23 April 2009

MCAS Beaufort TRS

MCAS Beaufort, SC now has a 9600 baud P25 digital trunked repeater system. Over the weekend, I first heard a control channel for the system during a slight band opening. Earlier today, I took a trip to Beaufort to do some further listening to the system and found the following:

System ID: 0032h
9600 Baud P25 Mil UHF System

Sites:
386.725 - 0032h-0101 - Control Channel
386.1375
386.9625
386.5125

380.4875 - 0032h-0102 - Control Channel
(No talkgroup activity noted)

385.625 - 0032h-0103 - Control Channel
385.350
386.2125

I didn't come to any full conclusions on site locations while I was up there (in part because I'm not completely familiar with Beaufort's geography. Site 0101 is definitely on or very near to MCAS Beaufort, that much I am sure of. 0103 seems to be further to the south; I had good signal strengths on it in the area of US 21/SC 170 all the way down to SC 170 at the Beaufort/Jasper County line although it drop out at times in the area of Beaufort Memorial and spots along Ribault Rd. 0102 has me somewhat perplexed. I think it may be on MCRD Parris Island as it came in VERY strong crossing over the Lady's Island Bridge (where you can look straight south down the Beaufort River and see MCRD PI). Passing by Parris Island Gateway on SC 802, however, there was almost no signal strength on it so that leads to a bit of confusion on my part.

So far, the only Talkgroup heard on the system has been PMO (MPs) on TG 38141. I'm guessing that the system has not been up very long and that not many users have migrated over to it yet. I would also like to thank a source in Beaufort who shall be anonymous for now (because I forgot to ask him if it was OK to mention his name).

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

20 April 2009

Silent Key - Ed Bigbie, W4MMQ

I did not know Mr. Ed Bigbie as well as many others in the Savannah Amateur Radio Community did, but in the short time I knew him I came to greatly respect him. Ed meant a lot to us as friend and mentor. His knowledge about radio and electronics seemed to be endless, you knew when you got advice from him that it was the best you could get. Ed was good Christian man; he was a man we could all look up to and an example for all of us to follow.

Take a look at Mark Bolton's blog for a wonderful remembrance.

Ed's grandson Marc Bigbie has also started a site dedicated to his legacy here.

19 April 2009

20 Meters AM DX Contact

I did something unique for me this evening on the radio. I made a 20 Meters DX contact to Cozumel using AM! I ran across XF3PAS calling CQ and knew that something sounded a little different, then he specified he was calling in AM. I switched the FT-897D over to AM mode and a couple of stations later he answered me.

I've only worked AM a couple of times just messing around on 6 Meters with some of the guys here in Savannah. This was my first serious attempt at doing anything with AM and my first DX contact on AM.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

18 April 2009

MCAS Beaufort Trunked Repeater System?

I'm awaiting confirmation from someone who lives in the Beaufort area, but I think I've discovered a military UHF trunked system for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort:

System/Site ID: 0032h-0103

385.625 Control Channel
385.350 Digital Voice
386.2125 Digital Voice

TG 38141 Beaufort MPs? -12, 13, 14 wkg BEAUFORT (Dispatch)


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

15 April 2009

866.1125 P25 Control Channel

A week or so ago, I picked up a 9600 baud Motorola Control Channel in Pembroke on 866.1125. I have not been able to find any information on it in the FCC database. This afternoon I picked up a control channel on it again that seems to be coming from the Richmond Hill area. Based on what little I've heard, I'm going to guess that they are the long awaited Bryan County TRS. When I was in the Pembroke area, I could not get the BC-396 to read a site ID off of the control channel. Today, it was reading the site ID off of the signal I believe to be coming from Richmond Hill as 02C5H-0101. So far I have not seen or heard any talkgroup activity.

Savannah Radio Hobbyists - It looks like we've got a new radio system to figure out!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

21st Fighter Squadron at Savannah CRTC

The 21st Fighter Squadron from Luke AFB is visiting the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center. The 21st FS is a training squdaron that trains F-16 pilots for the Taiwan's Air Force.

Using the callsigns GAMBLER and DEALER, they have been working in the offshore warning areas training against the Florida ANG F-15s from Jacksonville. They have been working with NORAD EADS, callsign HUNTRESS for control on 293.600 and 316.300. The 21st FS has been using 140.500 and 141.150 for air-to-air; both are frequencies that units visiting the CRTC normally use.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

03 April 2009

D-Star Simplex

Robert, KJ4HAL, asked a question while we were doing some D-Star Simplex on 146.520 the other night: Should we be using digital voice on 146.520? At first I thought sure, why not, but the question has dogged me for a few days. Tonight I did a Google search on D-Star Simplex Frequencies. Interestingly enough, it turned up a SERA webpage: their 2-Meter Frequency Utilization Plan: http://www.sera.org/2.html

It is interesting to note that they specifically list 146.520 as the National FM Voice Simplex Calling Frequency (emphasis on FM is mine). They do, however, have a listing of D-Star Voice Frequencies (the IMPORTANT NOTE is theirs):

146.420* 146.440* 146.460* 146.480* 147.420* 147.440*
147.460* 147.480*

IMPORTANT NOTE: = Frequencies marked with * are permitted for simplex use as long as it does not cause interference to nearby repeater inputs. Please be aware that SERA coordinates some of these frequencies as repeater inputs in some areas. Check the repeater directory in your area to see if any such repeaters are present. The use of these frequencies for D-Star operation, whether for simplex or repeater inputs, may impact FM simplex and repeater operations and their selection should be carefully considered.


Off the top of my head, none of these frequencies conflict with any of the Savannah repeater inputs. I would like to suggest that here in Savannah we use 146.460 for local area D-Star simplex because it is easy for folks to remember, especially if we're giving it to someone visiting the area. It is also worth mentioning that on the 70cm Frequency Utilization Plan they list 441.000 as the National Digital Simplex Calling Frequency.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

02 April 2009

Military Monitoring Recap; March 2009

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
70.575 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
41.875 - 1-3 AVN air-to-air
229.200 - 1-3 AVN air-to-air
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAKW OPS"
51.375 - 3-17 CAV "LIGHTHORSE OPS"
36.525 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
46.525 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "ASSAULT OPS"
38.925 - 4-3 AVN air-to-air
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
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 25287 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25296 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25298 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25300 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25330 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35341 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35360 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35370 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26555 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26594 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26795 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
RIVER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23999 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24415 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24487 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24617 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24636 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24749 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26444 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26456 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26501 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26503 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26510 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26513 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26521 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26546 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26585 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26587 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26629 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26842 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26859 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27040 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27041 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27064 (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 27075 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 00365 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 00371 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 10558 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30939 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30942 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30952 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30953 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30954 (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 40064 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40179 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40181 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50015 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50016 (OH_58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 60010 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 95117 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 26189 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26410 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03747 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03751 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 30752 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03755 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 252 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 295 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 296 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6545 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6604 (H-65C)
COAST GUARD 2001 (HC-130J)
NAVY BJ 543 (MH-53E, HM-14)
NAVY BJ 545 (MH-53E, HM-14)
NAVY LL 25 (P-3C, VP-30)
OCEAN 69 (C-130, 115 AS)


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
237.000 - CRTC Ops
140.500 - CRTC Discrete (47th FS use)
141.150 - CRTC Discrete (47th FS use)
139.625 - OH ANG air-to-air
142.600 - 64 AGRS air-to-air
142.700 - 64 AGRS air-to-air
143.600 - 121 FS V7
234.800 - 121 FS U1
303.000 - USN TH-57 air-to-air
128.925 - Gulfstream Service Center

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165 AW)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flights)
CAPITAL 9# (F-16, 121 FS)
LOMA ## (F-16, OH ANG)
MIG ## (F-16, 64 AGRS)
NAVY 2E ### (TH-57)
NAVY 6E ### (TH-57)
NAVY 7E ### (TH-57)
NAVY BR 50 flight (MH-60S, HSC-28)
SWINE 7# (A-10, 47th FS)


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


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
253.100 - VMFA-122 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
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
289.275 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 1
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1

BLADE 2# (F/A-18C, VMFA-115)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18C, VMFA-312)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
NAVY LL 09 (P-3C, VP-30)


Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"

LIFTR ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW
JIMBO ## (AT-38, Columbus)


Shaw AFB
311.200 - 55th FS "SHOOTER OPS"
141.650 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.900 - 55th FS air-to-air
142.400 - 55th FS air-to-air
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
138.200 - 77th FS air-to-air
139.975 - 77th FS air-to-air
140.375 77th FS Aux 9
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

COBRA ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
CONAN ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
HICK ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
JUNIOR ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
MOJO ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
TURBAN ## (F-16CM, 55th FS)
CEASER (F-16CM, 77th FS)
LUCID ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
LUCKY ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
PEAK ## (F-16CM 77th FS)
TRUMP ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
VEGAS ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
VENOM ## (F-16CM, 77th FS)
GUNNER ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
HELLCAT ## (F-16CM, 79th FS)
JAKE ## (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
140.125 - 169th FW V18

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


125th Fighter Wing, Jax IAP
322.400 - Jax App/Dep
351.800 - Jax App/Dep
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
314.200 - 125th FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9
141.950 - 64 AGRS V16
143.700 - 64 AGRS V13

SNAKE (F-15, 125 FW)
RATTLER (F-15, 125 FW)
MIG (F-16, 64 AGRS)
IVAN (F-16, 65 AGRS)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete?
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete?
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete

NIGHTSTAR (E-8C backend, 12th ACCS)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
252.900 - 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
350.675 - N. TACTS Range
301.000 - S. TACTS Range
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
BACKY ## (KC-135, 916 ARW)
BANDSAW (E-3, 964 ACCS)
CONVOY #### (USN transport)
DRAGNET (E-3, 966 ACCS)
GRUMMAN ## (E-2, Grumman Test)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
MAGIC (E-3 backend, NATO)
NATO ## (E-3 backend, NATO)
NAVY LN 451 (P-3C, VP-45)
OTIS ## (KC-130, VMGR-252)
SCALP 94 (B-52H, 917 BW)
STEALTH (117 ACS)
THUNDER ## (MV-22)
TREND 0# (A-10, 23rd FG, returning from deployment)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
139,700 - NORAD Discrete
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
225.875 - AWACS Discrete
138.600 - STEALTH Discrete
310.200 - NAS Jacksonville Base Ops
312.075 - Aerial Refueling (OTIS and THUNDER)
353.525 - THUNDER MV-22 air-to-air
311.000 - LIGHTNING OPS (MacDill AFB)
143.000 - 23rd FG air-to-air
275.200 - Grumman Test Base
236.250 - Grumman Test Ops
364.200 - Grumman Test Ops


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