARS Discrete
276.075 - JSTARS Discrete
328.050 - JSTARS Discrete
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 2# (E-8C, 12th ACCS)
STARGATE (E-8C, 330 CTS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
269.000 - Gamecock D MOA
354.300 - BEEFEATER ECM Range


SEALORD (USN FACSFAC Jax)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
311.500 - BRISTOL Discrete
320.500 - BRISTOL Discrete


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


Miscellaneous
BOLT 21 (KC-135, 6 AMW)
DRAGNET (E-3, 966th ACCS backend)
IMAGE 01 (E-3 backend, RAF)
MASH 61 (KC-135, 319th ARW)
ROKT 512 (T-39, VT-86)
ROKT 513 (T-39, VT-86)
ROKT 514 (T-39, VT-86)
ROKT 515 (T-39, VT-86)
ROKT 516 (T-39, VT-86)
SENTRY 6# (E-3, 966th ACCS frontend)
SOLEX (E-3 frontend, RAF)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
386.000 - NORAD Discrete
225.800 - AWACS Discrete
225.875 - AWACS Discrete
303.100 - AWACS Discrete
313.600 - AWACS Discrete
320.600 - AWACS Discrete
141.650 - Common frequency, fighters/AWACS
348.900 - AR-600
143.250 - VT-86?, ROKT air-to-air?


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
281.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
290.400 - Jax Center Waycross Low
319.200 - Jax Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
370.950 - Jax Center Georgetown High
379.100 - Jax Center Charleston Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon

55.400 - Flight Service


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net