29 March 2010

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

26 March 2010

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.

25 March 2010

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

15 March 2010

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

12 March 2010

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

10 March 2010

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

09 March 2010

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

05 March 2010

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

02 March 2010

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