10 and 12 hour days at work have kept from me from monitor the 102nd Fighter Wing's stay at the Savannah CRTC very much, but through mobile monitoring and recordings, I've been able to determine some callsigns and frequencies for them. They are using the normal CRTC Ops frequency 237.000 for CAPE OPS and SOF and some of the CRTC Discretes for Auxiliary (air-to-air) frequencies.
237.000 - CRTC OPS, used for CAPE OPS (102 FW) and SOF
293.300 - CRTC Discrete; 102 FW Aux
328.500 - CRTC Discrete; 102 FW Aux
363.900 - CRTC Discrete; 102 FW Aux
Callsigns in use have been: CAJUN, DRAGON, LYNX, and MADDOG
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
08 February 2007
04 February 2007
Savannah Skywarn Amateur Radio Net
Friday morning I found out that there is a Skywarn weather spotters' 2 meter net here in the Savannah area. It is held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 9pm on the 146.970 repeater. During the hurricane season, it will be held each Tuesday.
If you are an amateur radio operator with Skywarn training or are interested in getting trained as a spotter, check into the net and let them know. I've been through the training several times and look forward to checking into the nets when work allows.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
If you are an amateur radio operator with Skywarn training or are interested in getting trained as a spotter, check into the net and let them know. I've been through the training several times and look forward to checking into the nets when work allows.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
02 February 2007
Monitoring the Military Part 1
I wrote this article for the January 2007 issue of Key Klix, the newsletter of the Amateur Radio Club of Savannah (ARCS). The main purpose of this article is to give those new to or unfamiliar with military monitoring some starting points for the frequency ranges used.
More new scanners, as well as some amateur radio gear, are being produced with the ability to monitor a subject that doesn’t get much attention in the general scanning community. Most radio hobbyists are familiar with monitoring pubic safety type communications, but not with monitoring military communications. The Savannah area is rich with military communications to monitor. With this series of articles, I hope to open up the basics of the easiest part of military monitoring, military aviation, to you.
In order to monitor military communications, you have to get used to some different sets of frequencies than what public safety communications use. Additionally, some of these frequency ranges utilize AM rather than FM. For this reason, it is important to look for gear with selectable modes when looking for a radio to monitor the military with.
30.000-88.000 MHz
This frequency range uses 25 kHz steps in FM mode. The Amateur 6-meter band is in the middle of this frequency range, but look here for military activity, too. This range is used for ground communications and by aircraft such as Army and Marine helicopters and the USAF A-10.
118.000-136.000 MHz
Many of you are already familiar with the VHF airband. This range uses 25 kHz steps and uses AM mode. Military aviation utilizes the airband along with civilian aviation. Many of the cargo and transportation type aircraft use this range almost exclusively for air traffic control.
138.000-144.00 MHz
This frequency range uses 12.5 kHz steps and both AM and FM modes. It is used for air and ground communications. Air communications utilize AM mode. USAF F-16s and A-10s frequently use this frequency range for air-to-air communications. Ground communications use FM mode. Many 2-meter and dual band radios have the ability to monitor this range although not necessarily in AM.
148.000-150.800 MHz
Although there are some non-government users in the top of this frequency range, this range is used by the military mostly for ground communications with 12.5 kHz steps in FM mode. There is some air communications utilizing AM, but it is not as frequently used for air communications as 138-144 MHz and 225-400 MHz is. Just as with the 138-144 MHz band, many 2-meter and dual band radios have the ability to receive this range.
162.000-174.000 MHz
Commonly known as the VHF federal band, the military also uses this frequency range for ground communications. 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode are used in this range, although more and more users are starting to use the P25 digital mode. It is not unusual to run into encryption in use by both federal and military users in this band.
225.000-400.000 MHz
This is the big one, the military airband. For the most part, this frequency range uses 25 kHz steps and AM mode. This band is currently undergoing changes, with the top 20 MHz being shifted to land mobile use in 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode. The rest of the band is primarily used for air-to-air and air-to-ground communications by aircraft of all the armed services. Satellite Communications are also found in this range using FM mode. Some command and control type aircraft also use this range in WFM (wideband FM) and USB modes. Although this range has been left out of many scanners in the past, it is starting to be included in many newer ones. It can also be found in some dual band amateur gear.
406.000-420.000 MHz
Commonly known as the UHF federal band, the military also uses this frequency range for ground communications. 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode are used, although just like 162.000-174.000 MHz, P25 digital is coming into use. Frequencies in this range are also used for military base trunking systems.
With the frequency ranges explained, next month we’ll begin to move into some specifics of how they are used in the Savannah area, beginning with air traffic control frequencies. Air Traffic Control is the best place to start finding military aviation communications. Of all the forms of military communications, military aviation is the easiest to hear because the altitude at which the aircraft are flying. You can hear quite a bit even with a handheld. Until then, try searching through these frequency ranges, you never know what you might find.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
More new scanners, as well as some amateur radio gear, are being produced with the ability to monitor a subject that doesn’t get much attention in the general scanning community. Most radio hobbyists are familiar with monitoring pubic safety type communications, but not with monitoring military communications. The Savannah area is rich with military communications to monitor. With this series of articles, I hope to open up the basics of the easiest part of military monitoring, military aviation, to you.
In order to monitor military communications, you have to get used to some different sets of frequencies than what public safety communications use. Additionally, some of these frequency ranges utilize AM rather than FM. For this reason, it is important to look for gear with selectable modes when looking for a radio to monitor the military with.
30.000-88.000 MHz
This frequency range uses 25 kHz steps in FM mode. The Amateur 6-meter band is in the middle of this frequency range, but look here for military activity, too. This range is used for ground communications and by aircraft such as Army and Marine helicopters and the USAF A-10.
118.000-136.000 MHz
Many of you are already familiar with the VHF airband. This range uses 25 kHz steps and uses AM mode. Military aviation utilizes the airband along with civilian aviation. Many of the cargo and transportation type aircraft use this range almost exclusively for air traffic control.
138.000-144.00 MHz
This frequency range uses 12.5 kHz steps and both AM and FM modes. It is used for air and ground communications. Air communications utilize AM mode. USAF F-16s and A-10s frequently use this frequency range for air-to-air communications. Ground communications use FM mode. Many 2-meter and dual band radios have the ability to monitor this range although not necessarily in AM.
148.000-150.800 MHz
Although there are some non-government users in the top of this frequency range, this range is used by the military mostly for ground communications with 12.5 kHz steps in FM mode. There is some air communications utilizing AM, but it is not as frequently used for air communications as 138-144 MHz and 225-400 MHz is. Just as with the 138-144 MHz band, many 2-meter and dual band radios have the ability to receive this range.
162.000-174.000 MHz
Commonly known as the VHF federal band, the military also uses this frequency range for ground communications. 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode are used in this range, although more and more users are starting to use the P25 digital mode. It is not unusual to run into encryption in use by both federal and military users in this band.
225.000-400.000 MHz
This is the big one, the military airband. For the most part, this frequency range uses 25 kHz steps and AM mode. This band is currently undergoing changes, with the top 20 MHz being shifted to land mobile use in 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode. The rest of the band is primarily used for air-to-air and air-to-ground communications by aircraft of all the armed services. Satellite Communications are also found in this range using FM mode. Some command and control type aircraft also use this range in WFM (wideband FM) and USB modes. Although this range has been left out of many scanners in the past, it is starting to be included in many newer ones. It can also be found in some dual band amateur gear.
406.000-420.000 MHz
Commonly known as the UHF federal band, the military also uses this frequency range for ground communications. 12.5 kHz steps and FM mode are used, although just like 162.000-174.000 MHz, P25 digital is coming into use. Frequencies in this range are also used for military base trunking systems.
With the frequency ranges explained, next month we’ll begin to move into some specifics of how they are used in the Savannah area, beginning with air traffic control frequencies. Air Traffic Control is the best place to start finding military aviation communications. Of all the forms of military communications, military aviation is the easiest to hear because the altitude at which the aircraft are flying. You can hear quite a bit even with a handheld. Until then, try searching through these frequency ranges, you never know what you might find.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Monitoring the Military Part 2: Air Traffic Control
I wrote this article for the February 2007 Key Klix, the newsletter of the Amateur Radio Club of Savannah (ARCS). It is not meant to be an in depth article on Air Traffic Control; it is more of a "beginner's guide" to monitoring military flights through the Savannah, Georgia area.
Air Traffic Control frequencies are good places to start finding military aviation activity; as aircraft are en route from one location to another, they will be in communication with local air traffic controllers or ARTCC air traffic controllers. Typically, these air traffic control frequencies will be in pairs of one VHF (118.000 to 136.000 MHz) frequency and one UHF (225 to 400 MHz) frequency. Both civilian and military aircraft use VHF frequencies; military aircraft use UHF frequencies (AM mode is used on both VHF and UHF). The type of aircraft usually determines whether or not they will use VHF or UHF with air traffic control. Military aircraft will usually have 2 or more radios, a typical combination would be 1 VHF radio and 1 UHF radio (larger aircraft may have more than one of each). Some military aircraft are only equipped with UHF radios (this is becoming less common). For air traffic control, large transport aircraft will usually use VHF; fighter or attack type aircraft will usually use UHF.
Just as amateur radio operators use callsigns, military aircraft do as well.
Military aircraft callsigns are composed of a word or combination of letters followed by a series of 2 or more numbers. For the most part, the word or letter combination identifies the unit or service the aircraft is from and the numbers identify the flight number, mission number, or airframe. For example, ARMY 26260 would be an Army UH-60 Blackhawk; ARMY denotes the service and 26260 is the last 5 digits of the helicopter’s tail number. AB 401 would be a US Navy F/A-18 from VFA-86; AB identifies it as a VFA-86 aircraft and 401 is the aircraft number. SHOOTER 11 would be an F-16 from the 55th Fighter Squadron; SHOOTER is a callsign that the 55th FS uses and 11 denotes the flight number (additional aircraft in the flight would be 12, 13, 14, etc.)
The local air traffic control frequencies are airport tower, airport ground control, clearance delivery, and approach/departure frequencies. The tower controls the airspace immediately surrounding the airport. Ground Control controls the ramp space, taxiways, and runways. Approach/Departure controls the airspace around the airport but outside of the airport’s immediate airspace. In Savannah, although there are two major airports, Savannah/Hilton Head International and Hunter Army Airfield, there is one Approach/Departure facility that handles the area surrounding both. Savannah International and Hunter each have their own tower and ground control facilities. Savannah International also utilizes clearance delivery frequencies to issue departure clearances to aircraft; at Hunter clearances are passed over the ground or tower frequencies.
125.300/387.100 Savannah Approach/Departure
120.400/380.025 Savannah Approach/Departure
118.400/307.225 Savannah Approach/Departure
119.100/257.800 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Tower
121.900/348.600 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Ground Control
119.550/291.775 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Clearance Delivery
133.550/279.575 Hunter AAF Tower
121.800/291.675 Hunter AAF Ground Control
When they aren’t within the areas surrounding the airports, aircraft will be in communication with ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) controllers. ARTCCs are separated into sectors and altitudes. The sectors are named by a city or airport within the sector (sometimes where the transmitter is located) and by the altitude it covers (low, high, or ultra high). The area surrounding Savannah falls in Jacksonville Center’s area. Sectors surrounding the Savannah area are (once again, both VHF and UHF frequencies use AM mode):
Allendale Low 132.500/363.200
Brunswick Low 126.750/277.400
Jekyll Low 124.675/282.200
Savannah Low 322.500/120.850
Aiken High 127.875/319.200
Summerville High 124.075/351.700
Alma High 135.975/282.300
Statesboro High 126.125/285.650
Hunter Ultra High 132.425/290.350
Related to Air Traffic Control are the Flight Service Stations (FSS). The area around Savannah is under the Macon FSS, which uses 123.650/255.400.
Pilots can contact an FSS to open flight plans, get weather information, etc.
To illustrate how all of this works we’ll create an imaginary flight, ARCS 11, which will depart Hunter Army Airfield and turn south toward Florida. ARCS 11 is given their flight plan via Ground Control on 291.675 and are then given instructions to taxi to the runway. Once they are ready to take off, Ground Control switches them to 279.575 for Hunter Tower where they are cleared onto the runway and then give clearance to take off. When ARCS 11 leaves Hunter’s airspace, they are switched to Savannah Approach/Departure control on 380.025. As ARCS 11 continues south, they leave Savannah’s airspace and are switched to Jacksonville Center on 282.200. At each of these frequency changes, the air traffic controller will pass the new frequency for the flight to switch to. Of course, most of the time you won’t be able to hear the air traffic controller because you are out of range, but the pilots usually repeat the frequency they are given for confirmation, enabling you to follow them along their journey until the aircraft is out of range.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Air Traffic Control frequencies are good places to start finding military aviation activity; as aircraft are en route from one location to another, they will be in communication with local air traffic controllers or ARTCC air traffic controllers. Typically, these air traffic control frequencies will be in pairs of one VHF (118.000 to 136.000 MHz) frequency and one UHF (225 to 400 MHz) frequency. Both civilian and military aircraft use VHF frequencies; military aircraft use UHF frequencies (AM mode is used on both VHF and UHF). The type of aircraft usually determines whether or not they will use VHF or UHF with air traffic control. Military aircraft will usually have 2 or more radios, a typical combination would be 1 VHF radio and 1 UHF radio (larger aircraft may have more than one of each). Some military aircraft are only equipped with UHF radios (this is becoming less common). For air traffic control, large transport aircraft will usually use VHF; fighter or attack type aircraft will usually use UHF.
Just as amateur radio operators use callsigns, military aircraft do as well.
Military aircraft callsigns are composed of a word or combination of letters followed by a series of 2 or more numbers. For the most part, the word or letter combination identifies the unit or service the aircraft is from and the numbers identify the flight number, mission number, or airframe. For example, ARMY 26260 would be an Army UH-60 Blackhawk; ARMY denotes the service and 26260 is the last 5 digits of the helicopter’s tail number. AB 401 would be a US Navy F/A-18 from VFA-86; AB identifies it as a VFA-86 aircraft and 401 is the aircraft number. SHOOTER 11 would be an F-16 from the 55th Fighter Squadron; SHOOTER is a callsign that the 55th FS uses and 11 denotes the flight number (additional aircraft in the flight would be 12, 13, 14, etc.)
The local air traffic control frequencies are airport tower, airport ground control, clearance delivery, and approach/departure frequencies. The tower controls the airspace immediately surrounding the airport. Ground Control controls the ramp space, taxiways, and runways. Approach/Departure controls the airspace around the airport but outside of the airport’s immediate airspace. In Savannah, although there are two major airports, Savannah/Hilton Head International and Hunter Army Airfield, there is one Approach/Departure facility that handles the area surrounding both. Savannah International and Hunter each have their own tower and ground control facilities. Savannah International also utilizes clearance delivery frequencies to issue departure clearances to aircraft; at Hunter clearances are passed over the ground or tower frequencies.
125.300/387.100 Savannah Approach/Departure
120.400/380.025 Savannah Approach/Departure
118.400/307.225 Savannah Approach/Departure
119.100/257.800 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Tower
121.900/348.600 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Ground Control
119.550/291.775 Savannah/Hilton Head IAP Clearance Delivery
133.550/279.575 Hunter AAF Tower
121.800/291.675 Hunter AAF Ground Control
When they aren’t within the areas surrounding the airports, aircraft will be in communication with ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) controllers. ARTCCs are separated into sectors and altitudes. The sectors are named by a city or airport within the sector (sometimes where the transmitter is located) and by the altitude it covers (low, high, or ultra high). The area surrounding Savannah falls in Jacksonville Center’s area. Sectors surrounding the Savannah area are (once again, both VHF and UHF frequencies use AM mode):
Allendale Low 132.500/363.200
Brunswick Low 126.750/277.400
Jekyll Low 124.675/282.200
Savannah Low 322.500/120.850
Aiken High 127.875/319.200
Summerville High 124.075/351.700
Alma High 135.975/282.300
Statesboro High 126.125/285.650
Hunter Ultra High 132.425/290.350
Related to Air Traffic Control are the Flight Service Stations (FSS). The area around Savannah is under the Macon FSS, which uses 123.650/255.400.
Pilots can contact an FSS to open flight plans, get weather information, etc.
To illustrate how all of this works we’ll create an imaginary flight, ARCS 11, which will depart Hunter Army Airfield and turn south toward Florida. ARCS 11 is given their flight plan via Ground Control on 291.675 and are then given instructions to taxi to the runway. Once they are ready to take off, Ground Control switches them to 279.575 for Hunter Tower where they are cleared onto the runway and then give clearance to take off. When ARCS 11 leaves Hunter’s airspace, they are switched to Savannah Approach/Departure control on 380.025. As ARCS 11 continues south, they leave Savannah’s airspace and are switched to Jacksonville Center on 282.200. At each of these frequency changes, the air traffic controller will pass the new frequency for the flight to switch to. Of course, most of the time you won’t be able to hear the air traffic controller because you are out of range, but the pilots usually repeat the frequency they are given for confirmation, enabling you to follow them along their journey until the aircraft is out of range.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
01 February 2007
102nd Fighter Wing at Savannah CRTC
At least 8 F-15s from the 102nd Fighter Wing arrived at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center this morning. CAPE 1# flight and CAPE 2# flight arrived via the usual ATC frequencies and passed in-flight reports on 237.000 (CRTC Ops).
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
UAV Crash at Fort Stewart
I managed to monitor part of an interesting incident on 29 January 2007: the crash of a Shadow UAV during training by the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Divsion at Fort Stewart. The UAV belonged to A/2-3 BTB; search and recovery operations utilized assets of 2nd Brigade Headquarters, A/2-3 BTB, and 3-3 Aviation.
Due to my distance from Fort Stewart, I didn't hear any FM or VHF/UHF milair traffic on the operation, but I did catch activity on the Fort Stewart Trunked Repeater System. Most of the activity was on Talkgroup 2960, which has been identified as a 2nd Brigade talkgroup; SPARTAN elements (2nd Brigade), TITAN elements (2-3 BTB) and SHARK elements (3-3 Aviation) were coordinating requests for an AH-64 Apache to assist in the search. TITAN elements also passed last known altitude and heading to assist the AH-64 that SHARK 3 tasked to the search. Talkgroup 7312, which has been used extensively during recent 2nd Brigade training was used by SPARTAN X-RAY to advise training areas of the UAV crash.
The TRS was used to coordinate the activity of the units involved. Based on what I could hear, SHARK 3 had tasked DEATHSTALKER 6 (the AH-64 in the search) to communicate with 2-3 BTB on a SINGCARS net. All in all, it made for fascinating monitoring. Unfortunately I fell asleep before the UAV was located, so I missed the resolution of the search and how bad the UAV may have been damaged. TITAN mentioned that it's parachute had deployed, so hopefully damage was minimal.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Due to my distance from Fort Stewart, I didn't hear any FM or VHF/UHF milair traffic on the operation, but I did catch activity on the Fort Stewart Trunked Repeater System. Most of the activity was on Talkgroup 2960, which has been identified as a 2nd Brigade talkgroup; SPARTAN elements (2nd Brigade), TITAN elements (2-3 BTB) and SHARK elements (3-3 Aviation) were coordinating requests for an AH-64 Apache to assist in the search. TITAN elements also passed last known altitude and heading to assist the AH-64 that SHARK 3 tasked to the search. Talkgroup 7312, which has been used extensively during recent 2nd Brigade training was used by SPARTAN X-RAY to advise training areas of the UAV crash.
The TRS was used to coordinate the activity of the units involved. Based on what I could hear, SHARK 3 had tasked DEATHSTALKER 6 (the AH-64 in the search) to communicate with 2-3 BTB on a SINGCARS net. All in all, it made for fascinating monitoring. Unfortunately I fell asleep before the UAV was located, so I missed the resolution of the search and how bad the UAV may have been damaged. TITAN mentioned that it's parachute had deployed, so hopefully damage was minimal.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
USCG Monitoring Blogs
On 28 January 2007, I posted an article about problems with the USCG Deepwater Program. While checking site hits the next two days, I noticed that I had two hits from the uscg.mil domain, both going direct to the Deepwater entry. One hit came from the Google blog search site.
I'm not proclaiming a conspiracy here, I just found it fairly interesting that a blog post that simply presented the article without comment gathered attention from the USCG.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
I'm not proclaiming a conspiracy here, I just found it fairly interesting that a blog post that simply presented the article without comment gathered attention from the USCG.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
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