KF4LMT's Monitoring Post: Scanning and Amateur Radio in Coastal Georgia

Moved To WordPress

2010-05-28T17:37:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-27T08:04:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-27T08:03:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-27T08:01:00.000-04:00

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?

2010-05-26T14:24:00.000-04:00

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

2010-05-20T07:22:00.003-04:00

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"

2010-05-13T16:38:00.006-04:00

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

2010-05-10T17:26:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-10T17:01:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-09T20:54:00.005-04:00

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

2010-05-08T19:22:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-03T08:38:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-21T12:37:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-21T08:12:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-19T17:56:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-15T16:43:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-13T11:07:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-12T16:00:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-12T15:12:00.004-04:00

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?

2010-04-12T14:39:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-11T11:07:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-10T06:10:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-05T20:01:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-05T19:50:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-02T18:42:00.001-04:00

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

2010-03-29T08:43:00.003-04:00

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

2010-03-29T08:39:00.002-04:00

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

2010-03-29T08:20:00.002-04:00

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?

2010-03-26T15:16:00.003-04:00

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

2010-03-26T15:13:00.001-04:00

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

2010-03-25T16:35:00.004-04:00

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

2010-03-15T18:48:00.003-04:00

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

2010-03-12T19:32:00.003-05:00

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

2010-03-10T20:11:00.007-05:00

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

2010-03-10T20:08:00.002-05:00

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

2010-03-10T16:35:00.004-05:00

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

2010-03-09T08:53:00.001-05:00

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

2010-03-05T12:23:00.003-05:00

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

2010-03-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

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

2010-03-02T09:02:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-25T00:51:00.000-05:00

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

2010-02-21T23:51:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-16T15:16:00.005-05:00

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

2010-02-15T16:33:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

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

2010-02-12T03:53:00.003-05:00

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)

2010-02-11T17:31:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-11T17:27:00.001-05:00

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

2010-02-10T19:43:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-02T12:12:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-01T16:56:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-01T09:46:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-31T15:11:00.002-05:00

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

USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) Carrier Strike Group

2010-01-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

Location: Brunswick

The USS Truman CSG is currently operating off of the Florida Coast for training. I'll post more along with frequencies as soon as I get the chance.

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Winter Field Day

2010-01-27T04:55:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow HAMs,

All Savannah area amateur radio operators are invited to participate in an outing that we are having in conjunction with the Winter Field Day. Here is a link to the outfit that is sponsoring the Field Day nationally.

http://www.spar-hams.org/contests/winterfd/index.php?pg=2.

We have reserved the pavillion at the Lott's Island Recreation Area on Hunter Army Airfield for all day Saturday, Jan 30th. Folks will begin arrivng to set up as early as 0830 or 0900. Bring a radio, a power source, and an antenna, or just bring yourself and get on the air! You will need to get a vehicle pass at the Stephenson or Montgomery St. gate before you can enter the recreation area via the Rio Gate. You'll need your drivers license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Tell the guard that you are going to the amateur radio outing at Lott's Island. Here is some info on Lott's Island Rec Center.

http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/component/content/article/49-georgia/94-lotts-island-army-airfield-rv-park

Guy McDonald, K4GTM
ARES Emergency Coordinator Chatham County GA
www.k4gtm.blogspot.com/

More USCG Activity is Being Heard on UHF

2010-01-20T20:46:00.004-05:00

Chris Parris' Monitoring Times Fedcom Blog reports more USCG activity in the 405-420 MHz band. 413.000 has been logged active as "CG 410" here in Savannah; now 412.975 has been logged active as "CG 409" in San Francisco. Additionally, 416.550 has also been heard in California but no designator has been ascertained. He also indicates that these UHF frequencies are part of the USCG SCRU (Short Range Communications Upgrade system). For more info on what is being heard, check out the MT Fedcom Blog at the link above.

As I've mentioned several times before, it is time to start searching for new USCG frequencies; their communications are in a state of change. One of the fun things about the radio hobby is searching down new communications systems!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Robins AFB TRS

2010-01-17T08:50:00.005-05:00

On 14 January, I took a trip to the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins with my friends Dan, KF4MND and Guy, K4GTM. It had been awhile (apparently since 2007 as near as I can tell) since I had been to the museum and they have had some changes for the good since that last visit. They have built a built a third hangar and have been able to move even more aircraft inside out of the elements. A Thunderbirds F-16 and an MH-53J Pave Low have been added to their inventory. A neat feature has been added to the second hangar - a second level houses the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame and allows you to look down upon the SR-71 and U-2 and level with the MH-53J! A great museum just continues to get better; if you've never been there plan a trip - you'll enjoy it.

While there at the museum, I took the opportunity to monitor the Robins AFB TRS. Since my last visit, the system has become mixed mode; they are now incorporating P25 digital talkgroups. The digital talkgroups were in the 4#### range and appear to be used by the 116th Air Control Wing. All of their previously heard 8### talkgroups were silent. With the demise of the 19th ARG, their talkgroups in the 16### range were also silent. I have combined this trip with previous monitoring of the system to form this list:

406.3625, 406.7625, 407.1625, 407.3625, 407.9625, 408.1625, 408.7625, 409.1625, 409.5625

TG 2544
TG 2576
TG 2960
TG 3248 - ALC, ROGUE CONTROL
TG 3344 - ALC?
TG 3376 - ALC
TG 3408 - ALC?
TG 3472 - ALC
TG 3504 - ALC
TG 3536 - ALC
TG 3568 - ALC
TG 3600 - ALC
TG 3632 - ALC
TG 3696 - ALC
TG 3760 - ALC
TG 3792 - ALC
TG 3856 - ALC
TG 3888 - ALC
TG 4912 - Tower/Ground Control
TG 4944 - Crash/Fire
TG 6448 - Security Control
TG 6480 - Police Control
TG 11280
TG 13648
TG 13680
TG 13712
TG 40048 - 116 ACW (P25)
TG 40528 - 116 ACW (P25)
TG 40784 - 116 ACW (P25)

Hawks Return From Japan

2010-01-15T18:06:00.002-05:00

I have not heard the HAWKs return, but I look forward to hearing them back in the air and training in the Coastal Georgia area soon. They work Townsend Range frequently and that is something I should be able to hear pretty easily from Brunswick. - Mac

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney White

Date: 01.14.2010

After six months of deployment, approximately 190 Marines and two corpsman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, also known as the Hawks, returned to the Air Station, Tuesday from Iwakuni, Japan.

The Hawks conducted a Western Pacific deployment to Iwakuni and provided 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with additional operational capability, including flight support and disaster relief.

"The Hawks provided 1st MAW with additional assets to conduct inter-service operation in order to exercise systems as well as provide valuable experience for all aircrew and maintainers," explained Capt. Matt Humphries, a weapons systems officer with VMFA(AW) – 533.

The Hawks worked with numerous units from the Marine Corps, the Air Force, Japanese Air Self Defense Force and the Philippine Air Force.

During the deployment, the Hawks pilots were able to successfully train with various types of F/A-18 Hornets, train in Dissimilar Air Combat Training with Mitsubishi F-2's and F-15 Eagle's from the JASDF and provided real-time imagery and reconnaissance in support of humanitarian and disaster relief operations in the Philippines as a result of Super Typhoon Ketsana.

"We were able to send individual Marines to work with the Army and Air Force in South Korea and Japan as part of annual bi-lateral exercises," Humphries said.

While the Marines were deployed, their spouses were able to participate in various activities such as movie night, bowling night and a yellow ribbon cruise to pass time with others who are experiencing the same thing, explained Jennifer Scherr, the VMFA(AW) – 533 family readiness officer.

"Although deployments can be demanding on families, the support of other spouses helps us know that we're not going through this alone," said Maura Quinn, spouse of a Fightertown Marine. "When you're having a rough time during a deployment, it's nice to know that others are going through the same thing and are there for you."

Spouses will continue to have support for each other and gatherings during future deployments, according to Sherr.

"As a whole, the deployment was extremely successful, with all of the Marines gaining valuable experience in all aspects of aviation and maintenance," Humphries said. "We hope to take all that we have learned and translate it into an even greater success in the United States."

The Hawks will continue training for their upcoming deployment, scheduled for early 2011.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Communications

2010-01-14T05:33:00.003-05:00

On Wednesday, I devoted the majority of my radio monitoring time to the Haitian Earthquake. While friends of mine were monitoring the Amateur Radio nets associated with relief operations, I decided to monitor USCG relief operations. I concentrated on the COTHEN ALE Net, listening to HH-60s doing medevacs and HC-130s doing evacuations and medevacs from the Port Au Prince Airport. HH-60s using the callsigns ##C and J## and HC-130s using the callsigns 15## and 17## were working through ground stations CAMSLANT (Communications Master Station Atlantic), PANTHER (Operation Bahamas and Turks), and USCG District 7 Miami Ops (via phone patch through SERVICE CENTER). Most of the activity I heard was on the following frequencies:

5.732 USB
7.527 USB
8.912 USB
10.242 USB
11.494 USB
15.867 USB

As far as Amateur Radio Nets are concerned, there are IARU nets in operation on 7.045 LSB and 3.720 LSB. Amateur Radio Operators are asked to monitor these nets, but make sure they are kept clear for essential traffic. SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) also has nets active on 14.265 USB, 7265 LSB, and 3977.7 LSB. There are also some Echolink VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) nets in operation. In the Savannah area, these can be monitored on the 146.700 and 442.700 repeaters when Jerry, W4SGA and Dan, KF4MND have their echolink nodes connected to the repeaters.

Local VHF/UHF monitoring has indicated multiple large helicopters such as US Navy CH-53s moving southbound and airlift assets departing Charleston AFB for Haiti. Hunter AAF has been used for refueling stops for CH-53s in the past; you may be able to hear them come and go on 124.975/279.575 with communications also possible on Base Ops, 126.200. Aircraft departing Charleston AFB for Haiti can be heard on 134.100/349.400.

Please Pray for the People of Haiti and for the Military Personnel, Government Employees, and NGO workers that are trying to help them.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Joint basing at Charleston moves forward with activation of 628th ABW

2010-01-11T20:27:00.001-05:00

by Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles
628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/11/2010 - CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) -- Eighteenth Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Jan. 8 at Charleston AFB.

The activation of the 628th ABW is the latest step toward the stand up of Joint Base Charleston Jan. 31.

The joint base stand up in late January will begin the next phase in an ongoing process to merge Charleston AFB with Naval Weapons Station Charleston as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Program.

A total of 12 joint bases across the Department of Defense will have been established when the last one stands up.

The activation ceremony for the 628th ABW was accompanied by the inactivation of two groups under the 437th Airlift Wing, the prior host unit, and their immediate activation as the new 628th Mission Support and 628th Medical Groups under the 628 ABW.

The 437th Airlift Wing had served as the base's host unit since 1991.

Aside from the inactivation of the two groups previously under the 437th AW, the 437th Aerial Port Squadron was realigned under the 437th Maintenance Group. Also, many wing staff agencies previously assigned to the 437th AW will now operate under the 628th ABW.

The organizational structure of other the tenant units on Charleston AFB will remain unchanged.

The leaders of the 437th AW will continue their mission to command assigned airlift and supporting units, providing for the airlift of troops and passengers, military equipment, cargo and aeromedical airlift; and to participate in operations involving the airdrop of troops, equipment and supplies when required.

As the general officer officiating the activation ceremony for the 628th ABW, Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, formally introduced Col. Martha Meeker, the first commander of the 628th ABW, citing the depth of her intellect, warrior spirit and capacity for leadership.

"For the complexities of this great merger that we have, pulling together the best of what the Navy has to offer and the best of what the Air Force has to offer, we in the Air Force chose one of our great leaders, Col. Martha Meeker, to come down to Charleston ... so that this great day today, she could take command of the now-established 628th ABW," he said.

As the 628th ABW commander, Colonel Meeker will direct host unit duties for the tenant units of Charleston AFB, and after Jan. 31, for Naval Weapons Station Charleston tenant units as well, as they are merged into Joint Base Charleston.

With the activation of two groups under the 628th ABW, the air base wing's primary duties will be to provide base support for approximately 80,000 personnel, including active-duty and Reserve military members, civilian government employees and contractors, military family members and retirees.

Services provided by the 628th ABW will include base support provisions, such as housing and facilities maintenance, security, childcare, public works, communications, finance, logistics, medical support, personnel, public affairs, legal, food service, contracts and recreation.

The servicing agencies under the wing will employ approximately 2,100 personnel.

In her first public address as 628th ABW commander, Colonel Meeker spoke about heritage, continued commitment and hard work.

"On this day in 1790, George Washington gave the nation's first State of the Union address. A fledging institution itself, the United States had fought hard for its freedom, and President Washington began his remarks by reaffirming his belief in the common defense that made that freedom happen. For as in his words, preparing for war is the most effectual means to preserving the peace," said Colonel Meeker.

"When we look at his words today, all our Airmen, our Sailors, our Soldiers and Marines, and everyone here who makes up Joint Team Charleston, are taking their place today in our common defense. At the center of that Joint Team Charleston, you'll find now the 628th (ABW)," she said.

General Allardice also remarked on the impact the Charleston military community has had, which dates back to the Revolutionary War, and its current role in supporting military and humanitarian operations anywhere in the world.

Joint Base Charleston, he said, will continue that impact with greater efficiency.

"Nothing happens in the world without Charleston from a military perspective," he said. "This is a national treasure here at Charleston ... I know you are focused on preserving that, on building that and on establishing more and more of this great power projection platform that you represent here at Charleston."

Glynn County FD Agency Overview

2010-01-11T08:06:00.003-05:00

The Glynn County Fire Department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services for the unincorporated areas of Glynn County, St. Simons Island, and the two airports in Glynn County: the Glynco Jetport and Malcolm McKinnon airport. They have a very good website at www.glynncountyfiredept.org that has a further description of the department and their services. Judging by their website, the department is also scanner friendly; they list the frequencies for the Glynn County TRS and the conventional VHF repeater that simulcasts their traffic. It is important for those that don't monitor Glynn County frequently that Glynn County FD uses Squad in a different fashion than many areas; in Glynn County a Squad is an EMS unit (ambulance).

The Glynn County Fire Department is organized into 8 fire stations with at least two unit riding out of each station. For the most part, unit numbering is based off of the station they are based out of. Supervisors and other units such as inspectors use 5#, 6#, and 7# unit numbers. The Fire Chief is Car 57 and the Deputy Chief is Car 59. Each Platoon (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) has a Deputy Chief whose unit numbers are Cars 52, 51, and 53 respectively. Other supervisors are the Captain of Prevention, Car 58; the Captain of Rescue, Car 64; and the Captain of Training, Car 66. The two inspectors are Cars 68 and 78.

They are dispatched by Glynn County 911 but they also work with Fire Control, which is a departmental station that provides information on hydrant locations, makes changes to responses, and coordinates departmental activity. Although they have multiple talkgroup assignments on the Glynn County TRS, most all of their communications are on the F-1 talkgroup; for some unit-to-unit communications they will switch to the F-2 talkgroup. So far, I've not heard them move off of F-1 for fireground communications. As mentioned previously, the F-1 talkgroup is also simulcast on the 154.385 Glynn County FD repeater.

Station 1 (Headquarters) - 4310 Community Rd, Brunswick
Deputy Chiefs, Car 51, 52, 53
Engines 1 and 11
Ladder Tower 1
Rescue 1
Tanker 1
Squad 1
Haz Mat 1
Support Unit 109

Station 2 - 1929 Demere Rd, St. Simons (Near Malcolm McKinnon)
Engine 2
Rescue 2
Squad 2
Support Unit 107

Station 3 - 127 Grants Ferry Rd, Brunswick
Engine 3
Squad 3

Station 4 - 3581 Frederica Rd, St. Simons
Engine 4
Ladder 4
Squad 4
Engine 32

Station 5 - 500 Connole St, Brunswick (Glynco Jetport)
Engine 5
Crash Fire Rescue 5
Crash Fire Rescue 12

Station 6 - 3320 Hwy 17 South, Brunswick
Engine 6
Squad 6

Station 7 - 2911 Lawrence Rd, St. Simons
Engine 7
Tanker 7

Station8 - Public Safety Blvd
Engine 8
Squad 8
Tactical Support 65
Investigation Unit A1

Reserve Units
Engine 9
Engine 10
Engine 12
Snorkel 21
Ambulance

Sources:
Glynn County FD Website
http://www.glynncountyfiredept.org

Personal Monitoring Experience

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap; December 2009

2010-01-11T07:37:00.002-05:00

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 35359 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26286 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26417 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26961 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03751 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03752 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
TESTHOOK ## (H-47, 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)
ADDIS(ATTIS?) (E-6, visual ID)
BLUE 62 (C-17, Charleston, visual ID)
BOXCAR 10 (C-130)
NAVY AJ 702 (H-60, HS-3)
PEACH 35 (E-8C, 330 CTS)
PEACH 67 (E-8C, 16 ACCS)
PIKE 25 (E-6)
SCEPTER 15 (HC-130, 71st RQS)
SCEPTER 17 (HC-130, 71st RQS)
SUNNY 483 (C-12, MCAS Cherry Point)
TEAL 56 (WC-130, 53rd WRS)
YANKEE 62 (KC-130, VMGR-452)

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 50501 (C-12)
TEAL 56 (WC-130, 53rd WRS)
EAGLE 1 (MD-500, Chatham County)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test)

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

GUARD 26415 (UH-60, SC ARNG?)

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
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base
301.950 - VMFA-312 Tac 1
320.300 - VMFA-312 Tac 2

NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
DEVIL 01 (T-34, USN)
SNIPER ## (F-5, VMFT-401)

Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD
238.650 - 437/315th AW air-to-air

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

Shaw AFB
311.200 - 55th FS "SHOOTER OPS"
139.900 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.650 - 55th FS air-to-air
273.700 - 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS"
138.200 - 77th FS air-to-air
139.975 - 77th FS air-to-air
140.375 - 77th FS air-to-air
141.950 - 77th FS air-to-air

MOJO (F-16C, 55th FS)
SNAKE (F-16C, 55th FS)
CAESER (F-16C, 77th FS)
MUSTANG (F-16C, 77th FS)
NAIL (F-16C, 77th FS)
ROULETTE (F-16C, 77th FS)
RUDE (F-16C, 77th FS)

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

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

NAS Jacksonville
322.400 - App/Dep
351.800 - App/Dep
377.050 - App/Dep
264.200 - VP-8 Base, NAS Jax

NAVY LF ## (P-3C, VP-16)
NAVY LL ## (P-3C, VP-30)
BUZZARD ## (P-3, VPU-1)
LANCER 39 (P-3C, VP-10)
MAD FOX ## (P-3C, VP-5)
TIGER ## (P-3C, VP-8)

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

PEACH 3# (E-8C frontend, 330th CTS)
STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th CTS)
PEACH 6# (E-8C frontend, 16th ACCS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C backend, 16th ACCS)
PEACH 8# (E-8C frontend, 128th ACCS)
ALLEYCAT (E-8C backend, 128th ACCS)

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
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
349.800 - W-157 Discrete

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

Miscellaneous
CHALICE (E-3 backend, 963rd ACCS)
DEUCE (MACS-2)
DRAGNET (E-3 backend, 966th ACCS)
DOOM ## (B-52H, 2nd BW)
EMPIRE 11 (F/A-18, VFA-106)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
INDY 51 (KC-135, 434th ARW)
SKULL ## (B-52H, Barksdale)
STEALTH (117th ACS)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
228.275 - 2nd BW air-to-air

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

256.900 - Atlanta Center
323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

NS Kings Bay TRS Site 1 Search and Store

2010-01-10T07:19:00.002-05:00

Location: Kingsland, GA

While I was sleeping last night, I let the BC396 run a Search and Store on the NSB Kings Bay TRS Site 1 (386.050 CC). Only three talkgroups came up that I haven't logged on the site previously, but they are very interesting ones; I wish I had been awake to hear what traffic was on them (if they weren't encrypted):

2016
2048
8410

I have not seen any 4 digit talkgroups come up on the SE DOD TRS sites I've monitored thus far. Additionally, I've not seen any 4 digit talkgroups listed on the Radio Reference website either. For that reason, I'm not convinced that these are legitimate talkgroup IDs. It will take more monitoring to determine if these were actual talkgroups or errors in the Search and Store

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

NSB Kings Bay Sites of the Southeast DOD TRS

2010-01-09T19:32:00.005-05:00

Location: Kingsland, GA

This afternoon and evening have found me spending time in Kingsland, GA. In my down time, I've been monitoring the NSB Kings Bay site of the Southeast DOD TRS and a site that I believed is a second NSB Kings Bay site.

The site I thought to be the second Kings Bay site, using the control channel 386.1875 is definitely at or near NSB Kings Bay. The signals from the site are extremely strong on and around NSB Kings Bay and the talkgroup activity practically mirrors the already known NSB Kings Bay site. It is pretty safe identifying the site as NSB Kings Bay.

This being a Friday afternoon/evening, there has not been a great deal of talkgroup activity. Here is an overview of the talkgroup activity I've heard (it seems that the two have been simulcasting the same activity):

28053 - encrypted
28058 - encrypted/clear
28081 - encrypted
28087 - encrypted/clear
28563 - encrypted
28050 - Waterfront Security, encrypted
28562 - Police, encrypted/clear
28557 - Fire, encrypted/clear

Throughout the evening and afternoon I have heard nothing on the NSB Kings Bay 406 MHz TRS. I have heard some traffic on it during the daytime on weekdays before but it has almost always sounded civilian in nature.

Tomorrow I hope to have some more time to monitor the Kings Bay sites and some time to monitor the NS Mayport site. I doubt I'll be close enough to hear the NAS Jax site, but I'll definitely take some notes if I'm lucky enough.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Firefighter Michael Cooper Recovery Fund

2010-01-09T05:40:00.002-05:00

From the Savannah Morning News:

Richmond Hill Fire Department Firefighter Michael Cooper lost his home and all his possessions in a house fire early Friday morning. He and his family have need of clothes for two and four year-old males; female size 14 and size 24 pants, extra large and 2 XL shirts, plus male size 36 x 30 pants and large shirts. Clothing donations may be dropped at the Richmond Hill Fire Station at 722 Timber Trail.

A fund in the name of Firefighter Michael Cooper has been set up at Bryan Bank and Trust.

Donations can be mailed to :

Firefighter Michael Cooper Recovery Fund
C/O Sheena Holmes
P.O. Box 1299
Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324

For more on the fire that destroyed Firefighter Cooper's home, see the Bryan County News: http://www.bryancountynews.net/news/article/4901/

Radio Shack Pro-107 Handheld Scanner

2010-01-09T02:44:00.003-05:00

Awhile back I had an extended conversation with my friend Dan Scott, KF4MND on the 146.970 repeater here in Savannah about a new scanner he had just purchased: the Radio Shack Pro-107. He had some concerns about it and we discussed its features and capabilities. I have to admit that I wasn't all that familiar with this "iScanner" and my conversation with Dan and subsequent research have led me to some conclusions on how useful this radio would be to the coastal Georgia scanning hobbyist. I've divided them into two categories: positive and negative; some of them, as you read, will be contradictory but this is indicative of my conflicted opinions on the radio. I see some good points and bad points to a radio of this nature and they go beyond the radio's capabilities.

Let's start off with the positive conclusions:

The Pro-107 is designed to be an easy to use radio that one doesn't have to program. It operates off of the Radioreference.com database through the use of an SD card. This is certainly a bonus for the casual scanner listener, many of whom have problems programming a lot of the newer scanners. This eliminates the programming process and gets them directly to what they want to do and that is listen - usually to the local PD or FD.
Another bonus for the casual listener is that from what Dan describes to me and what I've seen it is fairly easy to operate; essentially if you can listen to your music on an iPod or MP3 player, then you can listen to and operate this scanner.
I think this may be a good radio to get new folks into the hobby. This could very well be a radio to whet their appetite for the hobby and eventually lead them to purchase a more capable radio and get deeper into the hobby.

Now for the negative conclusions:

This is not a good radio for the Savannah metropolitan area. Most police communications in Chatham and Effingham Counties are digital and all police communications in Bryan County are digital. This radio is Analog Only. That means if you like listening to the Police, this radio is not going to let you do it. At current, you would be able to monitor most all of the Fire/EMS radio communciations in Chatham and Effingham Counties and very little in Bryan County. In the not too distant future, the Chatham-Effingham TRS will be upgraded and it too will be all digital; at that point this radio will allow you to monitor very little public safety radio traffic in the Savannah metropolitan area. Most all new systems being introduced in urban areas and future upgrades for current systems in urban areas are All Digital. Being analog only is a serious weakness for this radio.
Following that, if a new scanning hobbyist bought this radio and was looking forward to listening to the Savannah area PDs, their experience with this radio could turn them off to the hobby. If they area Bryan County resident and bought the radio, it could really turn them off to the hobby!
A radio like this could lead to the "dumbing down" of the hobby. Already very few hobbyists are interested in putting their radios into search mode to look for new things and help build up the knowledge base on their area. By this radio's nature it will simply feed this trend. I know that in some respects, this conflicts with #3 in the positive conclusions but I see both sides of this issue and feel compelled to include both views here.

In short, I feel that this could be a very good entry level scanner or a scanner for the casual scanning hobbyist, albeit for a limited time and with limited capability for those living in the metropolitan Savannah area. For those in more rural areas of coastal Georgia it would be more useful. If Radio Shack and the radio's manufacturer GRE are planning on introducing a digital model of the Pro-107 (and I suspect they are) it would be a much better choice for those in the Savannah area. My suggestion to those in the metropolitan Savannah area looking to buy one of these radios is to wait and see if they introduce a digital model; it will save you money and frustration in the long run.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Savannah Amateur Radio License Classes

2010-01-09T02:38:00.002-05:00

I'm reposting this from my friend Guy's Blog. Guy is one of the instructors for the Technician Level Amateur Radio Classes. If you know anyone who is interested in becoming an Amateur Radio Operator steer them Guy's way.

We have settled on dates for the next Amateur Radio License class here in Savannah. This will be the entry level license called Technician. No radio or electronics experience is required. This class is delivered by Extra Class Amateur Radio Operators who are American Radio Relay League Registered Instructors. We'll teach you everything you need to know to get your license. If you are interested in attending the class just send me an email or give me a call. If you know someone else who may be interested please pass this info on to them as well. If you would like some more detail or just to ask me some questions please feel free to contact me. Here are the particulars:

Date: Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Place: Memorial University Medical Center, Hoskins Building
Cost: Free
Study Guide: Get one at http://www.amazon.com/ARRL-Ham-Radio-License-Manual/dp/0872599639/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262826447&sr=8-1
Test Session: Feb 20 at 9:00am at Memorial Medical Center, Hoskins Building. Cost is $15

Guy McDonald, K4GTM

ARES Emergency Coordinator
Chatham County GA
President, Coastal Amateur Radio Society

www.k4gtm.blogspot.com/

Hot Calls and Cold Calls in Chatham County

2010-01-06T16:24:00.001-05:00

Earlier today I got an email asking about the use of Hot and Cold Calls in Chatham County EMS dispatches. This is something I should have posted about some time ago but it didn't come to mind.

Basically Hot Call and Cold Call replaced Code 3 and Code 1 after Chatham County transitioned to plain English dispatching. A Hot Call is the old Code 3 response with lights and siren activated. A Cold Call is the old Code 1 response with no lights and siren.

You'll hear Metro dispatch use the terms Hot or Cold Call in their initial dispatch as well as by MedStar and Southside when they re-dispatch 911 calls.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Heavy weapons at Savannah airport aren't part of increased security

2010-01-05T17:28:00.001-05:00

From Savannah Morning News

By Pamela E. Walck

It's hard to miss a bunch of Humvees armed with Avenger Air Defense Systems, parked near the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, guns aimed skyward.

It's even harder to ignore the 450 extra soldiers and airmen milling around the airport and nearby Georgia Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center - all of whom will be highly visible over the next 10 days as part of an Exercise America Drill led by the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, South Carolina Army National Guard.

"There are no 'live' fires scheduled," said Lt. Col. Bill Berry, deputy operations officer for the 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command. "It's just soldiers on systems, doing tracking drills, that sort of thing."

Regardless, the extra activities on the airport property didn't go unnoticed by county residents en route to work at nearby businesses, such as Gulfstream.

Lori Lynah, the airport's director of marketing and public relations, said with close proximity to the Air Guard's training center, Fort Stewart and Parris Island, it isn't unusual for military organizations to use the area for training purposes.

"We actually get a lot of stuff like this," she said.

Read the full story in Wednesday's Savannah Morning News.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Coming Soon

2010-01-04T05:13:00.000-05:00

I'm in the process of working on two new posts that should be posted sometime this weekend or next week. One of them is the monthly MilCom recap for December; I've not forgotten about it, it will just be delayed in posting. The other post will be a Glynn County FD monitoring overview. The differences between how they operate and how Savannah area FD's are interesting.

Portable in Brunswick

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Assisting with Army Deployment

2009-12-30T16:48:00.004-05:00

Last night, I assisted an American Red Cross team in seeing off a group of 1st BCT, 3rd ID soldiers from Fort Stewart off on their deployment to Iraq. Guy McDonald, K4GTM picked me up around 8 PM and we went over to the Truscott terminal at Hunter AAF. The team served coffee, hot chocolate, and tea for the soldiers as they ate a meal, manifested, and prepared for departure. As they boarded the aircraft, the Red Cross team and the USO saw them off with good words of thanks. It was cold and windy last night, but it was a good way to spend an evening.

I brought along my my BC396 and an earphone; it was helpful to be able to listen to Hunter Tower and Base Ops, Hunter Trans Alert, and the DOL folks. Keeping an ear on their radio traffic helped us keep up with what was going on and when things would be happening. I think we were better prepared as a result.

Two things struck me last night. First I was struck by how young many of the these soldiers are. No doubt many of these were on their first deployment (assumed from the lack of unit patches on many left shoulders). I'm not exactly old, but many of these men and women seemed to be just kids. Second, I was struck by just how many female soldiers there were. One of the units on last night's flight was an MP unit and I'll bet the ratio of female to male soliders was close to 50/50. I would be really interested in seeing figures on how the Iraq and Afghanistan wars compare to previous wars and confilicts in the overall ratio of females to males serving.

Godspeed and Best Wishes to all of the Service People that are deployed or are deploying to our many committments overseas.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

RESCUE RADIO: GEORGIA HAMS GIVEN $165,000 TO BUILD D-STAR RESCUE RADIO NETWORK

2009-12-30T16:31:00.002-05:00

I received this in email this morning and thought it would be good to post here. The Pembroke D-STAR repeaters mentioned are on the WVAN tower in Pembroke and provide mobile but not portable coverage in Savannah.

Its one of the largest government grants ever given to ham radio emergency communications. This as $165,000 in Federal funding has been secured by Georgia Emergency Management Agency to complete a statewide D-Star based ham radio emergency communications network.. Amateur Radio Newslines David Black, KB4KCH, has the story of the grant and the all digital rescue radio network that it will create:

The networks creation is the result of a dream that started in 2005 according to John Davis, WB4QDX. Thats when a vision was born for what amateur radio emergency communications could one day achieve in the state of Georgia. Mark Fehlig, WA6NGC, is the former director of Engineering for the states Public Broadcasting System. When the opportunity arose to install two amateur radio antennas on each of nine television towers providing statewide coverage, Fehlig jumped into action. Fehlig designated Georgias Amateur Radio Emergency Service to control the use of those sites for emergency communications. The next task was to figure out the best technology to use at those sites.

Linked FM repeaters and packet were among the modes considered. But radio amateurs were also watching emerging D-Star technology. They recognized it as a state of the art platform providing simultaneous voice and data communications. Knowing that D-star also allows repeaters to be linked on a flexible basis and that it permits simultaneous voice and low speed data along with high speed Internet connectivity at 1-point-2 Gigahertzand the decision was made to go D-star for the states new system.

When the network is finished, radio amateurs will have access to voice and data repeaters on all nine towers across the state, operating on 2 meters, 440 MHz and 1-point-2 Gigahertz. Because those towers are strategically located to provide maximum public television coverage, amateur radio communications will benefit from wide area coverage, as well. Commercial grade inch and 5/8 transmission lines will connect the antennas, which will be between 500 and 600 feet above ground. Georgias Public Broadcasting Network will provide indoor space for equipment, along with backup power at each site. Internet access will be available, too, thanks to the broadcasting systems DS-3 data networkthis means flexible linking of repeaters will be possible using a stock D-Star interface.

The federal money will also pay for 20 dual-band D-star radios to be installed at EMA offices across the state, along with a portable UHF D-Star repeater available for emergency deployment. In addition, three 1-point-2 Gigahertz D-star radios with laptops for sending data and photos from field locations will also be purchased. The money will also be used to build a robust reflector to serve the states network during emergency conditions and also for general use during non-emergency times.
Two of the emergency networks D-star repeaters are already on the air. One is located at Pembroke, Georgia, near Savannah. The second operates from atop Stone Mountain, serving the Atlanta metro area. The complete Georgia D-star amateur radio emergency communications network is expected to be in operation in early 2010.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im David Black, KB4KCH, at the South-East bureau in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Georgia network will complement other D-Star based emergency communications systems planned or in operation in the neighboring states of Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. Once all are in operation, it will create a regional ham radio emergency capability across the American Southeast. This monetary grant is only second in size to one of $250,000 given by the governor of Oregon in 2007 to that states ham radio first responders. This, to build a Winlink-based state-wide amateur radio emergency communications network. (WB4QDX, Georgia ARES via Southgate) via ARN news

Good FIre Related Twitter Feed: Federalfire

2009-12-22T22:42:00.004-05:00

I came across this Twitter Feed tonight: http://twitter.com/Federalfire. If you're interested in keeping up with fire calls in the Savannah area, this is a pretty good Twitter Feed to follow.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

USCG Helicopters using Digital Voice and USCG UHF NET Frequencies?

2009-12-16T19:19:00.002-05:00

Back in August, I posted an article about the USCG in the Savannah area using CG 113 (163.1375) in P25 digital voice mode for communications as part of the new RESCUE 21 communications system. The last week or so has provided some updates on how the Coast Guard in the Savannah area is using the new frequencies.

Last week, I began hearing MH-65Cs from CGAS Savannah using CG 113 with Sector Charleston and with some of the area USCG boats. I've also heard them request to use CG 111 and CG 112 with Sector Jacksonville. The three digit identifier indicates the use of P25 digital voice and I have heard them use P25 digital voice so this confirms that the helicopters now have radios capable of utilizing P25.

Today, when 6565 departed CGAS Savannah for AirFac Charleston, Sector Charleston asked them to switch to "UHF Channel 410" for guard. I'd never heard reference to that channel so I immediately threw a couple of radios into search mode. In short time, I found Sector Charleston on 413.000 working 6510 in P25 digital voice. 6510 continued to use this frequency for guard radio traffic with Sector Charleston until they landed later at CGAS Savannah. 6565, after initally having no joy on the frequency, began keeping their guard on "CG 410" as well. It seems that in addition to a set of VHF NET (or what the USCG units seem to refer to as "CG") channels, there is also a set of UHF NET (or "CG") channels.

For those that enjoy listening to the Coast Guard, it is definitely a time to begin looking for a digital capable scanner if you don't have one now. It is also time to begin looking beyond the Marine VHF and HF frequencies for both Coast Guard surface and air communications. Just as USCG assets have begun moving away from such old favorites such as 5.696 USB to the COTHEN HF system they are beginning to move away from Marine VHF to the RESCUE 21 system.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Coast Guard Helicopter on NET Channel Using Digital Voice

2009-12-07T19:46:00.006-05:00

Location: Savannah

This evening, I was listening to Coast Guard 6545 (MH-65C, Savannah) as it conducted hoist training with 25' boat 25732 in the Savannah River. 25732 requested that 6545 go to NET 113 (163.1375). 6545 then came up on NET 113, calling initially in analog voice before switching to digital voice.

This is the first time I've heard one of the Savannah MH-65s on the NET Channels and the first time I've heard one using Digital Voice. I'm guessing it is being done with a radio separate from the one used for Marine VHF because while they were using NET 113, they were also able to hear and to respond to Station Tybee on Marine VHF Ch. 21.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

VMFT-401 at MCAS Beaufort

2009-12-07T19:42:00.001-05:00

Location: Savannah

F-5s from VMFT-401 are operating out of MCAS Beaufort this week. They worked in the SEALORD Special Use Areas today using their usual callsign SNIPER and Tac frequencies 268.300 and 285.375. They were also on the SEALORD frequencies 284.500, 376.900, and 385.300 and Beaufort Approach/Departure on 292.125.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

2009-12-06T22:36:00.001-05:00

Sent along by my friend Philip, KA4KOE:

Skywarn Recognition Day Recap

2009-12-06T22:08:00.009-05:00

After meeting for dinner at the Cracker Barrel on US 80 in Pooler on Friday night, Dan Scott - KF4MND, Guy McDonald - K4GTM, and I departed for Charleston in the rain. We arrived at the NWS Charleston office around 11 PM and were greeted by Bobby McBride – W4KSD. We met John and Rich, the two meteorologists on duty and got to take a look around the Operations area of the office. Although the weather wasn’t severe, it was interesting to watch John and Rich at work through the night.

Guy-K4GTM, Rich, John, Mac-KF4LMT, Dan-KF4MND

NWS Charleston Operations

John explains some of the operations to Dan.

We settled in to work at WX4CHS which consists of a Kenwood TM-251 (soon to be replaced with a more modern radio) and an Icom IC-746. Dan had made arrangements to use a nearby Echolink node on 147.505 and was soon making contacts back in Savannah including Jerry, W4SGA and Greg, N4VAD through the 146.700 repeater. 2 Meter contacts were also made on the Charleston repeaters and the SCHEARTS repeater network (accessible in Savannah via the 146.715 repeater). Dan also worked Ken – W4JKG, Steve – K4SDJ, and Mark – KD4PDX using Echolink. I went portable from the NWS Office and made a contact through via the SCHEARTS network 147.105 repeater. We were working the midnight rotation, so there wasn’t a lot of special event activity on HF; not all of the stations in the event were operating for the entire 24 hours. That said, we were able to make some contacts on 75 Meters and 40 Meters including other NWS Offices:

WX2OKX – Upton, NY
K4OHX – Nashville, TN
WX4MRX – Morristown, TN
WX4MHX – Newport/Moorehead, NC
WX4PTC – Peachtree City, GA
K5SHV – Shreveport, LA
WX5NWC – Norman, OK
K0DMX – Des Moines, IA
WX2BUF – Buffalo, NY

Dan-KF4MND, Bobby-W4KSD, and Guy-K4GTM

Dan and Guy on the air

Guy and Dan worked to lay some groundwork to link Savannah back to the NWS via RF link and/or VOIP while we were there. We left Charleston around 5 AM with the rain still falling (it never stopped through the night) and made it back to Savannah by 7:30 AM to have breakfast with the usual bunch at Sunny Side Up on DeRenne Ave. (plug for a good breakfast/lunch restaurant). I really enjoyed the event and look forward to doing it again next year; it was great fun to be on the NWS end of the QSO this year.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Skywarn Recognition Day Contacts

2009-12-05T01:10:00.003-05:00

For the midnight shift, we've been doing pretty good so far. On VHF, we've made several contacts using Echolink via the 147.505 W1GRE Echolink node back to the 146.700 (PL 100) repeater in Savannah and one contact on the SC HEARTS linked system in South Carolina. I checked in from the NWS Office on my portable to get my callsign on the log. On HF, we've made six contacts on 75 Meters. Here's the list so far:

VHF
N4VAD
W4SGA
W4JKG
K4SDJ
KD4PDX
KF4LMT

HF
W4SGA
N4VAD
WD9YBI
WX4MRX
WX4MHX
WX4PTC

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

On the Air at WX4CHS for Skywarn Recognition Day

2009-12-05T00:11:00.002-05:00

Location: Charleston, SC

We're on the air at WX4CHS at the National Weather Service Office in Charleston, SC. We've made some contacts on 2-Meters through Echolink and on 75 Meters on HF. Right now here is what we're working:

2 Meters on the 146.715 repeater (PL 123) and 146.700 (PL 100). We're working with Echolink on the 146.700 repeater.
3871 LSB on 76 Meters HF.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Military Monitoring Recap: November 2009

2009-12-02T02:25:00.002-05:00

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
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 26286 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26961 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03746 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
SUNNY 63 (Cessna 208/U-27, 224 MI Bn)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6510, 6542, 6545, 6604 (MH-65C, Savannah)
SCEPTER 11 (AC-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
225.750 - 165th AW CP
358.150 - CRTC Discrete (used for Boar's Nest Exercise)

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

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
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
228.200 - VMFA-312 Base

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)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)

Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
233.950 - PMSV
372.200 - PTD

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
322.400 - Jacksonville App/Dep
351.800 - Jacksonville App/Dep
377.050 - Jacksonville App/Dep
317.800 - 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)
VIPER (F-15, 125 FW)
MAD FOX ## (P-3C, VP-5)
NAVY LL 52 (P-3C, VP-30)
NAVY CD 1## (T-45)
NAVY CD 2## (T-45)
DRAGON 01 (unknown, related to USS Eisnenhower COMPTUEX)
DRAGON 63 (unknown, related to USS Eisnenhower COMPTUEX)
DRAGON 64 (unknown, related to USS Eisnenhower COMPTUEX)
MAKO 18 (unknown)

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

PEACH 03 (E-8C frontend, 116th ACW)
PEACH 62 (E-8 backend, 16th ACCS)
ALLEYCAT (E-8C backend, 128th ACCS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C backend, 16th ACCS)

Ranges/Military Operating Areas
119.225 - Townsend Range
228.400 - Townsend Range
252.900 - Townsend Range
269.350 - Coastal MOAs
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
350.675 - North TACTS Range
336.925 - South TACTS Range
349.800 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
338.100 - SEALORD Discrete

USS Eisenhower CSG COMPTUEX
328.425 - Marshal
292.225 - Strike
314.425 - Red Crown
233.325 - Aerial Refueling
234.575
247.100
270.525
342.250 - Jax Urban CAS

AG 1## (F/A-18E, VFA-143)
AG 2## (F/A-18F, VFA-103)
AG 3## (F/A-18C, VFA-83)
AG 60# (E-2C, VAW-121)
BLUETAIL (E-2C, VAW-121)
CAT (F/A-18C, F/A-18C, VFA-131)
DOG (F/A-18E, VMFA-143
RAM (F/A-18C, VFA-83

Miscellaneous
364.200 - NORAD AICC
260.900 - NORAD AICC
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
237.150 - AWACS Discrete
320.600 - AWACS Discrete
341.750 - DARK 41/42 (B-1B) air-to-air
278.800 - Moody MOA

ADVANCE (JTAC)
CHALICE FOXTROT (E-3, 963 ACCs)
DARK 4# (B-1B, Dyess)
DOOM 2#, 3#, 4# (B-52H, 2nd BW)
DRAGNET (E-3, 966 ACCS)
HOG (A-10, 23rd FG)
HUNTRESS (NORAD EADS)
RED LION 615 (SH-60, HS-15)
RIVER 4# (F/A-18,VFA-204)
SKULL 2# (B-52H, Barksdale AFB)
SODA ## (KC-135, 151st ARS)
STEALTH (117th ACS)
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

Skywarn Recognition Day

2009-12-01T02:40:00.002-05:00

This Saturday is Skywarn Recognition Day. Amateur Radio operators throughout the country will be manning radio stations at NWS Offices trying to make contact with other NWS Offices and as many hams as possible to celebrate the contributions that volunteer Skywarn radio operators make to the National Weather Service. This year, Amateur Radio Operators from Savannah have been asked to help out at NWS Charleston by manning a shift at their amateur radio station.

I will be joining Guy McDonald, K4GTM and Dan Scott, KF4MND as we ride up to Charleston on Friday night to work the 0001-0530 local shift at the NWS Charleston station. We'll be active on HF and VHF using the callsign WX4CHS, so tune through and keep an ear out for us. As part of the special event operation, the contact exchange will consist of call sign, signal report, location, and a one or two word description of the weather.

I plan on using my Blackberry to make blog posts and Twitter updates during our shift in Charleston. You can follow the Twitter feed on the sidebar of the blog here, or at http://twitter.com/kf4lmt. I hope to update with what we're up to and what frequencies we're working. I'm looking forward to having fun with this event and I hope to hear you on the air!

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Amateur Radio Repeater Listing for I-95 in Coastal Georgia

2009-11-26T10:56:00.004-05:00

My travels to and from Savannah and Brunswick on I-95 the last few weeks have enabled me to collect a good amateur radio repeater listing for I-95 through Coastal Georgia. I have limited the repeaters to those that are active and easily accessed from I-95 so there are some that are listed in other sources that are not listed here.

146.970 - Savannah (widest 2m coverage for Savannah area)
146.700 (PL 100.0) - Savannah (Echolink)
147.330 (PL 203.5) - Savannah
442.700 - Savannah (very wide coverage)

146.865 (PL 141.3) - Jesup

145.330 (PL 131.8) - Brunswick (Echolink)
146.685 - Brunswick (Echolink)

147.195 (PL 118.8) - Kinglsand (Echolink)
444.625 (PL 118.8) - Kingsland (Analog and P25 Digital)

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

SE DOD Trunked System

2009-11-20T22:15:00.011-05:00

SE DOD TRS NSB Kings Bay Sites
Site 1-015: 386.050 CC, 388.0875, 388.3875, 386.425, 386.725, 386.9375, 388.5375
Site 1-023: 386.1875 CC, 385.0125, 385.2125, 385.8875, 386.0325

TG 28050 - NSBKB Waterfront Security; encrypted
TG 28053 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28056 - NSBKB Security
-mix encrypted/clear, mostly encrypted
-unid "roger, en route"
TG 28057 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28058 - unknown;
-mix encrypted/clear, mostly encrypted
-MIKE 89 clg 27 and 92 with no responses
TG 28059 - unknown
-mix encrypted/clear
-93 clg 89
-E3D wkg 93 for radio check
TG 28064 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28081 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28081 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28082 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28083 - unknown; encrypted
TG 28084 - Civilian Contractors?
-comms ref junction boxes, cables, bandwidth (working on a communications system?)
TG 28087 - unknown
-mix encrypted/clear
-24 wkg 21, need him to pick up E4A at TA Gate
TG 28557 - NSBKB Fire
-ENGINE 5 wkg HQ, HQ encrypted
TG 28562 - NSBKB Police?
-mix encrypted/clear, mostly encrypted
-LE type comms
-ALPHA BASE wkg ROMEO # and 2## (both encrypted)
TG 28586 - unknown
-QUARTERDECK wkg ROVER

SE DOD TRS NS Mayport Site
380.4375 CC

TG 28146 Fire/EMS (based on traffic from May 09)
-unid traffic, unknown if Mayport or NAS Jax
TG 28175 unknown
TG 28235 unknown
-weak/broken clear comms
TG 28264 NS Mayport Airfield?
-??? wkg TOWER ref movements on airfield
TG 28283 NS Mayport Police
-MAYPORT DISPATCH, MAYPORT 2#, MAYPORT 12#, MAYPORT 22# and SAM # ref to area checks, gates, vehicle checks, RAM checks, etc.
-MAYPORT 123 wkg DISPATCH for 10-28

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Effingham County VHF Fire/EMS Dispatch

2009-11-20T21:44:00.005-05:00

Location: Savannah

Effingham County is no longer using the old 155.355 MHz repeater for initial dispatch of Fire/EMS calls. They are now using 158.7675 for initial dispatch. Currently I do not know a CTCSS tone for it, but I will pass it when I find out what it is.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Wednesday Monitoring

2009-11-18T20:10:00.001-05:00

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon of monitoring here in the Glynn County area. AWACS, F-15s, and F/A-18s were active in the offshore SUAs and the NS Mayport site of the SE DOD TRS was coming in in addition to the NSB Kings Bay sites.

I'll have a more detailed report on the SE DOD TRS monitoring posted sometime on Friday.

Portable in Brunswick, GA

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Blog Admin Stuff

2009-11-18T00:35:00.003-05:00

I'm still wrapping my mind around keeping the blog up now that I'm splitting time between Savannah and Brunswick. I think I've pretty much come up with a plan on how to keep up with it while throwing in some new wrinkles at the same time:

When blogging from the Blackberry, I'll be appending the posts with "Portable from Brunswick, GA." These posts will naturally be short and may not contain a lot of detailed information. These will generally be brief updates or timely heads-up posts. Many times, I'll post more detailed information later when I'm around a computer. The more detailed postings may take a few days to show up, but they will show up.
Non-Blackberry posts will usually be prefaced with my location, so you'll know whether I'm in Savannah or Brunswick, identifying where the information in the post is relevant to. This won't apply to the monthly recap posts; they will contain information from Savannah, Brunswick, and my trips between the two.
I have been making increased use of Twitter, which updates on the sidebar to this blog. This enables me to make quick and easy short reports while playing radio. I have found that sending tweets from the Blackberry is both quicker and easier than trying to send a post by email. I'll continue to send posts to email groups, but this blog will get quick updates via Twitter. I'm using UberTwitter to post tweets from the Blackberry and it allows me to append my location to tweets. On some tweets I'll be including my location, which will show up as a link at the end of the tweet, to give folks an idea of where I'm hearing the activity from. Due to the setting I'm using in UberTwitter, the location will not be specific, it will be the location of the cell tower that the phone is working through (this general location is more than adequate for the purpose, however).

As far as the monthly recap posts go, look for them to resume at the beginning of December with a November recap. I've been able to play radio a bit more lately so I'm actually getting stuff to do a recap with! Things are looking up for radio time and the more active I am on the radio, the more active this blog will be. Things have been pretty slow the last few months, but I don't think they'll be that way long.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Tuesday Evening Tropo

2009-11-18T00:14:00.003-05:00

Location: Brunswick, GA

Shortly after 7:30 PM yesterday, I went out to the car with the intent of checking into the Camden County ARES Net at 8:00 PM. Turning on the FT-8800, the left side of the radio (which stays in scan mode) came across one of the Waycross repeaters, 145.270, active with the Pierce County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Group net. I listened in as they took a roll call then checked in when they asked for general check-ins and visitors.

After the Pierce County ARES net wrapped up, I found the 146.970 repeater in Savannah active with Ed, NC5S and Ryan, AJ4MY. I tried breaking in with them, but apparently I wasn't able to get in good enough to be recognized. Earlier in the evening while doing some monitoring at the Marshes of Glynn Overlook Park in Brunswick, I heard the 146.700 and 146.970 (I sent out a Twitter post at the time); at that point there was either no one around the repeaters or I still wasn't getting in good enough to raise anyone. I also tried the 442.700 repeater in Savannah both times; it came back with stronger signal strengths than the 146.970 or 146.700 did. Both times I don't think anyone must have been monitoring the repeater because I was getting it back at S3-S4 but still wasn't able to raise anyone.

At 8:00 PM I checked into the Camden ARES Net on the 147.195 repeater in Kingsland as planned. They have a meeting planned for December 1; it looks like my schedule will cooperate, so I plan on riding down to Kingsland from Brunswick that evening to attend.

During the Camden ARES Net, I started hearing the Statesboro Amateur Radio Society Net on the 147.105 repeater in Pembroke. Given the previous reception of the Savannah repeaters, it was obvious we were benefiting from some Tropo. I checked into the STARS Net, saying hello to the Savannah and Statesboro group then listened as stations from Baldwin, FL and Charleston, SC checked in. Interestingly enough, the 147.105 came in stronger here in Brunswick than the 146.970 and 146.700 repeaters did.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Shuttle Atlantis Launch

2009-11-17T00:02:00.003-05:00

This afternoon, I went out with the BC396 to catch the Shuttle Atlantis launch. Surprisingly, I caught more with the HT here in Brunswick than I have with the base setup in Savannah. I don't know whether to attribute that to location or launch trajectory. Future launches may indicate which is the answer. A few minutes after launch, as usual, I began picking up the transmissions; the last one I could make out was "single engine past 104."

Portable in Brunswick, GA

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

SE DOD Trunked System

2009-11-11T19:41:00.002-05:00

As promised, here are the notes from my monitoring of the SE DOD TRS Kings Bay sites on 10 November. Talkgroup IDs are from RadioReference.

386.050 NSB Kings Bay Site
386.1875 Unknown Site

Note: 386.1875 slightly weaker than 386.050 but audible in Kingsland and south end of Brunswick

TG 28027 unknown
-KINGS BAY wkg KEY WEST for radio check (sounded civilian)
TG 28050 NSBKB Waterfront Security; encrypted
TG 28052 unknown; encrypted
TG 28053 unknown; encrypted
TG 28056 NSBKB Security
-E3W clg 19 for radio check
TG 28057 unknown; encrypted/clear
-E3H wkg ????? (encrypted) "send it for E3H"
-unid ref personnel pickup
TG 28059
TG 28064 unknown; encrypted
TG 28081 unknown; encrypted
TG 28082 unknown; encrypted
TG 28087 unknown; encrypted
TG 28562 unknown; encrypted/clear
-unid ref escort
TG 28567 unknown; encrypted

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Kingsland Monitoring

2009-11-10T12:21:00.001-05:00

This morning I went down to Kingsland and did some monitoring and searching. I was hoping to catch some USS Eisenhower exercise communications but disappointingly I didn't. The Truman is also off of the Florida coast working with T-45s for carrier quals; I never found any carrier frequencies for the Truman but I did catch the T-45s coming and going with SEALORD on 284.500 and with Jax Approach/Departure on 351.800 and 377.050.

I also monitored the Southeast DOD TRS NSB Kings Bay site on 386.050 and the unknown site on 386.1275. I will post more on this later; it is hard to put together a good list on a Blackberry.

Portable in Brunswick

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Google Mobile App

2009-11-09T11:52:00.002-05:00

This morning I drove around Brunswick learning the area and I used the Map feature in the Google Mobile App for the Blackberry like a GPS Nav device. It worked quite well especially considering the app is free. It kept up with my location accurately and I had no problem following its map.

I strongly reccomend this terrific app to any Blackberry user.

BTW, I will try to catch up on some radio stuff on Wednesday night when I'm back in Savannah. I left the power cord for the laptop there so I haven't been able to organize my scribbled notes yet.

Portable in Brunswick, GA

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Updated Amateur Radio Countries/DX Entities

2009-11-05T15:32:00.002-05:00

I took a look at the Logbook of the World today and found that I have 57 confirmed DX entities now that confirmations from the CQWW DX Contest are starting to come in. Here is my list of confirmations via Logbook of the World:

ALASKA	AL1G
ANGUILLA	VP2E
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA	V26F
ARGENTINA	LV5V
ARUBA	P40ZB
AUSTRALIA	VK4KW
BAHAMAS	C6APR
BARBADOS	8P5A
BELIZE	V31MW
BONAIRE,CURACAO (NETH ANTILLES)	PJ4E
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND	VP2V/SP7VC
CANADA	VA3DX
CANARY ISLAND	EF8R
CAYMAN ISLANDS	ZF2AM
COLOMBIA	HK3O
COSTA RICA	TI5N
CRETE	SV9CVY
CUBA	T42T
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	HI3TEJ
ENGLAND	M6T
FERNANDO DE NORONHA	PS0F
FINLAND	OH8L
FRANCE	F5RQQ
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS	HC8A
HAITI	4V4JR
HAWAII	NH7C
HONDURAS	HQ3Z
HUNGARY	HA5BSW
IRELAND	EI3IO
ITALY	IU8ANT
LITHUANIA	LY8O
LUXEMBOURG	LX1AX
MADEIRA ISLANDS	CQ9T
MARTINIQUE	TO8Z
MEXICO	XE3N
MONTENEGRO	4O3A
NETHERLANDS	PA9JO
NORTHERN IRELAND	GI5K
NORWAY	LN9Z
POLAND	SP5KP
PORTUGAL	CT1ILT
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA	ZS3Y
ROMANIA	YO9HP
SAINT MARTIN	FS5KA
SCOTLAND	GA2MP
SINT MAARTEN, SABA, ST EUSTATIUS	PJ7/AH8DX
SLOVENIA	S53F
SPAIN	EA1EEY
SVALBARD	JW8DW
SWITZERLAND	HB9FAX
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS	VP5/WB2REM
UKRAINE	UT7UV
UNITED NATIONS HQ	4U1UN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	N1API
US VIRGIN ISLANDS	KP2M
VENEZUELA	YV4A
WALES	GW4BLE

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Boar's Nest Exercise

2009-11-05T15:16:00.004-05:00

An exercise named Boar's Nest has been taking place in the afternoons this week in the SEALORD Special Use Airspace off of the Georgia Coast and in the Coastal MOAs and Townsend Range in Southeast Georgia. Players have been the 117th ACS, an Air Control Squadron of the Georgia ANG, F-16s from the SC ANG, F-15s from the FL ANG, B-52s from Barksdale AFB and B-1Bs from Dyess AFB. With both air-to-air activity and air-to-ground activity, it has been very interesting to listen to.

STEALTH (117th ACS)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS)
MACE 3# (F-16C, 169th FW); 141.825 V14
DEMON 5# (F-16, 169th FW); 143.250 V16
FANG 0# (F-15, 125th FW); 234.800 Aux 6
SNAKE 0# (F-15, 125th FW); 253.700 Aux 7
DARK 41/42 (B-1B, Dyess); 341.750 a2a

DOOM 2#, 3#, 4# (B-52H, 2nd BW)

SKULL 2# (B-52H, Barksdale)

284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
120.950 - SEALORD North Primary
350.675 - SEALORD N. TACTS Range
358.150 - Savannah CRTC Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
228.400 - Townsend Range Control
364.200 - AICC

225.725 - JSTARS Discrete

328.025 - JSTARS Discrete

372.150 - JSTARS Discrete

381.000 - JSTARS Discrete

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

South Carolina Air Guard unit wins international F-16 competition

2009-11-04T20:16:00.001-05:00

by Master Sgt. Richard B. Hodges
South Carolina National Guard

11/4/2009 - MWAFFAQ SALTI AIR BASE, Jordan -- The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing was named the overall winner of Falcon Air Meet 2009, a three-nation F-16 Fighting Falcon competition, held here through Nov. 3.

The South Carolina team, which represented the U. S. Air Force's Central Command and the U.S., won three of the four main events as well as the Top Overall Maintenance Award and the Top Overall Competition Award. Other nations competing in the annual event were Jordan and Belgium.

"I could not be prouder of what the South Carolina Air National Guard accomplished here at this year's Falcon Air Meet," said Col. Michael Hudson, commander of the 169th Operations Group based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.

This is the first time since the Falcon Air Meet began in 2006 that an Air National Guard team has been selected to represent the United States at the competition.

"Everyone worked very hard for a long time to prepare for this competition and the results show that they accomplished what they came to do," Colonel Hudson said. "We want to thank the Jordanians for their gracious hospitality. It was very helpful to train with and engage in friendly competition with our friends from Jordan and Belgium. We hope to return soon to Jordan for a future Falcon Air Meet."

The mission of the Falcon Air Meet is to train through friendly competition with the air forces of the U.S., Middle East nations and other F-16 users from around the world.

The meet was inspired by Prince Feisal Bin Al Hussein and first organized in 2006. A main goal of the competition is the improvement of the relationship of Jordan with its partners and the promotion of stability in the region.

"I want to thank everyone, both deployed and supporting back at home station, for their hard work and dedication in preparation for our competition in this year's Falcon Air Meet," said Col. Scott Williams, commander of the 169 Fighter Wing. "We all learned about each other's capability to support one another and fight side-by-side as coalition partners. We not only competed to bring out the best in each other, but we also shared maintenance and operations practices and gained a renewed understanding of our key allies."

Members of the Colorado Air National Guard served as "White Force" judges for the meet as they have done in all previous years. Colorado ANG officials were instrumental in the formation of the first Falcon Air Meet in 2006. They were asked to participate as judges for the event, because of their state partnership with Jordan, a partnership formally established in 2004.

The six award categories announced at the closing ceremonies of the Falcon Air Meet 2009 were:

-- Large Force Employment (Air-to-Ground Competition): A two-part competition in which a flight of F-16s were tasked to drop inert Mark-82 500-pound bombs on a target at a precise time. Later, the jets uploaded live Mark-82 bombs and engaged a ground target. The judging parameters were airspeed, dive angle-of-attack, release altitude, accuracy (aim point) and time-on-target. Each F-16 carried two bombs. This event was won by the South Carolina ANG team, which scored 190 points of a possible 200.

-- Scramble Launch and Intercept Competition: This event required pilots and crew chiefs to work together to safely launch an alert aircraft in the fastest time possible and then for the pilot to conduct an intercept mission. In this close competition, only 10 points separated the first place South Carolina team and the second place Royal Jordanian Air Force team.

-- Formation Arrival Award: This event required a four-ship flight of F-16s to arrive over a designated target in a symmetrical formation. It was won by the Royal Jordanian Air Force with a perfect score of 100 points. The RJAF pilots showed "good formation and action," and their arrival time over the target was precisely to the second. The South Carolina team was second with a score of 95.

-- Weapons Load Competition: Two air-to-air missiles were uploaded to an F-16 with the greatest speed, safety and reliability. This event also was won by South Carolina.

-- Top Overall Maintenance Award: This event, which was based on the overall results of the Scramble, Weapons Load and Sortie Generation, was won by the South Carolina team.

-- Top Overall Competition Award: As a result of having won four of the five competition categories, the South Carolina team was awarded the top overall award and named winner of the 2009 Falcon Air Meet. The awards were presented by His Royal Highness Prince Feisel Bin Al Hussein.

Situation Report

2009-11-04T08:45:00.002-05:00

I've almost settled into living into two places. Most of time is being spent in Brunswick, GA with a couple of days a week in Savannah, GA. I'm settling into a routine in Brunswick and I've finally had the time to play a bit of radio. I'm not set up well for Amateur Radio yet, just some portables and the mobile for VHF/UHF; I'm still waiting a bit to set up something for HF operations. Scanning on the other hand, has been progressing well.

I'm unable to run outside antennas where I'm at in Brunswick, so I use a Radio Shack mag mount scanner antenna on top of a DVD rack. At first I attempted to use a Uniden BC796 as the radio, but it's reception left much to be desired. I now connect the antenna to my Uniden BC396 portable with much better results. In addition to the obvious public safety on the Glynn Co. 800 system I've been able to monitor Townsend Range with ease from inside as well as the FLETC TRS, Glynco Jetport, Malcom McKinnon Airport, and the Jacksonville Center Brunswick and Jekyll low sites. While taking my afternoon walks, I can easily hear the above as well as some of the SEALORD SUAs off of the Georgia coast with the BC396 using a Diamond RH77CA antenna.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Countries/DXCC Entities Confirmed

2009-10-27T15:58:00.004-04:00

I was just looking at the countries/DXCC entities I have confirmed on the ARRL's Logbook of the World. In just about a year of operating on HF I've have 51 countries/entities confirmed on LOTW. I don't think that's too bad for someone who is not a hardcore DXer or HF operator. Here is a list of the countries that I have confirmed:

ALASKA	AL1G
ANGUILLA	VP2E
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA	V26F
ARUBA	P40ZB
AUSTRALIA	VK4KW
BAHAMAS	C6APR
BARBADOS	8P5A
BONAIRE,CURACAO (NETH ANTILLES)	PJ4E
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND	VP2V/SP7VC
CANADA	VA3DX
CANARY ISLAND	EF8R
CAYMAN ISLANDS	ZF2AM
COLOMBIA	HK3O
COSTA RICA	TI5N
CRETE	SV9CVY
CUBA	T42T
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	HI3TEJ
ENGLAND	M6T
FERNANDO DE NORONHA	PS0F
FINLAND	OH8L
FRANCE	F5RQQ
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS	HC8A
HAITI	4V4JR
HAWAII	NH7C
HONDURAS	HQ3Z
HUNGARY	HA5BSW
IRELAND	EI3IO
ITALY	IU8ANT
LITHUANIA	LY8O
LUXEMBOURG	LX1AX
MARTINIQUE	TO8Z
MEXICO	XE3N
MONTENEGRO	4O3A
NETHERLANDS	PA9JO
NORTHERN IRELAND	GI5K
NORWAY	LN9Z
POLAND	SP5KP
PORTUGAL	CT1ILT
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA	ZS3Y
SAINT MARTIN	FS5KA
SCOTLAND	GA2MP
SLOVENIA	S53F
SPAIN	EA1EEY
SVALBARD	JW8DW
SWITZERLAND	HB9FAX
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS	VP5/WB2REM
UKRAINE	UT7UV
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	N1API
US VIRGIN ISLANDS	KP2M
VENEZUELA	YV4A
WALES	GW4B

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

CQWW DX Contest

2009-10-25T20:05:00.005-04:00

This weekend, I used the CQWW DX Contest to add some DX stations to my logbook and pick up a few new countries in the process. Overall, I had 83 contacts most of which were on 20 and 15 Meters. 15 Meters seemed to work the best for me this time; 20 Meters was just so jam packed and busy that it was hard for me to get through the big gun stations with 100 Watts and a G5RV. I found the easier going on 15 Meters both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The highlights were working New Zealand and the United Nations Headquarters, both early Sunday morning on 40 Meters.

The new countries/DX entities I picked up this weekend were:

Montserrat
Chile
French Guiana
Norway
Moldavia
Scotland
Cape Verde
New Zealand
United Nations Headquarters

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Monitoring In Brunswick

2009-10-19T18:46:00.003-04:00

I'm just about settled in Brunswick and I've had the chance to break out the scanners and do a bit of listening. I've been able to monitor some Fire/EMS traffic on the Glynn County TRS and some MilCom.

Listening to the Glynn County and Brunswick Fire Departments has been an adjustment. They use different terminology than I'm used to listening to from Chatham County and Savannah and they dispatch somewhat differently. I'd describe it, but I'm still in the process of getting a grip on it.

In the realm of MilCom, I've been able to catch some F/A-18s from Beaufort over the weekend and some JSTARS activity today. Monday is typically a slow day for Beaufort, so I haven't been able to ascertain how well I can hear the W-157 traffic (but it shouldn't be much of a problem). It is also worth noting that I heard some MARAUDER AH-64s from the SC ARNG working Townsend Range from I-95 at Exit 38 last week. Given the the AH-64s typically fly relatively low level, this could be a sign that there will be good listening to Townsend Range from here in Brunswick.

Stay Tuned, More to Come (Albeit it may be slowly...)

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

Boy Scouts Jamboree on the Air

2009-10-14T10:02:00.003-04:00

This Saturday, 17 October 2009, is the Boy Scouts Jamboree on the Air. Savannah area scouts will be participating with a JOTA event at the 8th Air Force Museum in Pooler on US 80 just off of I-95. The plan is to be on the air beginning at 10:00 AM Saturday morning and will be operated like a mini-Field Day. If you are an amateur radio operator, please come out and help the Boy Scouts out. This event is a great way to encourage prospective hams, get experience in setting up and operating a station in the field (good ARES type training) and just enjoy camaraderie with other hams. If you aren't a ham and are interested in amateur radios, feel free to drop by and learn about the hobby. Philip, KA4KOE is organizing the event and has announced that an Army communications Humvee is scheduled to be on display at the JOTA event.

Unfortunately I won't be at the JOTA this year due to my work schedule. Despite that, I encourage folks to get out and support this great event. I'll truly miss not being able to help out.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT