I turned on the HF radio for (according to the log) the first time in 2 weeks this morning. I decided to play some radio before watching some football this afternoon and going to work this evening. I didn't get any DX today, but I did have fun chasing the Blue Ridge Bonanza special event stations, working a couple of South Carolina QSO Party stations, and working an Elmer Club in Virginia. Most all of this morning's contacts were on 40 Meters.
The first station I came across this morning was W4CA, one of the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations. The Blue Ridge Bonanza is a group of 13 special event stations along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina. This first W4CA that I worked was at mile marker 0 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Throughout the morning I worked 5 more W4CA stations at mile marker 84 - Peaks of Otter, mile marker 121 - Mill Mountain, mile marker 45.6 - Buena Vista, mile marker 189 - Groundhog Mountain, and milemarker 213 - the Blue Ridge Music Center. For the seventh of the 13 stations, I worked W4NC at mile marker 244.
In between the Blue Ridge Bonanza stations, I worked two stations in the South Carolina QSO Party on 80 Meters: KF4UOR in Calhoun County, SC and W4QNW just across the river in Beaufort County, SC.
This being a day of Virginia stations, I continued the run of Virginia stations by working W4ZA, the Richmond Amateur Radio Club. The Richmond ARC was celebrating the 80th birthday of their club!
The last contact of the morning was with the Memorial Amateur Radio Club. This is an intersting organization. They are an elmering club that works with students in the WFOS broadcast radio class at the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology. The school has a broadcast FM station on 88.7 MHz (I'll have to start listening for them during E-Skip and Tropo ducting). They not only elmer these students with both the broadcast station and amateur radio, they also try to provide amateur radio equipment to those students that pass their amateur radio license exams.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
19 September 2009
17 September 2009
QSL Card from the Central African Republic
I worked TL0A, Christian, from the Central African Republic on 4 July 2009. I haven't worked Africa very many times, so I promptly sent off a QSL card on 6 July. This morning, I received this terrific card back.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
15 September 2009
JTFEX 09-4
As indicated by the article I posted previously, JTFEX 09-4 began today. I monitored some activity that may or may not be related to the JTFEX; further monitoring throughout the week should indicate whether it was or not.
4.372 USB - A link coordination net with stations DELTA, FOXTROT, MIKE, and NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER had a possible foreign accent but I never was quite able to place it. As mentioned in the article, there is participation from foreign navies in the JTFEX.
340.125 - CHILL 21 (B-52H) wkg STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS). I don't know if this is a new JSTARS discrete (a few new ones have popped up lately) or if it is an exercise frequency. I'm not even sure this was part of the JTFEX, it could have been a different exercise. Friends from Florida indicate that there is another exercise going on at Avon Park, possibly an Atlantic Strike type exercise.
In addition to those two frequencies, the following were also in use:
284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
4.372 USB - A link coordination net with stations DELTA, FOXTROT, MIKE, and NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER had a possible foreign accent but I never was quite able to place it. As mentioned in the article, there is participation from foreign navies in the JTFEX.
340.125 - CHILL 21 (B-52H) wkg STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16th ACCS). I don't know if this is a new JSTARS discrete (a few new ones have popped up lately) or if it is an exercise frequency. I'm not even sure this was part of the JTFEX, it could have been a different exercise. Friends from Florida indicate that there is another exercise going on at Avon Park, possibly an Atlantic Strike type exercise.
In addition to those two frequencies, the following were also in use:
284.500 - SEALORD North Primary
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
Harry S. Truman Strike Group Begins JTFEX 09-4 Off East Coast
From USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), along with 13 foreign ships from nine nations, began Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 09-4 Sept. 14.
JTFEX is a scenario-driven tactical exercise that focuses on major combat operations for the HST CSG, which will provide necessary training for the strike group to proceed into a Fleet Synthetic Training - Joint (FST-J) exercise for final deployment certification.
JTFEX provides a "graduate-level" exercise to ensure U.S. and coalition forces are interoperable, capable and ready to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"JTFEX 09-4 will present the strike group with challenging, dynamic exercise threats. This scenario, and the opportunity to work with our coalition partners will prepare our strike group for the varied missions we will be assigned when we deploy," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Leadership on board HST is looking forward to the challenge.
"Like all exercises, JTFEX is a great learning opportunity. It's also a chance to show the rest of the Navy the hard work and dedication the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harry S. Truman put forth every day," said Capt. Joe Clarkson, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) commanding officer.
Participating countries include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States. Some of the participating units include the Canadian ship HMCS Fredericton (FFG 337), Brazilian ship BNS Liberale (F43), Italian submarine ITS Scire (S527), and Royal Netherland ships HNLMS Tromp (F803) and HNLMS Van Speijk (F828).
JTFEX 09-4 also marks the first ever inclusion of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1, which includes the Danish ocean patrol vessel HDMS Thetis (F357), the Belgian coastal minehunter BNS Lobelia (M 921), the Royal Netherland minehunter HNLMS Urk (M861), the Estonian minehunter ENS Sakala (M314), the British minesweeper HMS Quorn, and the Royal Norwegian minesweeper KNM Rauma (M352). In addition to the foreign ships and units, HST CSG has embarked several foreign naval liaison officers to incorporate into its training.
"The Royal Navy participates in the exercise with two frigates and we're looking forward to the exercise," said Royal Netherlands Navy Commander Bud Boots. "I think the exercise is a perfect training opportunity for us to practice real coalition cooperaion." "This exercise is a great opportunity for the Brazilian Navy to learn and interact with other Navies," said Brazilian Navy Lt. Cezar Santos.
The HST CSG is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and embarked Destroyer Squadron 26 staff, the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66); the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-32, VFA-37, VFA-105 and VMFA-312; Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron VAQ-130; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-126; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron HS-7.
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), along with 13 foreign ships from nine nations, began Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 09-4 Sept. 14.
JTFEX is a scenario-driven tactical exercise that focuses on major combat operations for the HST CSG, which will provide necessary training for the strike group to proceed into a Fleet Synthetic Training - Joint (FST-J) exercise for final deployment certification.
JTFEX provides a "graduate-level" exercise to ensure U.S. and coalition forces are interoperable, capable and ready to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"JTFEX 09-4 will present the strike group with challenging, dynamic exercise threats. This scenario, and the opportunity to work with our coalition partners will prepare our strike group for the varied missions we will be assigned when we deploy," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Leadership on board HST is looking forward to the challenge.
"Like all exercises, JTFEX is a great learning opportunity. It's also a chance to show the rest of the Navy the hard work and dedication the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harry S. Truman put forth every day," said Capt. Joe Clarkson, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) commanding officer.
Participating countries include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States. Some of the participating units include the Canadian ship HMCS Fredericton (FFG 337), Brazilian ship BNS Liberale (F43), Italian submarine ITS Scire (S527), and Royal Netherland ships HNLMS Tromp (F803) and HNLMS Van Speijk (F828).
JTFEX 09-4 also marks the first ever inclusion of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1, which includes the Danish ocean patrol vessel HDMS Thetis (F357), the Belgian coastal minehunter BNS Lobelia (M 921), the Royal Netherland minehunter HNLMS Urk (M861), the Estonian minehunter ENS Sakala (M314), the British minesweeper HMS Quorn, and the Royal Norwegian minesweeper KNM Rauma (M352). In addition to the foreign ships and units, HST CSG has embarked several foreign naval liaison officers to incorporate into its training.
"The Royal Navy participates in the exercise with two frigates and we're looking forward to the exercise," said Royal Netherlands Navy Commander Bud Boots. "I think the exercise is a perfect training opportunity for us to practice real coalition cooperaion." "This exercise is a great opportunity for the Brazilian Navy to learn and interact with other Navies," said Brazilian Navy Lt. Cezar Santos.
The HST CSG is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and embarked Destroyer Squadron 26 staff, the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66); the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-32, VFA-37, VFA-105 and VMFA-312; Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron VAQ-130; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-126; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron HS-7.
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.
12 September 2009
More Dispatch Consolidation
Buried deep in an article in the newspaper this week was mention of consolidation of Fire and Police dispatch by January . I am guessing this means they are moving Savannah Fire Dispatchers into METRO, perhaps dispatching all fire calls by dedicated fire dispatchers.
We'll have to start listening for dispatch changes.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
11 September 2009
Today's USCG/CNN Brouhaha Offers an Object Lesson for Radio Hobbyists
Earlier today CNN, followed by most other news outlets, aired a story regarding a USCG vessel intercept on the Potomac River near the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The intercept closely followed a speech that the President gave at the Pentagon in memory of 9/11. What was reported as a shots fired intercept based on radio communications monitored by CNN on a scanner turned out, in reality, to be a training exercise. This entire incident is the product of poor decision making by both the Coast Guard and CNN.
First, the Coast Guard chose the wrong time to conduct this type of training drill. Someone somewhere in the chain of command should have said "We can do this on the 10th, we can do this on the 12th, but the 11th is just not the right time for it." On such an emotional day, conducting that drill was just a bad decision. That drill was held on the wrong day in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even if it wasn't for CNN reporting what they heard on a scanner, it could just as easily have been reported by a motorist passing by on one of the bridges or a tourist on the shoreline that noticed Coast Guard boats chasing another boat.
Second, CNN was irresponsible in how they reported the incident. Based on what I have been able to ascertain, CNN monitored the "intercept" on Marine VHF Channel 81. Any experienced monitoring/scanning hobbyist would have immediately picked up that it was training drill because during a real intercept, the Coast Guard would have used Marine VHF Channel 16 to attempt communications with the boat they were confronting. CNN then failed to properly confirm what they hearing; they contacted the Coast Guard (at what level?) and were told that the Coast Guard knew nothing about it. At this point, they apparently decided to run with what they had rather than making further attempts to clarify things. The combination of what they thought they were hearing and an "I don't know what you're talking about" from the Coast Guard should have indicated that something wasn't right." More effort should have been made to clarify their information before they ran with the story but the competition of 24 Hours News Coverage took over and they ran with the story.
There is no doubt in my mind that this will be used to justify more communications encryption at all levels of government. Irresponsibility will lead to less sunshine on government activity by further encryption of government communications. We are losing one of our methods of oversight.
This serves as an object lesson to we radio hobbyists. We need to be responsible with what we hear and think closely about what we do with what we hear. I would hate to think it was one of us that provided this information to the media and triggered the confusion above. We must be responsible with what hear and think about the consequences of what we do with it then report or post accordingly. It is not my position to tell people what they should or should not do with they hear but I do filter what I post about on this blog and what I post on the scanning related email reflectors.
Personally, I think carefully about what I post here and by email on what I hear on my radios. It is my personal choice not to post movements of troops to combat areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. I have chosen not to post movements of REACH flights because I don't know if they are en route to a combat area or not. I also do not report on CAPs, or Combat Air Patrols; if I do mention them it is AFTER the CAP is complete not while it is active. In the public safety area, I don't post or report on surveillance, undercover or tactical operations. When I post on a fire or similar incident, I don't post based on the initial dispatch; instead I post after units have arrived on scene and I've heard the size up. If I make a mistake in what I post, I take pains to 1) make a correction and 2) apologize for it.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
First, the Coast Guard chose the wrong time to conduct this type of training drill. Someone somewhere in the chain of command should have said "We can do this on the 10th, we can do this on the 12th, but the 11th is just not the right time for it." On such an emotional day, conducting that drill was just a bad decision. That drill was held on the wrong day in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even if it wasn't for CNN reporting what they heard on a scanner, it could just as easily have been reported by a motorist passing by on one of the bridges or a tourist on the shoreline that noticed Coast Guard boats chasing another boat.
Second, CNN was irresponsible in how they reported the incident. Based on what I have been able to ascertain, CNN monitored the "intercept" on Marine VHF Channel 81. Any experienced monitoring/scanning hobbyist would have immediately picked up that it was training drill because during a real intercept, the Coast Guard would have used Marine VHF Channel 16 to attempt communications with the boat they were confronting. CNN then failed to properly confirm what they hearing; they contacted the Coast Guard (at what level?) and were told that the Coast Guard knew nothing about it. At this point, they apparently decided to run with what they had rather than making further attempts to clarify things. The combination of what they thought they were hearing and an "I don't know what you're talking about" from the Coast Guard should have indicated that something wasn't right." More effort should have been made to clarify their information before they ran with the story but the competition of 24 Hours News Coverage took over and they ran with the story.
There is no doubt in my mind that this will be used to justify more communications encryption at all levels of government. Irresponsibility will lead to less sunshine on government activity by further encryption of government communications. We are losing one of our methods of oversight.
This serves as an object lesson to we radio hobbyists. We need to be responsible with what we hear and think closely about what we do with what we hear. I would hate to think it was one of us that provided this information to the media and triggered the confusion above. We must be responsible with what hear and think about the consequences of what we do with it then report or post accordingly. It is not my position to tell people what they should or should not do with they hear but I do filter what I post about on this blog and what I post on the scanning related email reflectors.
Personally, I think carefully about what I post here and by email on what I hear on my radios. It is my personal choice not to post movements of troops to combat areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. I have chosen not to post movements of REACH flights because I don't know if they are en route to a combat area or not. I also do not report on CAPs, or Combat Air Patrols; if I do mention them it is AFTER the CAP is complete not while it is active. In the public safety area, I don't post or report on surveillance, undercover or tactical operations. When I post on a fire or similar incident, I don't post based on the initial dispatch; instead I post after units have arrived on scene and I've heard the size up. If I make a mistake in what I post, I take pains to 1) make a correction and 2) apologize for it.
Mac McCormick III
KF4LMT
10 September 2009
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
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
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