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

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

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

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

USCG Helicopters using Digital Voice and USCG UHF NET Frequencies?

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

USCG Station Brunswick Using NET 118

This morning, I made a quick trip down to Brunswick. As is my usual habit, I did some radio monitoring during the trip. Today's monitoring led to a new find: USCG Station Brunswick using NET 118 for communications. This is something that I haven't seen posted yet.

Throughout the morning, I heard Station Brunswick working 25473 on NET 118 (164.900) in unencrypted digital voice. Station Brunswick was also working some other assets on Ch. 21 (157.050). Signals were pretty good in McIntosh County on I-95 and in the Brunswick (Exit 36 and 38) area.

This now makes for two of Sector Charleston's stations using the NET frequencies: Station Tybee was previously noted using NET 113 and Station Brunswick is using NET 118.

Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT

Monitoring the US Coast Guard – Sector Charleston and Station Tybee Transition to the RESCUE 21 System

This article was originally published in the September issue of "Groundwaves," the newsletter of the Coastal Amateur Radio Soceity.

US Coast Guard Sector Charleston and its subordinate unit US Coast Guard Station Tybee cover the Savannah area. The Sector Charleston area is in the process of transitioning their communications to the Coast Guard’s new Rescue 21 communications system. This raises two questions: what is Rescue 21 and what does this mean for the radio hobbyist? There are many hams that have programmed the Marine VHF frequencies into their 2-Meter radios to monitor the Coast Guard and knowing where to listen for the Coast Guard could enhance the capability of the ARES operator. First, we’ll learn a little bit about the Rescue 21 system and then we’ll explore what will change for the hobbyist that listens to the Coast Guard.

What is Rescue 21? Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard’s advanced direction-finding communications system. It is replacing the National Distress Response System which has been in service since the 1970’s. It provides an expanded frequency capacity which improves interoperability with other Department of Homeland Security agencies as well as other federal, state, and local agencies. This includes the capacity for using P25 digital technology and encryption capability in addition to the current Marine VHF frequencies.. The system will also allow the simultaneous monitoring of multiple VHF channels, enhanced clarity, and support of Digital Selective Calling (a system for transmitting GPS enabled distress messages). It will also close gaps in coastal coverage areas. Rescue 21 also incorporates an integrated direction finding system. Another interesting feature of the Rescue 21 System is that it provides portable, deployable towers and equipment for the restoration of communications in the aftermath of disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike. This will quickly allow the Coast Guard to re-establish their communications both within the agency, with other agencies, and with the public during an emergency or post-disaster.

A map of Rescue 21 coverage: Green areas indicate locations in which Rescue 21 is operational; the dots indicate tower locations and the circles indicate tower coverage. The blue areas indicate future Rescue 21 locations. (Diagram from the General Dynamics C4 Systems website)

A diagram of how the Rescue 21 system works utilizing multiple tower sites, and portable towers and equipment. Note the Disaster Recovery System (the deployable towers and equipment mentioned above) on the left hand side of the diagram.

What does this mean for the radio hobbyist? At this point, based on my monitoring experience, it means three things (Note that following applies to communications involving USCG Station Tybee and the MH-65s from USCG Air Station Savannah):

1. You will hear less on the Marine VHF frequencies. Station Tybee has been communicating with its surface assets on federal VHF frequencies that are used by the Rescue 21 system. Some communications with USCG surface assets are still on Marine VHF Ch. 21 (157.050 MHz) and currently all communications with USCG Auxiliary assets and aviation assets remain on Marine VHF frequencies. A list of these frequencies will follow at the end of this article.
2. You will hear an increased amount of P25 digital voice communications with the Rescue 21 system. You will also hear an increased amount of encrypted traffic. Almost all of the transmission I’ve heard from Station Tybee on their new operating channel have been digital encrypted. On the other hand, almost all of the transmissions from the surface assets have been digital in the clear.
3. Because the Rescue 21 system uses both frequencies in the Federal VHF range and digital voice technology, you may have to get some new radio equipment if you want to listen to the Coast Guard. Not all scanners will receive the Federal VHF frequency range (16# - 17# MHz) and many will not receive the P25 digital voice mode. Almost all VHF/UHF Amateur Radio equipment is not P25 digital capable (I believe that Alinco makes some that are capable and it should be noted that the Icom D-Star protocol and P25 are not compatible). Radios like the Radio Shack Pro-96, Pro-106, Pro-197, Uniden BC396 and BC996, and GRE PR-500 and PR-600 are radios that can monitor the unencrypted digital transmissions.

In addition to the common Marine VHF frequencies that are used by the US Coast Guard, you will need to monitor some new frequencies for the Rescue 21 system. Station Tybee has been utilizing Net 113 as the operating channel in recent weeks. The channels are designated with NET 1# and 1## numbers. The frequencies are identical for each 1#/1## combination; the two digit designator indicates analog voice use and the three digit number created by the addition of a one at the beginning indicates digital voice use.

Rescue 21 “NET” Channels
NET 01/101 - 139.9750
NET 02/102 - 140.4750
NET 03/103 - 140.7250
NET 04/104 - 141.6125
NET 05/105 - 150.7250
NET 06/106 - 141.5500
NET 07/107 - 150.3000
NET 08/108 - 162.0500
NET 09/109 - 162.1250
NET 10/110 - 162.2500
NET 11/111 - 162.3250
NET 12/112 - 163.0500
NET 13/113 - 163.1375
NET 14/114 - 164.3000
NET 15/115 - 164.3125
NET 16/116 - 164.5500
NET 17/117 - 164.5625
NET 18/118 - 164.9000
NET 19/119 - 164.9125
NET 20/120 - 165.2625
NET 21/121 - 165.3125
NET 22/122 - 165.3250
NET 23/123 - 165.3375
NET 24/124 - 166.1875
NET 25/125 - 167.9000
NET 26/126 - 168.8625
NET 27/127 - 171.2375
NET 28/128 - 172.3125

One of Rescue 21’s calling cards is Interoperability. This is achieved through the addition of two more sets of frequencies: the VHF Federal Law Enforcement interoperability channels and the VHF Incident Response channels. Both sets are common interoperability frequencies that other federal, state, and local agencies have access to. The Law Enforcement frequencies are designated with “LE” and the Incident Response frequencies are designated with “IR.” LE-1 through LE-5 are duplex channels, LE Alpha and LE-6 through LE-9 are simplex channels. IR-1 through IR-4 are duplex channels, IR-5 through IR-9 are simplex channels (You can look them up in the NIFOG, link below for input frequencies). Station Tybee has been heard using LE-A in recent months.

VHF Law Enforcement (LE)
LE-A - 167.0875 (simplex)

LE-1 - 167.0875

LE-2 - 167.2500

LE-3 - 167.7500

LE-4 - 167.1125

LE-5 - 168.4625

LE-6 - 167.2500 (simplex)

LE-7 - 167.7500 (simplex)

LE-8 - 168.1125 (simplex)

LE-9 - 168.4625 (simplex)

VHF Incident Response (IR)

IR-1 - 170.0125

IR-2 - 170.4125

IR-3 - 170.6875

IR-4 - 173.0375

IR-5 - 169.5375 (simplex) - Calling

IR-6 - 170.0125 (simplex)

IR-7 - 170.4125 (simplex)

IR-8 - 170.6875 (simplex)

IR-9 - 173.0375 (simplex)


Sources:
General Dynamics C4 Systems Website
http://www.gdc4s.com/content/detail.cfm?item=816a4a1c-1316-4879-adff-430e9f7972fa

The Monitoring Times “MT Fed Files” Blog by Chris Parris
http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2009_05_31_archive.html

USCG Rescue 21 Website and Rescue 21 Fact Sheet
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg9/rescue21/
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg9/programs/pdf/r21factsheet.pdf

US Department of Homeland Security National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG)
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dhsr/EMS/pdf/NIFOG.pdf

More USCG Communications Changes

After switching much of their communications from Marine VHF Ch. 21 to LE Alpha (167.0875), USCG Station Tybee has changed frequencies again. I am now hearing traffic between Station Tybee and their small boats on 163.1375, which they refer to as "CG 113" in P25 digital mode. Some traffic is still on Marine VHF Ch. 21 (157.050) and all traffic with the MH-65s from Air Station Tybee is on Ch. 21 as well.

I'm assuming all of this is related to a transition to the RESCUE 21 system in the Sector Charleston area.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net