Moved To WordPress

KF4LMT's Monitoring Post has moved to WordPress as KF4LMT's Monitoring Post and Blog. I will leave this Blog up for the foreseeable future, but all of this content has been imported to the WordPress blog, so it is in both places. My other blog, Stray Thoughts, has been incorporated into KF4LMT's Monitoring Post and Blog so the new blog is a combination of both. You'll also find my frequency files from the sidebar here in the Monitoring Information page of the new blog.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Loggerhead Turtle Nesting

Last night, I listened to US Fish and Wildlife personnel monitoring and tracking Loggerhead Turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. Here at home in Savannah, the activity was most easily monitored on the US Fish and Wildlife Skidaway repeater on 172.450. Others may pick up better activity on other repeaters in the linked system: 169.825, 171.650, and 172.650 (Onslow). If you are a night owl and have a scanner that can monitor P25 digital communications, this can be interesting and definitely something different to listen to; the majority of the Loggerhead Turtle related communications are at night because the turtles nest and lay their eggs at night.

ARES Training Information

This just in from Steve Jonas – K4SDJ, one of the Chatham County ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinators in regards to training necessary to work at the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) and the Chatham County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during an ARES activation:

If you are planning to work at anytime with CEMA, you have to complete the Independent Study Courses, IC-100a “An Introduction to ICS” (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS100A.asp) and IC-700a “An Introduction to NIMS” (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp) by October of this year. You also have to the the EOC course put on by CEMA. I am working to schedule a weekend one day course in the near future. When you get your certificates. please email me a copy so that I can update your ARES listing in the database.

CARS Offering Amatuer Radio Class in June

The Coastal Amateur Radio Society is offering a Technician Class Amateur Radio License Class on June 1, 8, 15, and 22 followed by a VE Session on June 26, 2010. The classes will be held at the Memorial Health University Hospital Hoskins Building from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM each night. The VE Session will be at 9:00 AM on June 26 at Southside Fire Station 1 on White Bluff Rd in conjunction with Amateur Radio Field Day.

For more information, email me at kf4lmt @ comcast.net and I’ll put you in contact with the instructors Guy McDonald, K4GTM and Kevin Bell, KW4B.

New Blog Service?

KF4LMT’s Monitoring Post may be moving to WordPress. I’ll be trying WordPress out for awhile to see how it works; both the Monitoring Post and Stray Thoughts have been combined into the Monitoring Post. A name change may be in the future as well. The WordPress link is: http://kf4lmt.wordpress.com/

One of the advantages WordPress may have is a better mobile interface via a Blackberry App, which is what I’m using to make this post.

Stay tuned for more.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Another Rescue 21 Frequency in Use in the Savannah Area

Another of the Coast Guard Rescue 21 frequencies is in use in the Savannah Area. CG 107, 150.300 MHz, is being used by Coast Guard Air Station Savannah at Hunter Army Airfield. Over the past couple of weeks, I heard it being used in encrypted mode frequently just before and after one of the Air Station Savannah MH-65s departed from or arrived at the Air Station. Yesterday, there were unencrypted transmissions from the Air Station which finally identified who was using the frequency. It seems that CG 107 may be replacing 345.000 MHz as Air Station Savannah Ops; there has been a reduced amount of activity on 345.000 since the activity on CG 107 started.

This now brings the Rescue 21 Channels in use in the Coastal Georgia area to the following:

CG 107 - 150.300 MHz (P25) - Air Station Savannah
CG 113 - 163.1375 MHz (P25) - Station Tybee
CG 118 - 164.900 MHz (P25) - Station Brunswick
CG 410 - 413.000 MHz (P25) - Sector Charleston Air Ops


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

W2W Armed Forces Day Special Event Station at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum Featuring the B-17 "City of Savannah"

This weekend, on April 15, the Coastal Amateur Radio Society will operate a special event station in honor of Armed Forces Day at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA. In addition to recognizing members of our Armed Services for their service and duty, the Special Event will feature the B-17 "City of Savannah" which is on display and being restored at the museum. The special event station will be set up under the left wing of the "City of Savannah" facing out toward the Memorial Gardens. Look for W2W on the amateur HF bands from 1300-2100 UTC on Saturday. If you are in the area, drop by and join the crew operating the station.

Special QSL cards will be issued for the event. Listen for QSL address information to be given by the operators during the event; once I know the QSL address I will also post it here.

Air Defense Exercise in Savannah to Take Place in May, More Info

Here is a link to an Air Force article with more info on the Air Defense Exercise to take place in Savannah this month:

http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123202876


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap; April 2010

April was not a good month for monitoring. Between spending time getting the mobile/portable amateur station working with a new antenna, having several amateur radio events, and just not having much time to play radio, I don't have all that much to put in the April 2010 MilCom recap. From Brunswick, almost all of my monitoring time is outdoors because I depend on the mobile scanners and the HTs, so the summer months may lead to shorter logs and recaps because I despise the summer heat (being pasty white, I also tend to burn quickly and painfully...) Anyway, with apologies for being so late, here is the April recap. Hopefully you find it useful.


Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops
323.125 - Hunter AAF ATIS
127.525 - Hunter AAF ATIS (New)
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
127.650 - GCA
143.200 - GCA
307.125 - GCA
317.475 - GCA
406.1625 - Hunter Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - Hunter POL
415.7625 - Hunter Trans Alert

SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
SUNNY 63 (Cessna 208/U-27, 224 MI Bn)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6542 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6545 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6565 (MH-65C, Savannah)
ARMY 03774 flight (MH-47G, 160 SOAR)
NAVY 7B 693
PAT 757
TALON 21 (MC-130)


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
123.200 - WCM9, Gulfstream
123.575 - Gulfstream Test Ops

GUARD 2028 (UH-60?)
NAVY HP 450 (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY HR 506 (SH-60, HSL-48)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flight)


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
225.675 - VMFA-115 Tac 2
274.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 3
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
269.700 - VMFA-122 Tac 3
344.200 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
336.225 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 3
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
376.425 - VMFA-251 Tac 3
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2

Note: At some point it seems that VMFA-312 switched to F/A-18Cs
for carrier deployment

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18A, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)
*NAVY HP 450 (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY LL 08 (P-3C, VP-30)
*SUNNY 872


Brunswick/Golden Isles Airport
122.800 - CTAF

CAP 920 (Georgia CAP)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test)


Charleston AFB
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

LIFTER 4# (C-17, 437/315 AW)
JOSA 867


McIntire JNGB
298.300 - 169th FW "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th FW V14
143.625 - 169th FW V15
141.925 - 169th FS V17

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


Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
317.700 - Jacksonville IAP Tower
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 FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

FANG (F-15, 125 FW)
SNAKE (F-15, 125 FW)
ROGUE 21 (F-15?, Depot flight?)


NAS Jacksonville/Mayport NS
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
340.200 - NAS Jax Tower
118.750 - NS Mayport Tower
239.300 - NS Mayport Tower
310.200 - NAS Jax Base Ops
371.350 - VP-5/VP-10 Base

NAVY HP 4## (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY HR 5## (SH-60, HSL-48)
NAVY LL ## (P-3C, VP-30)
LANCER ## (P-3C, VP-10)
TIGER ## (P-3C, VP-8)
BANDIT 50 (F-5, VFC-111)
NAVY JA 05


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
346.675 - JSTARS Discrete
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete

STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th CTS)


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
133.950 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
385.300 - W-157 Discrete


Miscellaneous
364.200 - NORAD AICC
260.900 - NORAD Discrete
143.150 - 23rd FG air-to-air
240.100 - 23rd FG air-to-air

ADORE 31 (E-6)
ADVANCE (JTAC)
BANZAI 0# (A-10, 23rd FG)
DRAGNET (E-3 backend, 966th ACCS)
SENTRY 61 (E-3 frontend, 966th ACCS)


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
273.525 - Jax Center Charleston/Metta
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick 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
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon
335.650 - Atlanta Center


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Beachside DX from Jekyll Island

Location: Jekyll Island, GA

What a great afternoon on the radio! I woke up around 3:30 PM this afternoon and headed out to get some early dinner: fried shrimp and clams from Jinrights in Brunswick. After eating, I headed out to Jekyll Island and took up a spot at one of the parking areas along North Beachview to operate the mobile/portable amateur radio station for awhile. I took advantage of the cooler weather today: the temperature was 74 F and the skies clear and blue.


I worked a few stations on 20 Meters before giving the station a test on 80 Meters by checking into the weekly Georgia ARES Net on 3.975:

• 9A5BS, Felix in Zagreb, Croatia
• OP2A, Ivo in Brussels, Belgium
• GM3UEG, Dave on Orkney Island, Scotland

I got a good signal report from Charles, K4GK, net control for the ARES net when I checked in and I heard K4GTM - Guy, KD4PDX - Mark, KB4GNX - Bob, and KI4TYO - Ken from Chatham and Effingham Counties at good levels, I suspect we could have worked each other. I think the HVT400B would work OK for ARES use if the need be.

After the net, I worked some more DX on 15, 17, and 20 Meters. I used the LDG897 tuner to tune the HVT400B's 15 Meter setting for 17 Meters and it worked good enough to make contacts with.

• YV5ZV, Victor in Venzuela on 15 Meters
  
• F6IGS, Gerry in France on 17 Meters
• FM5DN, Leon in Martinique on 17 Meters
• GS3PYE, Lawrence on Island of Harris in Scotland on 20 Meters
• IS0R, a DXpedition on Sardinia (20 Meters)
• ZW7R, a DXpedition on Restinga Island (Brazil) on 20 Meters

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Saturday Afternoon DX and First QSO to Cyprus

Location: Darien, GA

After waking up this afternoon, I decided to head out and try some DX with the mobile/portable amateur radio station. I found a good spot in the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area in Darien: the Butler Plantation along the bank of the Butler River on US17 in McIntosh County. With the temperature around 90 degrees, the spot near the river provided a nice breeze that made for comfortable operating conditions.





Before trying some DX, I wanted to try working the Coastal Amateur Radio Society special event station W4W, which was in operation to help benefit a wounded 3rd Infantry Division soldier. Even coordinating frequency with Guy, K4GTM, propagation just wouldn't support the contact.

I went on to work 6 DX Stations on 20 Meters from Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, and Cyprus. 20 Meters seemed to be pretty active with DX due to the CQ-M Interational DX contest this weekend. The contact with 5B4AIF was my first contact in Cyprus, so it was a pretty good day on the radio. In the space of just over an hour, I worked:

2014Z - 14.267 - S56DX, Slovenia
2039Z - 14.260 - 5B4AIF, Cyprus
2058Z - 14.239 - S58AL, Slovenia
2103Z - 14.245 - OE6Z, Austria
2106Z - 14.258 - OE3K, Austria
2120Z - 14.248 - 9A4KW, Croatia

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Amateur Radio at the Statesboro Boy Scouts Jamborama

A group of Amateur Radio Operators organized by Philip Neidlinger, KA4KOE set up some Amateur Radio stations at the 100th Anniversary Boy Scouts Jamborama at the Kiwanis Fairground in Statesboro, GA on Saturday, May 1. We demonstrated Amateur Radio to Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and helped them earn them toward earning their Boy Scout radio badges and Cub Scout pins and belt loops. Several stations were set up, including the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Communications Trailer 5-C. Several different types of antennas were used including a military vertical mounted on Philip's truck, a screwdriver type HF mobile antenna on Russ Trio, KA4ZPV's van, and two dipole antennas hung from the Fairground's lamp posts.









Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Not a Bad Day on the Radios

Location: Savannah, GA

April has been a slow military monitoring month for me. First, I've not had as many chances to play radio as I'd like and it seems that when I have had the chances there hasn't been much to hear. Today I've had the opportunity and it's been pretty fun. Overcast skies have kept down Townsend Range activity, but W-157 has been pretty busy with activity from MCAS Beaufort F/A-18s. A couple of flights have also gone to the Bulldog MOA.

I've also played around with ID Tracker on one of the BC-780s to do some recording. I'll be leaving out shortly to do some volunteer work on the B-17 at the Mighty Eighth Air Force museum and I'm going to let ID Tracker run on the 780 with the SUA and Range frequencies in it to see what I miss while I'm gone.

Another one of the new USCG frequencies has been active this morning as well. CG 107 (150.300) has been active with encrypted digital activity. So far there hasn't been any clear traffic, so I've got no idea who is using it or where it is coming from.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Yesterday morning, I had hopes of getting a visual on the Shuttle Discovery as well as hearing it as it passed off of the Brunswick coast en route to landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Weather conspired against that attempt and it was scrubbed, leading to a 9:08 AM landing at the Space Center. The 9:08 landing path came across south Georgia well west of Brunswick, so I decided to still give hearing it a try. I set the BC-780 in the car on 259.700 AM and opened the squelch, a few minutes later I caught the first of 4-5 transmissions. None of the transmissions I caught were very strong, but they were quite readable. What I was hearing was about 1 second ahead of what was coming across the audio feed from NASA TV and an online scanner that Dan, KF4MND was providing via the 442.700 repeater in Savannah.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Opek HVT400B Mobile HF Antenna

Location: Brunswick, GA

Last week, I ordered an Opek HVT400B mobile HF antenna from R&L Electronics. The best way I could describe the HVT400B is that is a "poor man's" Outbacker. It is a multiband antenna (80/40/20/15/10/6/2/70cm) that uses taps and whip length adjustments to tune. The antenna and a tri-mag mount arrived this afternoon via UPS and I put them on the car this evening to try it out.

Using my FT-897D and LDG tuner (I've yet to try the antenna without the tuner) I worked Europe and Africa on 20 and 15 Meters! The first thing I did was check 40 Meters. I didn't hear anyone calling CQ, so I didn't get a chance to see how it would transmit; it was receiving quite well and I don't expect that there will be any problems transmitting. When I changed the tap for 20 Meters, I quickly came across DK1II, Franz from Germany working DX. I answered one of his QRZ calls and received a 59 report! That's not bad for an inexpensive antenna and 100 watts! I tuned up the band a bit farther and found S58FA, Freddie from Slovenia working DX; Freddie gave me a 57 report. I decided to try 15 Meters next, changing the tap and extending the whip. Almost immediately I came across TL0A in the Central African Republic working stations; he gave me a 55 report, which was the same as the station he worked before me. Once again, not bad for a mobile installation!

I'm looking forward to giving the antenna a try on 80 Meters soon. I'm hoping that it will do well enough to allow me to check in to the weekly Georgia ARES net on 3.975 on Sundays.

So far, I'm quite pleased, this looks like it will be a nice antenna to use for the portable HF station here in Brunswick!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Air Defense Exercise in Savannah to Take Place in May

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=111208452245392

The military will conduct an air defense exercise in the Savannah area from 16-20 May. The link above has a short 1 minute video about the exercise and gives us a general idea of what to expect from it and what might be involved in it. It is related to a previous exercise held in Savannah during January; there is a link to a Savannah Morning News story on it in a previous blog post.

The SC Army National Guard's 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (263rd AAMDC) will be a player. According to the this article, they will be in Savannah (and the exercise will be from) 10-24 May.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Chatham-Effingham TRS Upgrades to SmartX

Yesterday evening, I heard an announcement on the Chatham-Efffingham TRS that there would be a "cutover" from midnight to 6AM during which there would be coverage issues at the various sites during the night. The first thing that immediately jumped to my mind was rebanding, so I checked the FCC database again but didn't find any new licenses. My curiosity was getting the best of me, so I took a short nap then got up around midnight to hear what I could hear.

It quickly became apparent that this was not rebanding related. Radio techs were discussing what they were doing and I heard several mentions of SmartX. SmartX, from what I read on a Motorola press release I found in a web search, is an upgrade to the system that will allow for a gradual transition to a P25 system:

"An ASTRO 25 system with SmartX supports both Project 25 (P25) sites and SmartZone sites, allowing a combination of analog and P25 digital radios to operate on the network for enhanced interoperability and flexibility. ASTRO 25 with SmartX enables agencies to gradually expand, upgrade or replace RF sites, consoles and subscribers to ASTRO 25."

Additionally, it appears that it will allow the use of both the current system and P25 systems to work together:

"ASTRO 25 with SmartX allows agencies to fully leverage their existing RF sites, dispatch console and subscriber investments, while offering the highest levels of interoperability between legacy and P25 users. Automatically supporting mixed talkgroups with no patching required, SmartX maximizes user interoperability during migration."

It is my guess that this is a signal that we should look for more changes in the not too distant future.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Aircraft Down in SC - Final Update

The word from South Carolina is that there was no aircraft crash. What happened is that Air Traffic Control lost communications with the aircraft. Later, communications were re-established and it was determined that everything was fine and that the aircraft had not crashed.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Aircraft Down in SC - Update

I just got word from a fellow radio hobbyist in SC that the aircraft is down in Jasper County, SC. He mentioned that Jasper County FD and a Coast Guard helicopter are involved in the search; the USCG helicopter is probably 6565, which I have heard Sector Charleston replying to on 157.050. No further info is available at this time.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Aircraft Down in SC?

Have heard some traffic on 159.450 (South Carolina Forestry Repeater) and 157.050 (Marine VHF Ch. 21) about a possible aircraft down. A forestry unit on 159.450 mentioned the search and I heard Sector Charleston working an unknown asset in reference to an ELT search/possible aircraft down; Sector advised there would be no re-tasking unless they got more information. The unknown asset is possibly 6565, today's AirFac Charleston duty helicopter.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Georgia QSO Party Part 2

Location: Savannah

I'm back at the Georgia QSO Party effort at the Coastal Amateur Radio Society Club Station at Southside Fire Department Station 1. I'm here with Kevin Bell, KW4B and Steve Jonas, K4SDJ. The contest resumed at 1000 this morning and after having poor results on 20 Meters, Kevin got the station cranked up on 40 Meters with decent results. A recent check of the log shows 96 stations worked since 1400 yesterday.

If you're up on HF, listen for us. We're using the club callsign W4LHS.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Georgia QSO Party and Scanning Demo

This morning, I'm going to meet the Savannah hams for breakfast at Sunny Side Up then go over to Southside Fire Station 1 on White Bluff to help set up the Coastal Amateur Radio Society's club station for a Georgia QSO Party effort. While the club is operating today, I'll also have a computer aided scanning demonstration set up using the laptop, BCD396T, and ARC396 Pro.

Look for tweets throughout the day to update the activity. I'll also be tweeting with the CARS twitter account, which you can see here or at the CARS website here.

If you want to make a contact with us on the ham bands, listen out for W4LHS.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

I recently did some minor modifications to the home Monitoring Post/Amateur Radio Station. I'm using the HP laptop as my primary computer now, it travels back and forth between Brunswick and Savannah now. The desktop computer is being used to run radio control software for the scanners and for TweetDeck to keep up with Twitter and Facebook. During severe weather, I also use the desktop to keep a radar loop up.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap; March 2010

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops
323.125 - Hunter AAF ATIS
127.525 - Hunter AAF ATIS (New)
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
127.650 - GCA
143.200 - GCA
307.125 - GCA
317.475 - GCA
406.1625 - Hunter Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - Hunter POL
415.7625 - Hunter Trans Alert

ARMY 26490 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26961 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03750 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03754 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03757 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03761 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6542 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6565 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6604 (MH-65C, Savannah)
BOXCAR ## (C-27, Robins AFB)
COAST GUARD 102
COAST GUARD 2004 (HC-130J)
COAST GUARD 6526 (MH-65C, HITRON)
DAWG ## (C-130H, 165 AW)
GUARD 70013 (CH-47D)
HURRICANE ## (CH-53E)
LANCER 03 (P-3C, VP-10)
NAVY HQ 461 (SH-60, HSL-46)
NAVY HP 446 (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY LF 11 (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LL 06 (P-3C, VP-30)
NAVY LL 46 (P-3C, VP-30)
OTIS 28 (KC-130, VMGR-252)
PAT 022
PAT 038 (C-12)
PAT 374
PAT 705
PAT 8009
PEACH 33 (E-8C frontend, 330th CTS)
PEACH 35 (E-8C, 330th CTS)
PHEONIX ## (CH-53E)
SCEPTER 12 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
SCEPTER 17 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
SPARKY 02 (RC-12)
TEAL 56 (WC-130, 53rd WRS)
TIGER ## (P-3C, VP-8)


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 air-to-air
138.625 - CRTC CP
237.000 - CRTC CP
234.800 - 125th FW Aux 6
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
314.200 - 125th FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9
293.300 - CRTC Discrete
328.500 - CRTC Discrete
363.900 - CRTC Discrete
379.800 - CRTC Discrete
233.550 - 103rd FS air-to-air
140.2125 - CRTC
141.6375 - CRTC
149.4875 - CRTC
123.200 - WCM9, Gulfstream
123.575 - Gulfstream Test Ops

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
FANG ## (F-15, 125th FW)
SNAKE ## (F-15, 125th FW)
RATTLER ## (F-15, 125th FW)
VENOM ## (F-15, 125th FW)
IRON ## (F-15C, 71st FS0
KNIGHT ## (F-15C, 71st FS)
STEEL ## (F-15C, 71st FS)
MADHOG ## (A-10, 103rd FS)
UGLY ## (A-10, 103rd FS)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flight)


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

GUARD 72048


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
225.675 - VMFA-115 Tac 2
274.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 3
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
269.700 - VMFA-122 Tac 3
344.200 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
336.225 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 3
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
376.425 - VMFA-251 Tac 3
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

Note: At some point it seems that VMFA-312 switched to F/A-18Cs
for carrier deployment

KAISER 1# (F/A-18, MAG-31)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18A, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
FOX 081 (C-12)
PAT 894 (C-12)


Brunswick/Golden Isles Airport
122.800 - CTAF

NAVY 7C 025


Charleston AFB
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

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


Shaw AFB
320.525 - 79th FS "TIGER OPS"
139.925 - 79th FS Air-to-Air

FANG ## (F-16C, 79th FS)
TURBAN ## (F-16C 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 FS V17

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


Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
317.700 - Jacksonville IAP Tower
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 FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

FANG (F-15, 125 FW)
SNAKE (F-15, 125 FW)
RATTLER (F-15, 125 FW)
DEMO 01 (Unknown)


NAS Jacksonville/Mayport NS
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
340.200 - NAS Jax Tower
118.750 - NS Mayport Tower
239.300 - NS Mayport Tower

NAVY CD 1## (T-45)
NAVY CD 2## (T-45)
NAVY HK 404 (SH-60, HSL-40)
NAVY LF 11 (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LN 45D (P-3C, VP-45)
BUZZARD ## (P-3, VPU-1)
MAD FOX ## (P-3C, VP-5)
PELICAN ## (P-3C, VP-45)
TIGER ## (P-3C, VP-8)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
228.050 - JSTARS Discrete
276.075 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
346.675 - JSTARS Discrete
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 33 (E-8C frontend, 330th CTS)
NIGHTSTAR (E-8C backend, 12th ACCS)
PEACH 66 (E-8C frontend, 16th ACCS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C backend, 16th 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
133.950 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
311.500 - BRISTOL Discrete
320.500 - BRISTOL Discrete


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


Miscellaneous
364.200 - NORAD AICC
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
228.225 - Moody AFB "ANGEL OPS"
225.450 - 71st RQS U1
236.075 - Grand Bay Range, Moody AFB
275.650 - 23rd FG air-to-air
300.925 - 4th FW air-to-air
301.025 - 4th FW air-to-air
289.700 - Raccoon AR Track
324.600 - AR-207
236.250 - ECHO Base (Grumman, St. Augustine)
275.200 - GRUMMAN OPS (Grumman, St. Augustine)

ADVANCE (JTAC)
ADLER 1# (F-15E, 4th FW)
BARLEY 3# (F-15E, 4th FW)
GREYHAWK 05 (E-2C, VAW-120)
GRUMMAN 07 (Grumman Test Flight)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
ROMAN ## (F/A-18, VFA-106)
SCEPTER ## (HC-130, 71s RQS)
SKULL 50 (B-52H, 2nd BW)
SKUNK 0# (A-10, 23rd FG)
SODA ## (KC-135, 151st ARS)
TUFF 43 (B-52H, 2nd BW)
TURBO 85 (KC-135, 22 ARW)
TYRANT (JTAC)


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
273.525 - Jax Center Charleston/Metta
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick 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
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Butel ARC396 and ARC996 Pro Software for the Uniden BC396 and BC996

I recently upgraded both my ARC396 and ARC996 software to the Pro versions. The Pro versions add computer logging and recording to the already excellent ARC basic software. I've been messing around with ARC396 Pro here in Brunswick the last two days and plan on doing some mobile logging/recording with ARC396 Pro next week. Already I believe that both of these programs, available at www.butel.nl, are excellent additions to a scanning or monitoring "toolbox." The cost for the Pro versions is $69.99, but it is well worth the purchase considering the scanners are near $500. Both programs allow you to do unattended logging with the added beneift of recording which means you can not only log talkgroups or frequencies but attempt to ID them through the associated recordings.

The software logs talkgroup or frequency hits to the virtual control screen with the option to also log the hits to a .csv file. The virtual control screen shows what talkgroups or frequencies have seen hits, the number of hits, frequency it was for a talkgroup, and date/time. The .csv file logs the same info, but logs each individual hit. You can open up the file in Excel and easily sort out the fields to utilize the information.

The software can also record audio from the talkgroup and frequency hits as .wav files. Each individual "intercept" by the scanner is recorded as a seperate .wav; if several transmissions are made before the scanner resumes scanning, those will all be in one file, if only one transmission passes before resuming, just that transmission is recorded. The files are named with a combination of date, time, and talkgroup or frequency in folders specific to the systems and groups programmed into the scanner, thus they are easily identified and located to listen to. It isn't hard at all to ID what frequency or talkgroup you listening to a recording from or what time it was made.

If you are just a casual listener, ARC396 and ARC996 Pro may not be for you but if you are interested in searching and discovering new things with your scanner these two programs are definitely for you.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

2010 CQ WPX Contest

Over the weekend, I worked the 2010 CQ WPX contest off and on. By no means was it a serious effort, but at least I managed to put some contacts in the log; I had 75 contacts with a good mix of stateside and DX contacts. Band conditions seemed to be pretty good on 40, 20, and 15 Meters with most of my contacts made on 15 Meters. To me, 15 Meters actually seemed to be in better condition than 20 Meters was. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 10 Meters was also open down toward the Caribbean and South America.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

VMFA-115

Last week, I thought that VMFA-115 were not using their usual BLADE callsign when I first heard them back in the air after their return from MCAS Iwakuni. I still can't say for sure what callsign I heard them using last week, but over the weekend they were once again using BLADE. Squadron frequencies seem to be the same as prior to their MCAS Iwakuni tour:

361.800 - Base
339.500 - Tac 1
225.675 - Tac 2
274.500 - Tac 3

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

USS Harry Truman/CVW-3 Carrier Group in Area

The USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) and Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) Carrier Group are currently in the area of the Georgia/Florida coast. I began hearing some activity yesterday and evening last night from CVW-3's aircraft operating at Townsend Range and conducting aerial refueling offshore.

AC 1## - F/A-18F, VFA-32
AC 2## - F/A-18C, VMFA-312
AC 3## - F/A-18C, VFA-37
AC 4## - F/A-18E, VFA-105
CHECK - F/A-18C, VMFA-312
RAGIN - F/A-18C, VFA-37
SWEEP - F/A-18
TASTY - F/A-18C
VICIOUS - various F/A-18 from CVW-3
BOLT - KC-135, 6th AMW
OMEGA 70 - DOD Contract Tanker

120.950 - Sealord North Primary
284.500 - Sealord North Primary
267.500 - Sealord South Primary

228.400 - Townsend Range

233.325 - unknown, weak Range related traffic
278.550 - SWEEP and VICIOUS air-to-air
301.950 - CHECK air-to-air
328.425 - Marshal
342.025 - unknown
342.075 - PAPA
363.325 - Aerial Refueling
371.050 - Strike?


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

165th Airlift Wing to Lose a C-130?

From the Charleston Daily Mail story:
http://www.dailymail.com/News/201003241001

"The Air Force plan calls for shifting 11 or 12 reserve C-130s from National Guard bases across the country to the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. Air Force officials say they need aircraft to replace aging inventory."

The article states that a C-130 will also come from a Georgia Air National Guard Base, which could only be the 165th ANG at Savannah IAP. There is a C-130 unit at Dobbins, but it is a Reserve unit.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

VMFA-115 Returns From Japan

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney White

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Approximately 175 Marines and three corpsmen with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, also known as the Silver Eagles, along with 60 augments with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, returned to the Air Station after a six-month deployment, March 12.

The Silver Eagles conducted a Western Pacific deployment to Iwakuni, Japan and worked alongside numerous units from the Marine Corps, Air Force and other foreign military allies.

"We did standard operations and conducted ambassador relations with allies," said Capt. Stewart Wittel, a VMFA-115 pilot. "Also, during the deployment, we were able to conduct inter-service training, large force exercises and the Cobra Gold exercise."

The inter-service training allowed the Marines and sailors to work with the Royal Thai Air Force and go on mini deployments to Kadena Air Base, Japan and Korat, Thailand.

During the deployment, the Silver Eagles and the Stingers did basic squadron training, increased air crew qualifications and was the first squadron in the Marine Corps to be fully equipped with the F/A-18 Hornets A++.

The F/A-18 Hornet A++ modification is an updated version of the F/A-18 Hornet with the latest and greatest avionic upgrades, according to Capt. James Berard, the VMFA-115 embarkation officer.

"Even though we didn't train with new equipment, we were able to increase qualifications and successfully train with foreign military on mini deployments," Berard said.

While the Marines and sailors were deployed, their spouses were able to participate in various activities such as a family holiday lunch, bowling day and, before the Marines returned, they held a "Welcome Home" banner-making party, according to Jimmie Woods, the VMFA-115 family readiness officer.

"Although I had mixed emotions about leaving my wife here during the deployment, she handled it well with the help of the [spouses] working together," said Lance Cpl. Marcus Power, a VMFA-115 aviations operator. "During the deployment, it was easy to keep in contact and made things easier knowing she was OK."

It is the job of the unit's FRO to make sure families are taken care of at all times, including deployments, according to Woods. Family readiness officers are non-deployable, so they can be with service members families and host activities to keep them in touch with their loved ones during challenging times.

"The deployment was, overall, very successful with the Marines being able to complete multiple mini deployments, focus on developing and progressing [in their job fields] and maintain a partnership with Japan," Berard said.

Al Stern's Military Monitoring Blog

My friend Al Stern has started a Military Monitoring Blog at http://allanstern.blogspot.com/. Al is extremely knowledgeable and a wonderful expert on monitoring civil and military aviation as well as monitoring NASA and the space program. I consider Al as one of my monitoring mentors; he helped me tremendously when I first got interested in military monitoring and continues to be a wonderful source of information. I'm sure you'll find his blog quite useful.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Glynn County Train Trestle Fire

Location: Brunswick

http://www.news4jax.com/news/22845148/detail.html

I woke up this afternoon, turned on the radios and the first thing I heard was Glynn County FD F2 active with what sounded like a brush fire involving railroad cars. After a bit, I figured out that the incident was at Georgia Ports; I had to run out and do a few things anyway, so I drove down to US 17 near the ports and saw that the fire was a Train Trestle at Colonel's Island and some train cars on fire. It appeared that the flames were knocked down, but there was still a good bit of smoke. Glynn County FD was on scene and some Camden County units responded for mutual aid. Georgia Ports and Railroad representatives were also on scene. It looks like the integrity of the trestle and condition of the rails could be issues.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

More on the VMFA(AW)-224 Crash and SAR

WTOC update on the VMFA(AW)-224 F/A-18D crash earlier this week. What this story describes is pretty much what I heard from the VMFA-251 aircraft and 6542

http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=12126799

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

B-17 Restoration Project - March 10, 2010

This afternoon, I met Guy McDonald, K4GTM and Carroll Baker, WX4Y at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler to check out some of the radio gear in the B-17 "City of Savannah" Restoration Project that the Coastal Amateur Radio Society is helping with. Amateur Radio Operators have been asked to assist with the project by working on the radio gear. Before getting started on the equipment this afternoon, we met with Jerry McLaughlin and were issued names tags and a project t-shirt (below).

After meeting with Jerry and Marshall Brooks, we moved on to the radio equipment where the first order of business was checking out the BC-348 receiver. The outside appeared to be a bit worn, but the inside was in VERY good condition according to Carroll. There may not be much trouble involved in getting the receiver in working condition, but more will be known after Carroll has the chance to check it out in depth with some test equipment. One interesting thing we discovered is that the front of the BC-348 shows it to be a BC-348-Q model but the inside of the cover to receiver has a BC-348-N label, so it could be composed of parts from two different radios.

Next, we moved on to examine the RT-18/ARC-1 VHF set. It didn't take very long to ascertain the this radio was not in as good condition as the BC-348 is. It was obviously not as well preserved and it will probably take considerably more effort to make it operational.

There is still plenty more equipment to look over and plans to be made on how to tackle the project, but today was a good start. Once the equipment is surveyed, we'll have a better idea of how much work needs to be done and how to go about getting doing it. Additionally, some research is in order to find some schematics for the radios and some info on how to restore this type of gear.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

VMFA(AW)-224 F/A-18D Crashes Offshore of SC

http://www2.wsav.com/sav/news/local/article/south_carolina_marines_recovering_after_fighter_jet_crash/105146/

I caught the tail end of the SAR after eating dinner and before going to Church this evening. At the time I wasn't sure if it was a fighter, but I knew that it was not a drill. 282.800, SAR Common was being used and 413.000, CG 410 was being used. There were also related comms on 313.800, VMFA-251 Base and 156.800, Marine VHF Ch. 16. F/A-18Cs from VMFA-251 and Coast Guard 6542 were working the SAR; as I walked in the room, the TBOLTs from VMFA-251 and 6542 were en route to MCAS Beaufort and Sector Charleston was broadcasting on Ch. 16 that two persons had been recovered.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Savannah CRTC Ramp Back Open and Full of F-15s

Over the weekend while in Brunswick, I heard the F-15s from the 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville IAP fly to Savannah, so I assumed the ramp maintenance at the Combat Readiness Training Center as finished. This morning I heard the 125th FW F-15s working offshore with some other F-15s from an as yet unknown unit. This afternoon, I rode out to the airport to take a look and discovered that the other F-15s are from the 1st Fighter Wing's 71st Fighter Squadron. The CRTC ramp is just packed full of F-15s, probably 20 or more. The ramp is definitely back open and in use. The F-15s have been going off shore into the W-areas and working intercepts against each other with NORAD control. I've also seen some posts on the MilRadioComms email group that they worked with an AWACS yesterday. Below are the callsigns and the frequencies that the two units have been using:

125th Fighter Wing: FANG, SNAKE, RATTLER, VENOM
234.800 - Aux 6
253.700 - Aux 7
314.200 - Aux 8
343.000 - Aux 9

71st Fighter Squadron: IRON, STEEL, KNIGHT
293.300 - CRTC frequency
363.900 - CRTC frequency
379.800 - CRTC frequency

In addition, both units have been calling in their in-flight reports to EAGLE OPS on the CRTC Ops/CP frequency 237.000. Maintenance ops for the 125th FW are on 140.2125 and maintenance ops for the 71st FS are on 149.4875 (both FM) but you will have to be fairly close to the airport to hear those because most of the traffic is from handheld radios.

Other frequencies to keep an ear on to catch the F-15s are:

257.800 - Savannah IAP Tower
353.775 - Savannah Approach/Departure
371.875 - Savannah Approach/Departure
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete

It's good to hear the CRTC back active again. Good Listening!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

2010 ARRL DX Contest Diary

I intended to use Twitter and the blog to send out updates on how the portable HF station was doing for the 2010 ARRL DX Contest, but my Blackberry decided to crap out on Friday afternoon, nixing that idea. I changed gears and decided to keep a "diary" of the contest and post it once I was able to get some internet access.

March 6, 0045 Local
From around 0001 local to 0030 local, I attempted to work some of the contest with my portable HF station using the FT-897D and a 40 Meter Hamstick. I set up behind work after I got off duty. I was most disappointed with the results. I heard 10-12 very strong stations but I just wasn't able to break through to any of them but one. Most stations were European, but the one station I was able to work was in Barbados. Trying to work these contests with 100 watts and a G5RV is bad enough, akin to taking a knife to a gunfight; trying to use this setup on 40 Meters was futile. There were just so many stations with more power and/or better antenna setups that I was lost in the noise.

March 6, 1015 Local
I came out to the South Dunes picnic area on Jekyll Island and set up the portable HF station to make another attempt at the Contest. I meant to bring the G5RV Jr. down this week to use it for the contest while at the picnic area but I left it in Savannah, so I am limited to the hamsticks. I set the FT-897 up on a picnic table and put the magmount for the hamsticks on a nearby manhole cover. 20 Meters seemed like the best bet for this time of the morning, so I gave it a try. The results on 20 Meters were much the same as the results on 40 Meters last night; I could hear a lot of stations, but just couldn't get through the bigger and better stations to make the contacts. I managed one 20 Meter contact into Dominica.

March 6, 1100 Local
After the frustration I was experiencing on 20 Meters, I decided to give 15 Meters a try. I'll be honest, I was really getting discouraged after my experience on 40 Meters and 20 Meters. 15 Meters worked out much better for me, though. I was hearing a lot of stations and although I still couldn't get through to them all, I was able to work 8 stations in Portugal, Martinique, Bosnia, Curacao, Aruba, Italy (2), and Dominica. 15 Meters was in really good condition and was the easiest of the 3 bands that I tried to work.

March 6, 1300 Local
With the "triple-back" schedule I'm working this weekend, that was it for my attempts at working the contest. After trying 15 Meters, I was able to leave Jekyll Island feeling much better and not considering that my attempt was a total wash-out. I was hearing a lot of stations, and I think that in less congested band conditions, I probably would have had a bit more success so I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to operate the portable station.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Brunswick Monitoring Post

I'm limited in what I can do for a monitoring post when I stay in Brunswick, but I've managed to get a good small setup going. I'm using a BC-396 with a RadioShack mag mount scanner antenna for MilAir, Aviation, and various conventional communications. A PRO-95 with a RadioShack 800 MHz scanner antenna scans the Glynn County TRS. I also have have a Yaesu VX-7R with me, so that can always double as a conventional scanner. For a portable setup, it is working rather well.

The nature of the construction of this building (metal studs, metal roof, etc) prevents good reception of VHF inside, but I've noticed that I've been getting OK reception of Townsend Range. The 800 MHz signals get through OK as well. VHF is the main problem, as I have trouble getting local amateur repeaters and the Glynn FD repeater from inside; the surrounding counties' VHF repeaters are obviously a no-go as well.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap; February 2010

I've added some new parts to the recap for February. I've added NAS Jacksonville separate from " Jacksonville" and turned the Jacksonville section into Jacksonville IAP. I'll also be including Malcolm McKinnon and Brunswick-Golden Isles when there is relevant traffic at those airports.

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanah Ops
323.125 - Hunter AAF ATIS
127.525 - Hunter AAF ATIS (New)

ARMY 26366 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26408 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26961 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03748 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03754 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6545 (MH-65C, Savannah
COAST GUARD 6604 (MH-65C, Savannah
BASCO ## (C-17, 437/315 AW)
COBB ## (C-130, 94th AW)
GUARD 26330 (UH-60L)
GUARD 26975 (UH-60L)
HISS 10 (E-6)
KIRBY 41 (AC-130)
LIFTR ## (C-17, 437/315 AW)
MAGNUM 456 (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY AJ 700 (SH-60, HS-3)
NAVY JV 832 (C-40, VR-58)
NAVY LL 14 (P-3C, VP-30)
PEACH 66 (E-8C frontend, 16th ACCS)
SCEPTER 68 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
SHADOW 91 (MC-130)
SHADOW 98 (MC-130)
TALON 2# (MC-130)
TEAL 56 (WC-130, 53rd WRS)
VALOR 20 (T-37, 14th TFW)


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

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
ARMY 05051
NAVY 1E 080 (TH-57)
NAVY 2E 925


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


MCAS Beaufort
328.425 - Approach/Departure
292.125 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
264.500 - PMSV
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2
376.425 - VMFA-251 Tac 3
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
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
CONVOY 4042
GYPSY ## (F/A-18F, VFA-32)
MARINE 44
RAGIN ## (F/A-18, VFA-37)


Malcolm McKinnon Airport
123.050 - CTAF

NAVY HN 543 (SH-60, HSL-42)


Charleston AFB
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD

BASCO ## (C-17, 437/315 AW)
LIFTR ## (C-17, 437/315 AW)


Shaw AFB
311.200 - 55th FS "SHOOTER OPS"
320.525 - 79th FS "TIGER OPS"
138.150 - 79th FS Air-to-Air
139.925 - 79th FS Air-to-Air
141.700 - 79th FS Air-to-Air

LONER ## (F-16C, 55th FS)
PISTOL ## (F-16C, 55th FS)
STRUT ## (F-16C, 55th FS)
VIPER ## (F-16C, 55th FS)
GUNDOG ## (F-16C, 79th FS)
JAGGER ## (F-16C, 79th FS)
MADCAT ## (F-16C, 79th FS)
SCAR ## (F-16C, 79th FS)
TIGER ## (F-16C, 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
149.625 - 169th FW V19

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


Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
317.700 - Jacksonville IAP Tower
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 FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

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


NAS Jacksonville/Mayport NS
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
317.700 - Jacksonville IAP Tower
340.200 - NAS Jax Tower

NAVY BK 511 (P-3)
NAVY HQ 474 (SH-60, HSL-46)
NAVY LF 16H (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LN 85 (P-3C, VP-45)
NAV LT 62MM (P-3C, VP-62)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
235.325 - JSTARS Discrete
276.075 - JSTARS Discrete
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
346.675 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 33 (E-8C frontend, 330th CTS)
STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th CTS)


Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
252.900 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
354.300 - Beefeater ECM Range (Poinsett)


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


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


Miscellaneous
364.200 - NORAD AICC
228.900 - NOARD Discrete
260.900 - NORAD Discrete
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
228.225 - Moody AFB "ANGEL OPS"
143.600 - 23 FG Air-to-Air
257.100 - Pope AFB CP
311.000 - MacDill AFB "LIGHTNING OPS"
228.275 - 2nd BW Air-to-Air

ADVANCE (JTAC)
BOLT 31 (KC-135, 6 AMW)
BUCKO ## (A-10, 23 FG)
DOOM ## (B-52H, 2nd BW)
DRAGON 1# (Hawker Hunter)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
JIMBO ## (AT_38, Columbus)
JOKER 8# (F/A-18)
MAGIC 67 (E-3 backend, NATO)
NAIL ## (A-10, 23 DFG)
NATO 17 (E-3 frontend, NATO)
NORTHERN LIGHTS (EADS)
PIRATE 22 (KC-135, 6 AMW/927 ARW)
ROMAN ## (F/A-18, VFA-106)
SANDHOG (JTAC)
SODA ## (KC-135, 151st ARS)
VENOM (JTAC, 165th ASOS)


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick 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
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Using the Radio Shack Pro-95 to Monitor the Glynn County TRS

Over the weekend, I programmed the Glynn County TRS into my old Radio Shack Pro-95 with hopes that it would monitor the rebanded system. Yesterday I took it down to Brunswick with me and found that it worked just fine; it had no problems tracking the rebanded frequencies. Given that the Glynn system is analog, the Pro-95 will suffice for it and leave the BC-396 for monitoring military aviation and digital communications.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

McIntosh County 911 Center to Reopen

From WTOC News Story:
http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=12032839

McIntosh County 911 will be reopening their 911 Center later this year, probably in May. Named the Wiregrass E911 Center, it will provide 911 and dispatch for both McIntosh and Long counties according to this WTOC report. It will also contain an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Designed to survive storms, the building will have 12 inch thick reinforced walls that should survive 200 mph winds.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Jekyll Island

Location: Brunswick, GA

This morning I went over to Jekyll Island and picked up year's pass. The $45 year's pass sure beats the $5 a day toll to get on. I think Jekyll will be a great place to "play radio" from. I drove around and noticed several picnic areas that would make great places to sit and monitor from as well as set up a temporary amateur radio station. The south end picnic area and north end picnic areas look particularly good. It would also be easy to set up with the hamsticks on the car at one of the parking lots on North Beachview Rd.

One idea that immediately came to mind was setting up a station during one of the Islands on the Air events. I could operate with one of the verticals or throw up the G5RV Jr. Sounds fun...

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Training in the Savannah Area

WTOC is reporting that there will be military training in the Savannah area over the coming week:
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11992474

Players for the exercise have been arriving throughout the day. 4 MC-130s using TALON 21, 22, and 23 arrived as did SHADOW 98. C-17s from Charleston AFB, BASCO 70 flight, have been doing drops with the Rangers at Fort Stewart this afternoon; they could be involved in the training WTOC describes as well.

This should make for some interesting stuff to listen to.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Online Feeds - The Radio Hobbyist's Latest Favorite Complaint

The soapbox has been dragged out from underneath the bed...

With the rapid expansion of Scanner Feeds on the internet, it seems that complaining about them being down is now one of the radio hobby's favorite things to complain about; complaints about radio feeds being down are sprinkled all throughout scanning message boards and forums. I don't provide feeds and I don't listen to feeds, but I still don't understand how this many people can complain about something being down that they don't pay for! They constantly complain about a free service; they're not providing the computer, radio, or internet access for the feed provider so how can they complain when it is down?

Enjoy it when the feed is up and be thankful that the provider has volunteered their equipment for it. When the feed is down, listen to your own radio(s).

Well, that's it for my occasional rant. I'm putting the soapbox back under the bed for awhile.

President Obama coming to Savannah next month | savannahnow.com

President Obama coming to Savannah next month | savannahnow.com

"ATLANTA - President Obama will be in Savannah to stump for his economic program March 2, the next stop on his White House to Main Street Tour, according to a White House press release."

See the link above for more.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
317 AM EST FRI FEB 12 2010

...A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT PARTS OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...

GAZ116-118-137-138-121700-
/O.UPG.KCHS.WS.A.0001.100212T1700Z-100213T1100Z/
/O.NEW.KCHS.WS.W.0001.100212T1700Z-100213T1100Z/
INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-LONG-INLAND LIBERTY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PEMBROKE...SAVANNAH...LUDOWICI...HINESVILLE
317 AM EST FRI FEB 12 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

LOW PRESSURE WILL INTENSIFY OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO THIS MORNING...THEN MOVE ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON TO A POSITION OFF THE CAROLINA COAST TONIGHT.

RAIN WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...MIXING WITH SLEET AND A LITTLE SNOW NEAR THE ONSET. AS COLDER AIR FROM THE NORTH OVERSPREADS THE REGION...THE RAIN WILL BEGIN TO MIX WITH AND EVENTUALLY CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY
THIS EVENING. SNOW...MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL THEN PERSIST THROUGH THIS EVENING BEFORE TAPERING OFF AFTER MIDNIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS INLAND FROM THE COAST...CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ARE EXPECTED OR ALREADY OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE.

Aircraft Crash at Malcolm McKinnon Airport (SSI)

I initially got this out to the blog via a Twitter post this afternoon, but I wanted to get out a regular blog post about it as well. Shortly after 1500 today, a single engine two seat aircraft crashed on the runway at Malcolm McKinnon Airport on St. Simons Island. Zone 2 and other units from Glynn County FD responded to find the aircraft near the middle of the runway upright with moderate damage and one minor injury. Shortly after arrival, all units shifted from GCFD F1 to GCFD F2 for incident operations (this was the first time I've heard them move incident ops off of the F1 dispatch TG). It was also reported that a USCG helicopter was orbiting overhead when the first units arrived on scene (I didn't hear the USCG comms, it is hard to get simplex communications like that from inside this building with a handheld). Engine 2 and Squad 4 ended up handling the situation. Airport authorities were notified and the runway was closed.

If anyone heard any of the USCG comms on this incident I'd love to hear about it. I would guess they were either on CG 410 (413.000 MHz P25) or CG 113 (163.1375 MHz P25)

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
308 PM EST THU FEB 11 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO IMPACT PARTS OF THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

GAZ116-118-137-138-SCZ048>051-120415-
/O.NEW.KCHS.WS.A.0001.100212T1700Z-100213T1100Z/
INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-LONG-INLAND LIBERTY-BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PEMBROKE...SAVANNAH...LUDOWICI...
HINESVILLE...BEAUFORT...HILTON HEAD...EDISTO BEACH...CHARLESTON...JASPER
308 PM EST THU FEB 11 2010

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

LOW PRESSURE WILL INTENSIFY OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...BEFORE CROSSING THE FLORIDA PENINSULA FRIDAY AFTERNOON THEN SHIFTING INTO THE ATLANTIC FRIDAY NIGHT.

RAIN WILL BEGIN ACROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. AS COLDER AIR FROM THE NORTH OVERSPREADS THE REGION...THE RAIN WILL BEGIN TO MIX WITH AND EVENTUALLY CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON OR EARLY FRIDAY EVENING.
SNOW...MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL THEN PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE TAPERING OFF AFTER MIDNIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS INLAND FROM THE COAST...CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATION THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
CHARLESTON.

Fun Radio Day

Location: Brunswick, GA

I had a great time on the radios this afternoon. A trip down to St. Mary's combined scouting locations to operate from, monitoring some MilCom, and operating some amateur radio HF.

I started out the afternoon doing some Jax area MilCom monitoring in St. Marys. Things weren't very active; I only heard a few P-3s and SH-60s on Jacksonville Approach/Departure frequencies and NAS Jax tower. I left St. Marys and went to scout Crooked River State Park near NAS Kings Bay as an operating location. The park seems like a very nice place to operate from, especially during the non-tourist season. I think it will be worth getting a year's State Parks pass to visit on a regular basis to do some amateur radio HF operating.

After looking around Crooked River State Park, I headed north back to Brunswick. As I began heading north, the MilCom activity began to pick up. F/A-18s from MCAS Beaufort began to work in W-157 and at Townsend Range. F-15s from Jax IAP also began to work in W-157. After the F/A-18s in Townsend Range departed, A-10s from Moody AFB showed up. Its always fun to listen to the A-10s!

On the way home, I detoured to St. Simon's Island and checked out Massengale Park as a place to "play radio." I could, of course, easily hear W-157 activity from the park, which is located on the east side of the island. I could also hear Townsend Range and the Coastal MOA as well as some acivity from Bulldog MOA. While there, I pulled out the FT-897D and the 20 Meter hamstick and operated the portable amateur radio station. I worked 3 stations in the ARRL School Club Roundup: K4PCC in North Carolina, WD5AGO in Oklahoma, and W9HHX in Wisconsin. I was glad I had the chance to work a few of the stations today because I since I upgraded to General I've always tried to work some of the school stations during the roundups. I may try to get on the air Friday and pick up a few more.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap; January 2010

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
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY 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 26367 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26408 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03754 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03756 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6542 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6545 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6565 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6604 (MH-65C, Savannah)
NAVY BJ 541 (CH-53E, HM-14)
PHEONIX ## (CH-53E, USMC)
TEAL 66 (WC-130, 53rd WRS)


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 air-to-air

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
VENUS 32
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test)
FORTRESS 390TH (B-17G, LIBERTY BELLE)


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
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
269.700 - VMFA-122 Tac 3
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-2224 Tac 2
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2
289.275 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 1
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
FOX 323 (C-12, USMC)
FOX 716 (C-12, USMC)
CONVOY 4122
CONVOY 4835
NAVY HP 443 (SH-60, HSL-44)
NAVY JT 752 (C-9, VR-52)
RAGIN ## (F/A-18, VFA-37)


Charleston AFB
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD

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


Shaw AFB
381.300 - Command Post
311.200 - 55th FS "SHOOTER OPS"
139.900 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.650 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.700 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.900 - 55th FS air-to-air
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"

COLT (F-16C, 55th FS)
GRIPE (F-16C, 55th FS)
HYDRA (F-16C, 55th FS)
LONER (F-16C, 55th FS)
MISTY (F-16C, 55th FS)
MUSTANG (F-16C, 55th FS)
NAIL (F-16C, 55th FS)
RAZOR (F-16C, 55th FS)
LUCKY (F-16C, 55th FS)
ROULETTE (F-16C, 77th FS)
SKYCAP (F-16C, 77th FS)
TRUMP (F-16C, 77th 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

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


Jacksonville IAP
322.400 - App/Dep
351.800 - App/Dep
377.050 - 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

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


NAS Jacksonville/NS Mayport
322.400 - App/Dep
351.800 - App/Dep
377.050 - App/Dep
340.200 - NAS Jax Tower
239.300 - NS Mayport Tower
310.200 - NAS Jax Base Ops
264.200 - VP-8/16 Base

NAVY AC 61# (SH-60, HS-7)
NAVY LF ## (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LL ## (P-3C, VP-30)
LANCER ## (P-3C, VP-10)
MAD FOX ## (P-3C, VP-5)
PELICAN ## (P-3C, VP-45)
TIGER ## (P-3C, VP-8)
NAVY JK 510 (C-2, VRC-40)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
346.675 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete

STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th 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
133.950 - South Primary
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
301.000 - South TACTS Range
350.000 - South TACTS Range
311.500 - BRISTOL Discrete
320.500 - BRISTOL Discrete


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


Miscellaneous
BENDER ## (A-10, 23rd FG)
BOLT 06 (KC-135, 6th AMW)
BOXCAR 20 (C-130)
COAST GUARD 2002 (HC-130J)
DEECEE 92 (KC-135, 459th ARW)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
MAGIC ## (E-3 backend, NATO)
MUDDY ## (A-10, 23rd FG)
NAIL ## (A-10, 23rd FG)
NATO 17 (E-3 frontend, NATO)
POISON 0# (T-38)
STRIKER (JTAC)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
236.400 - NORAD AICC
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
311.000 = MacDill AFB "LIGHTNING OPS"
271.100 - 23rd FG air-to-air
283.700 - 23rd FG air-to-air
348.900 - AR-600


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
307.250 - Jax Center St. Augustine
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

256.900 - Atlanta Center
323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon



Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

This afternoon I decided to test out a way to get on the air on the HF bands from Brunswick. The idea is to use the FT-897D and Hamstick vertical antennas. I propped the FT-897D up on the dash of the car, powered by my marine deep cycle battery (which I placed behind the passenger seat). I placed a mag-mount on the roof of the car and tried out 40, 20, and 15 Meter hamsticks. The LDG AT-897 tuner tuned everything just fine and I was even able to make a contact with PJ2/K8ND in Curacao while testing 20 Meters! No doubt this will make a usable portable setup for operating HF while I'm at work in Brunswick.

The next phase of the project will be acquiring an 80 Meter and 6 Meter hamstick. I'd like to be able to check in to the ARES, Georgia Traffic, Georgia Traffic, and South CARS nets on 80 Meters and that will require 80 Meter capability. Anyone who follows this blog knows I'll have to have 6 Meter capability, especially when the Summer Es are rolling.

Anyway, keep an ear out for KF4LMT on the HF bands a little more often in the future.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

6 Meter Band Opening - 31 January 2010

Yesterday afternoon Russ, K4YGD was kind enough to call me and let me know about a 6 Meter band opening. I spent much of the morning and afternoon getting Groundwaves, the Coastal Amateur Radio Society Newsletter finished and sending it out to club members, so I hadn't had radios on to know it was open. Following Russ' call, I cranked up the FT-897D and hooked it up to the triband vertical to see what was going on. Straight away, I made contacts to New York, Ontario, and Quebec. After supper, before sitting down to watch the Pro Bowl, I checked 6 Meters again and found it open to the West and Midwest, working Illinois, Missouri, and Texas.

I don't have a 6 Meters setup down in Brunswick yet, so it was good to hear some Winter Es on one of my days off while I'm here in Savannah. Before the Summer E season cranks up I'm definitely going to have to get something setup for 6 in Brunswick.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT

USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) Carrier Strike Group Activity

While in Brunswick the last few days, I was able to monitor some of the USS Truman CSG activity from both the Brunswick and St. Mary's areas using the mobile Monitoring Post. While there is much more activity out of the Strike Group than what I list below (i.e. Pinecastle Range), what I could hear was the activity immediately around Jacksonville: the "Headless Stack" and "Casey Stack." F/A-18s from the Truman were working those areas for Close Air Support and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance related missions.

Frequencies
351.800 - Jacksonville Approach/Departure
307.250 - Jacksonville ARTCC St. Augustine
267.500 - SEALORD South Primary

328.425 - USS Truman Marshal
314.500 - USS Truman, "Casey Stack" frequency?
342.250 - USS Truman, "Headless Stack"

Callsigns
CANYON - F/A-18E (VFA-105)
CHECK - F/A-18A+ (VMFA-312)
GYPSY - F/A-18F (VFA-32)
RAGIN - F/A-18C (VFA-37)
ADVANCE - JTAC
HARDROCK - JTAC
SPARTAN - JTAC

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT