New USCG Savannah Area Operating Frequency

On Thursday I received word from a reliable source that the Coast Guard was using a new frequency for operations in the Savannah area; it was referred to as "LE ALPHA" but the frequency was unknown. The source also added that helicopter operations would continue to be on Ch. 21 (157.050) as in the past. I haven't had much radio time recently, but this information did prompt me to realize that I haven't heard much traffic on Ch. 21 recently. Friday morning, I had some free time so I set some of the radios on search mode in the federal and military VHF assignments.

In no time at all, I picked up Station Tybee working 25524 on 167.0875 in unencrypted analog FM. After a few more transmissions, Station Tybee identified themselves as transmitting on "LE ALPHA." If you were listening to Station Tybee and Savannah area Coast Guard activity on 157.050, LE ALPHA is definitely one you'll want to program in your scanner.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Mobile MilCom

The mobile BC-780 has brought the enjoyment of military monitoring back to my daily commute. This afternoon on the way home, I was able to monitor activity in the W-157 offshore warning area and in Townsend Range, which I was never able to do when attempting to monitor such activity with the BC-996.

From between Rincon and Port Wentworth on GA 21, I was able to hear NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122) and HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533) working in W-157 on 385.300, 283.400, and 348.825. When NIKEL 3# transitioned to work Townsend Range, I was able to hear them quite well on 228.400.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Mobile Monitoring Post Addition

For some time, I've been unhappy with my Uniden BC-996's performance on the military UHF airband. It does just fine on public safety, federal, and military land mobile frequencies and it gives me the easily ability to monitor P25 digital signals, but military aviation is my primary monitoring target. I haven't been able to hear much of my favorite thing to listen to for the last year. Recently, the opportunity presented itself to obtain a third BC-780 for use in the car.

This was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. Another benefit to this 780 is that it has the Scanner Master remote face kit making it the perfect scanner to mount in the car. Given the limited space in the front of the Saturn and the size of the 780 and the 996, I probably couldn't have put both in if the 780 didn't have the remote face kit. The face of the 780 is mounted near the top of the dash over the AM/FM radio and the rest of it is under the front passenger seat.

Several times recently I've been asked what I'm using for antennas on the mobile radios, I never can remember the model numbers, so I'll post them here for easy reference. The Yaesu FT-8800 2-Meter/70-cm dual band transciever (center dash) uses a Comet CHL-62S. The BC-780 uses a Diamond SG7200NMO (an amateur dual band antenna that just happens to be an excellent milair antenna) and the BC-996 uses an Antennex ABSCANC.

The benefit of having both radios in the car is that I now have the ability to hear more. The 996 has been devoted to trunked and conventional public safety and federal communications. The 780 is devoted to military communications. Either radio can be used for searching, leaving the other to scan known frequencies when I'm searching for new frequencies or systems. With my 60-70 mile round trip each day, they provide an excellent way to pass the commute time.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; April 2009

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
67.975 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
70.575 - 1-3 AVN "VIPER OPS"
54.600 - 2-3 AVN "KNIGHTHAKW OPS"
54.375 - 2-3 AVN air-to-air
51.375 - 3-17 CAV "LIGHTHORSE OPS"
36.525 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
139.900 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
238.375 - 3-17 CAV air-to-air
49.700 - 4-3 AVN "BRAWLER OPS"
30.30 - 4-3 AVN air-to-air
38.925 - 4-3 AVN air-to-air
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 25287 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25289 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25290 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25298 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25300 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25305 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 25306 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35341 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35359 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35360 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35377 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35399 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35401 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 35404 (AH-64D, 1-3 AVN)
ARMY 26260 (UH-60L, A/2-3 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 26587 (UH-60L, A/2-3 AVN)
RIVER ## (CH-47D, B/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24415 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24427 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24617 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24635 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24636 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24637 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24638 (UH-60A, C/2-3 AVN)
ARMY 24749 (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 26585 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26629 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26795 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN
ARMY 26800 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 26824 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27039 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27041 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27064 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 27075 (UH-60L, 4-3 AVN)
ARMY 00371 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 30966 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40053 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40064 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40181 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 40185 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 50005 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 60010 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 95116 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 95117 (OH-58D, 3-17 CAV)
ARMY 26366 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26410 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26413 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03748 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03749 (MH-48G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03751 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03757 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 295 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 296 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
HURRICANE ## (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
TESTHAWK ## (H-60, OLR)
COAST GUARD 6545 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6565 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6510 (MH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6604 (MH-65C, Savannah)
ARMY 95117/95120 (AH-64D); 43.300 a2a
BASCO 6# (C-17, 437/315 AW)
COAST GUARD 2113 (HU-25)
COAST GUARD 6039 (HH-60)
CONVOY 832 (C-40, VR-58)
JOSA 861
NAVY 7E 116 (TH-57)
NAVY 7E 120 (TH-57)
NAVY LL 42 (P-3C, VP-30)
NAVY LL 54 (P-3C, VP-30)
PAT 617


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
237.000 - CRTC Ops
140.500 - CRTC Discrete (21st FS use)
141.150 - CRTC Discrete (21st FS use)
139.700 - 64th AGRS air-to-air
303.000 - USN TH-57 air-to-air

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
GULF TEST ## (Gulfstream Test Flights)
GAMBLER ## (F-16, 21st FS)
DEALER ## (F-16, 21st FS)
MIG ## (F-16, 64th AGRS)
NAVY 1E 065 (TH-57)
NAVY 7E 079 (TH-57)
PRIMO 75


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
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
375.426 - VMFA-251 Tac 3
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

BLADE 2# (F/A-18C, VMFA-115)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
TBOLT 5# (F/A-18C, VMFA-251)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)
FOX 515 (C-12, MCAS Beaufort)
NAVY JU 983 (C-9, VR-56)
RAID 06


Charleston AFB
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
349.400 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"
134.100 - Charleston AFB "PALMETTO OPS"

BASCO ## (C-17, 437/315 AW)


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

MACE ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)
VIPER ## (F-16CM, 169th FW)


125th Fighter Wing, Jax IAP
322.400 - Jax App/Dep
351.800 - Jax App/Dep
251.250 - 125th FW Maintenance/Ops
253.700 - 125th FW Aux 7
314.200 - 125th FW Aux 8
343.000 - 125th FW Aux 9

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


Robins AFB/JSTARS
293.525 - 116th ACW "PEACHTREE OPS"
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
318.300 - JSTARS Discrete
324.650 - JSTARS Discrete
328.025 - JSTARS Discrete
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete


PEACH 88 (E-8C frontend, 128th ACCS)
STARGATE (E-8C backend, 330th CTS)
VULTURE (E-8C backend, 128th ACCS)


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
313.700 - North Secondary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
376.900 - W-157 Discrete


Miscellaneous
DARKSTAR (E-3 backend, 965th ACCS)
GOLIATH (E-3 backend, 960th ACCS)
ROMAN ## (F/A-18, VFA-106)
SENTRY 20 (E-3 frontend, 960th ACCS)
SENTRY 50 (E-3 frontend, 965th ACCS)

364.200 - NORAD AICC
234.600 - NORAD Discrete
288.400 - NORAD Discrete
293.600 - NORAD Discrete
316.300 - NORAD 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

Shuttle Atlantis Launch Photos

Initial Liftoff of Shuttle Atlantis just after 1401 Local.

Shuttle Atlantis continues liftoff.

Shuttle Atlantis continues to space, passing behind clouds that obscured the solid rocket booster seperation.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Shuttle Atlantis Road Trip, Part 1

This morning around 7 AM Guy McDonald, K4GTM and I departed Savannah to watch the Space Shuttle Atlantis takeoff this afternoon. The trip provided not only a good opportunity to monitor the shuttle launch, but also the opportunity to monitor some radio systems and areas that I don't normally get to monitor. We were riding in Guy's truck, so I armed myself with the Uniden BC-396, the Alinco DJ-X10T, the Yaesu VX-7R, and the Icom IC-91AD. Most of the monitoring was done with the BC-396 with the others filling in the gaps on some conventional frequencies. The 91AD was also used to monitor the NASA audio on the 146.940 repeater from Merritt Island. Thanks go to Al and Mike from Florida for pointing me in the right direction on frequencies and talkgroups. Their assistance made it possible for the scanning to enhance the launch experience.

We arrived in the Titusville area shortly after 11 AM, grabbed some lunch at a local Chinese Restaurant and headed to the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway in Titusville. From a good area there, we set up to watch the launch next to a ham that had come from Tallahassee. We were able to monitor a good two hours of support communications prior to the launch from the Patrick AFB/Kennedy Space Center TRS, military VHF/UHF, VHF airband, and Marine VHF frequencies. We also kept tabs on the progress via NASA audio from the aforementioned 146.940 repeater. Perhaps the most interesting frequency to listen to was 126.650, where NASA 947 was passing weather information; they were checking out several cloud formations that almost became "constraints." Luckily, the formations dissipated just before the launch and Atlantis took off as scheduled just after 2:01 PM.

Launch Communications
259.700 - Shuttle Air-to-Ground
-Shuttle ATLANTIS

133.800/264.800 - CAPE CONTROL
-HARASS 33/34 (F-15C, 1 FW)
-HARASS 35/36 (F-15C, 1 FW)
-KING 01 (HC-130)
-RELAY 01
-NASA 902
-NASA 947

141.300/294.600 - VARIETY
-VARIETY 1
-CAPE(?) #

138.400/349.600 - DOD CAPE
-RELAY 01 relaying traffic from 123.100
123.100
-RELAY 01 wkg ????? ref vessels operating in area, then
relaying traffic to DOD CAPE on 349.600

126.650 - Weather
-NASA 902
-NASA 947 passing information on weather conditions, cloud
formations in launch area, particularly concerned with 2
formations near the launch pad right up until launch

260.900 - NORAD Discrete
-HARASS 33/34 (F-15C, 1 FW) for CAP
-HARASS 35/36 (F-15C, 1 FW) for CAP
228.900 - NORAD Discrete
-HARASS 35/36 wkg TANKER 03 for Aerial Refueling

269.300 - Miami ARTCC
-HARASS 33/34 (F-15C, 1 FW)
-HARASS 35/36 (F-15C, 1 FW)
348.700 - Miami ARTCC
-HARASS 33/34 (F-15C, 1 FW)
-HARASS 35/36 (F-15C, 1 FW)

157.075 Marine VHF Ch. 81
-RANGE CONTROL (mention of Blue Force Trackers)
-COAST GUARD 47321
-COAST GUARD 25438
-USCGC Kingfisher
157.125 Marine VHF Ch. 23
-BAIRS COVE wkg 25523
157.050 Marine VHF Ch. 21
-HH-65 air-to-air


Patrick AFB/Kennedy Space Center TRS
976 - KSC Fire (116)
1136 - KSC Fire Tac 1
1296 - KSC Medical (117)
-DOD SURGEON, AIRDOC # (in helos?), EMS, RESCUE ##, TRIAGE
1616 - KSC Safety (105)
1648 - KSC Orbiter Ops (110)
1680 - KSC Safety (205)
1760 - CCAFS Safety Net-B
1936 - KSC Security (103)
1952 - Traffic from RED RESCUE ref access to pad
2016 - KSC Security Vehicle Escorts
5392 - EH Base
6736 - Timing/Photo Net
9936 - unknown
11600 - KSC NASA Tower
12496 - KSC Support 104
16336 - CCAFS Cape Fire
16656 - CCAFS Cape Security
18256 - unid passing antenna data


The trip down presented a good opportunity to monitor the NSB Kings Bay TRS, which I rarely get a chance to do and to monitor the relatively new Department of Defense Southeastern TRS. I heard two talkgroups on the Kings Bay system which I've not heard before (nor are they listed at Radio Reference). While traveling through the Camden County and Jacksonville area, I was able to pick up the DOD Southeast TRS SB Kings Bay, NAS Jacksonville, and NS Mayport sites. Only a few talkgroups are listed for these sites at RadioReference; I picked up a good list of talkgroups this trip, unfortunately I just didn't have the time to identify any of them. The exception is 28146 which, based on some traffic I heard, I am guessing is NAS Jax Fire.

NSB Kings Bay TRS (new TGs)
5040 - unknown
-611, 613, 615, sounded civilian
6448 - unknown


DOD Southeast TRS - NAS Kings Bay
386.050 Control Channel
28050 - Encrypted, NSB Kings Bay Waterfront Security
28051 - Encrypted
28053 - Encrypted
28057 - Encrypted
28058 - Encrypted
28081 - Encrypted
28087
28118
28146 - Page Tones for Fire/EMS?
28148
28214
28647
28749 - "100 in Service at White House"

DOD Southeast TRS - NS Mayport
380.4375 Control Channel
28283
28323

DOD Southeast TRS - NAS Jacksonville
386.225 Control Channel
28118
28130 - NAS Jax Police
-COMMAND POST clg MAYPORT EOD
28146 - Fire/EMS?
-"CHIEF 2 on the air at the Security Command Post"
28161
28173
28211 - Aircraft Maintenance Net?, ref to Paint Shops, APUs
28222 - unid ref P-3
28229

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Shuttle Atlantis Road Trip, Part 2

Additionally, the trip provided a chance to monitor areas that I've never had the chance to listen to before. I've previously monitored the Duval/Jacksonville system on short trips, but the St. Johns County frequencies, Flagler County TRS, Volusia County TRS, and the Brevard County TRS were all new to me. A short pursuit in one county and some brush fires in several counties made for some interesting listening along the way.

Duval County/Jacksonville TRS
17360 - A1 Main
17392 - A2 Dispatch
17424 - A3 EMS 1
17584 - A8 Support
17808 - Incident 1
23696 - C4 OPMC (clear/encrypted)
23792 - C7 Shands (encrypted)


St. Johns County
154.415, 156.7 PL - Fire Dispatch
154.160, 156.7 PL - Fire South Tactical
463.025, 167.9 PL - County Medical Coord.
154.845, 156.7 PL - South Dispatch Tac 2
154.650, 156.7 PL - NCIC Tac 3
151.250, 156.7 PL - Sheriff Tac
156.075, 156.7 PL - Sheriff Tac 5

City of St. Augustine
154.385, 156.7 PL - Fire Dispatch
154.890, 156.7 PL - Police Dispatch


Flagler County TRS (EDACS)
03-042 - Fire Primary
03-063 - Fire Tac 3
03-067 - Fire Tac 7
03-072 - Fire Training 1
03-073 - Fire Training 2
03-101 - COA Transportation


Volusia County TRS (EDACS)
01-021 - SO Prisoner Transport
01-022 - SO Courthouse Security
01-052 - Law Enforcement 5
01-053 - SO Tac 5
01-061 - Law Enforcement North Dispatch
01-062 - Law Enforcement South Dispatch
01-064 - SO Teletype
01-065 - SO Teletype
01-070 - SO Tac 2
01-074 - East Dispatch
01-147 - COP-1
01-154 - Air 1
01-156 - Mutual Aid Police 2
02-024 - Bert Fish Medical Center
02-025 - Florida Hospital Deland
02-041 - East Fire Dispatch
02-042 - West Fire Dispatch
02-043 - Fire Tac 3
02-045 - Fire Tac 5
02-081 - EMS EVAC 1
03-064 - Utility Services
03-070 - Utility Services Water
04-081 - Ponce Inlet PD Dispatch
05-133
06-001 - New Smyrna Beach PD Dispatch
06-101 - RCC Fire Dispatch
06-102 - RCC Fire Tac 14
06-104 - RCC Fire Tac 15
07-021 - Port Orange PD Dispatch
07-022 - Port Orange PD Animal Control
07-027 - Port Orange PD Secondary
08-123 - Edgewater Utilities 1
08-124 - Edgewater Public Works 1
08-141 - Edgewater PD Dispatch
09-022 - Deland Fire Tac 26
09-024 - Deland Fire Tac 28
09-030
09-031
09-156 - VC Wide 1
10-041 - Recycling/Solid Waste
10-047 - Signal Dept.
10-062 - Animal Control
10-121 - SO Jail Prisoner Transport
10-123 - SO Jail Ops 2
10-124 - SO Jail Ops 3
11-021 - Daytona Beach Public Works
11-023 - Daytona Beach Water/Wastewater
11-025 - Daytona Beach Water/Wastewater
11-053 - Daytona Beach Fire Talkaround
11-061 - Daytona Beach PD 1 Mainland
11-062 - Daytona Beach PD 2 Beaches
11-070 - Daytona Beach PD Motor Tac
11-072 - Daytona Beach PD Tac 1
11-076 - Daytona Beach PD Tac 2
12-021 - Ormond Beach Patrol 1
12-030 - Beach Access Toll Booths
12-042 - Ocean Center Maintenance
13-061 - Detona Fire Dispatch
13-062 - Deltona Fire Tac 21
13-063 - Deltona Fire Tac 22
13-071
13-073 - Deltona Public Works
13-075 - Deltona Animal Control?
15-157 - Patch TG


Brevard County TRS (EDACS)
01-011 - Brevard SO North
01-012 - Brevard SO Central
01-013 - Brevard SO South
01-036 - Courthouse Titusville
01-044 - EOC
01-131 - Brevard SO Tac North
03-011 - Brevard Fire North
03-012 - Brevard Fire Central
03-104 - PMC Security
04-143 - PMC Med Channel
05-031 - SCATS Dispatch 1
05-032 - SCATS Dispatch 2
05-044 - Coastal Ambulance Primary
05-061 - Traffic Control W/A
05-091 - Animal Control W/A
07-035 - Titusville Fire HQ
07-041 - Titusville PD 1
07-042 - Titusville PD 2
07-043 - Titusville PD Teletype


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net