New Desk and Station Layout

My old desk was getting to wobbly to use, so it was time yesterday to go out and buy a new desk. I found a nice desk at WalMart and spent the afternoon and evening dismantling the radios and computer, removing the old desk, putting the new desk together and then reassembling the monitoring post/amateur radio station. The computer and the radios' power supply ended up in cabinets in the desk, opening up a good bit of space and helping to eliminate a bit of clutter.

The scanners moved to the left side of the station, all stacked on top of each other. On the bottom is a Uniden BC-895 programmed with ATC and airfield frequencies. Stacked on top of it is a Radio Shack PRO-2005 programmed with various conventional public safety, Federal, and search and rescue frequencies and a Radio Shack PRO-2006 programmed with military low band frequencies. Next is a Uniden BC-796 programmed with trunked systems and digital and analog frequencies. Topping off the stack are two Uniden BC-780s programmed with military aviation frequencies.

The amateur radio gear is located to the right side of the station. A Yaesu FT-897D doubles as both HF/6-Meter transceiver and as general coverage receiver for utility monitoring. A Yaesu FT-2800 provides 2-Meter capability and is also used for some VHF conventional monitoring.

Military Monitoring Recap; July 2009

Hunter AAF
124.975 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
285.425 - Tower
121.800 - Ground
291.675 - Ground
126.200 - Base Ops
51.050 - Helicopter Common
309.000 - PMSV
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert
67.975 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
70.575 - 1-3 AVN (encrypted)
41.875 - 1-3 AVN air-to-air
229.200 - 1-3 AVN air-to-air
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAKW OPS"
54.375 - B/2-3 AVN air-to-air
51.375 - 3-17 CAV "LIGHTHORSE OPS"
36.525 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
140.100 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
238.375 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
245.175 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
245.275 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "BRAWLER OPS"
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE 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 25289 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25290 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25295 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25296 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25298 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25306 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25330 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35359 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35360 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35370 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35377 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35404 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARM 35415 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26271 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26478 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26556 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26594 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26596 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26795 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
RIVER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23842 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23886 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23938 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23944 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 23964 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24427 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24636 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24638 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 26456 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26501 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26510 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26513 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26521 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26542 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26546 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26631 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26633 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26796 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26800 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26806 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27040 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27041 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27066 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 00365 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 10330 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 10558 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 10561 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 20590 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 20595 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30983 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30984 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30988 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40150 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50024 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 26367 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26412 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26417 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03750 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03753 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
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)
GUARD 23332 (UH-60A)
GUARD 23562 (UH-60A)
GUARD 80064
KING 15 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
NAVY 1E 115 (TH-57)
NAVY HN 431 (SH-60, HSL-42)
PEACH 35 (E-8C, 330 CTS)
TIGER 77 (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

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
RULER 8# (C-17, 172 AW)


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


MCAS Beaufort
328.425 - Approach/Departure
292.125 - Approach/Departure
281.800 - Base Ops
264.500 - PMSV
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
335.950 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
225.675 - VMFA-115 Tac 2
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
313.800 - VMFA(AW)-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
354.400 - VFA-86 Base
308.925 - VFA-86 Tac 1
363.825 - VFA-86 Tac 2
305.800 - NSAWC Base
141.900 - NSAWC air-to-air
142.850 - NSAWC air-to-air
299.300 - NSAWC air-to-air
301.950 - NSAWC air-to-air
320.300 - NSAWC air-to-air

BLADE 2# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-115)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
CHECK 6# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-312)
WINDER ## (F/A-18C, VFA-86)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
TOPGUN ## (F-16, F/A-18, NSAWC)
PAT 522


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

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


Shaw AFB
252.100 - Shaw AFB SOF
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
140.375 - 77th FS air-to-air
143.800 - 77th FS air-to-air
320.525 - 79th FS "TIGER OPS"
138.150 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.550 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.600 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.700 - 79th FS air-to-air

FLEX (F-16C, 55th FS)
KILLER (F-16C, 55th FS)
MOJO (F-16C, 55th FS)
STING (F-16C, 55th FS)
CEASER (F-16C, 77th FS)
LUCKY (F-16C, 77th FS)
NAIL (F-16C, 77th FS)
SKYCAP (F-16C, 77th FS)
SUNTAN (F-16C, 77th FS)
VEGAS (F-16C, 77th FS)
JAKE (F-16C, 79th FS)
SLASH (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
141.925 - 169th FW V17
140.125 - 169th FW V18

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


Jacksonville IAP
351.80- = Jax Approach/Departure
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)


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
276.075 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
335.975 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 3# (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)

BEEFEATER (ECM control at Bulldog/Beefeater Ranges)
HOLLOWPOINT (JTAC at Townsend Range)
VENOM (JTAC at Townsend Range)


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
301.000 - South TACTS Range
350.000 - South TACTS Range
318.600 - SEALORD Discrete
339.700 - SEALROD Discrete
142.300 - STEALTH (117th ACS) assigned


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


Miscellaneous
BACKE ## (KC=135, 916 ARW)
BOLT ## (KC-135, 6 AMW)
CHALICE (E-3 backend, 963rd ACCS)
CHIDO 49 (E-6)
DARKSTAR (E-3 backend, 965th ACCS)
DRAGNET (E-3 backend, 966th ACCS)
GRUMMAN 81 (Grumman Test Flight)
KING 15 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
MAD FOX 09 (P-3C, VP-5)
MASH 62 (KC-135, 319th ARW)
NAVY JV 832 (C-40, VR-58)
NAVY LA 051 (P-3C, VP-5)
RAWHIDE (C-2, VRC-40)
SODA 91 (KC-135, 151 ARS)
STEALTH (117th ACS)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
260.900 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD Discrete
320.600 - AWACS Discrete


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

323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Savannah Fire - New Engines 3, 8, and 9

Savannah Fire and Emergency Services has new apparatus for Engines 3 , 8, and 9. See this WTOC article for more info:

http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10860948


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Test Post From Blackberry

I'm testing out blogging from the Blackberry. Perhaps there will be some "portable" blogging from me in the future.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

VMFA(AW)-224 Back at MCAS Beaufort

VMFA(AW)-224 is back at MCAS Beaufort after a deployment. They are back in the air, flying training missions offshore in the W-areas and at Townsend Range using their usual callsign BENGAL and the following frequencies:

344.200 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Foam System Goes Off in Hangar at Hunter AAF

Hunter Crash/Fire is working an incident in which the foam system in a hangar went off. After consultations with Environmental, they are diluting the foam outside of the hangar with water and washing it down the storm drains. Communications are on TG 3504 of the Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF TRS. An aircraft was in the hangar, although damage is unknown. All personnel have been reported accounted for. The hangar is apparently Hangar 1130.

On 77.725, 224 MI Bn Ops, SUNNY OPS has told SUNNY 22 that the foam system went off in the "EW Hangar." SUNNY 22 inquired if an aircraft was still in the hangar and was told yes and that a hatch was open. Based on the context of the conversation, I'm guessing that the EW hangar is a 224 MI Bn hangar.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

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