ISSUE 47 JAN-FEB-MAR 2009 GENERAL EDITOR Jeff Newton
Christopher Ebert was kind enough to allow us to post his ♦ QUIET SIGNALS - Editorial recent editorial titled, “Quiet Signals”. His comments reflect the ♦ MARCH 13-14 SWLFEST Kulpsville PA state of the radio hobby and specifically the amateur radio hobby today. ♦ UPDATE ON MARINE BEACON 406 MHz ♦ CRASH IN THE HUDSON RIVER NJ-NY Quiet Signals Christopher Ebert Founder, Lakes Area GMRS Repeater Group
There are many of us out there wondering “why is my repeater silent all the time?” The same questions could be asked like: “how come ham radio licenses aren’t so popular with kids? Why are there so many quiet repeaters? How come nobody talks on the C.B. as much anymore? Why is my shortwave radio dead? Why are hamfests filled with junk? Why doesn’t the F.C.C. listen to my complaints? Why doesn’t anyone get the GMRS license?” Folks, the answers are simple: radio doesn’t have the magic it once did to most people.
I write this as an editorial through years of experience in dealing with radio; whether it is using it, reading about it, or talking to people about it. Internet research, personal research, and personal experience is what drives this, therefore, I’m not going to quote anything specific; I don’t need to because the proof is in the pudding. So, let’s set the stage.
I am an adult male in my mid-thirties who was turned onto the “magic of radio” from my Grandpa (bless his soul). He had an old Chevy El Camino that he had a C.B. radio in because he spent his life as a truck driver and the C.B. was part of his job. He had a lot of weird-named friends too; guys like Gobstopper, Road Warrior, and Tank. I never knew any of their real names – I don’t think he did either – but it didn’t matter. They had friendships borne of highway miles, diesel soot, and electromagnetic spectrum. The C.B. handle stuff and all of its related mystery was cool and all, but what intrigued my little mind most was the fact that he got to talk into this glowing and noisy box that voices came out of. I asked him a million questions like “who was that?” and “how does that work?” Over the next year or so, Grandpa showed me what a C.B. radio was and taught me about being a radio operator.
A few years later (and into my pre-teens) some friends and I were out in the woods playing and we figured we’d
needed some sort of communications device for a new Story and photos found on Pages 13 through 18. club we’d started. Mind you this is the early 80’s, so there
were only a couple of options available to the public: some
cans and a string or some battery-operated C.B. radios.
So, for Christmas one year, a group of us all begged our
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parents (we knew about Santa, yes) for a C.B. portable So I studied and passed the ham radio test. When I got radio. I don’t know how expensive they are or were at the onto the radio, I was met with some pleasant people and time, but miraculously, Christmas trees were giving birth to had fun with a few, but found it hard to communicate with the radios our little club would use to communicate. Of most hams at the time. It seemed that I (in my early course, phones started ringing asking each other if we got twenties) had difficulty talking with and finding common one and soon the little squawk boxes were lighting up the ground with these people who were in their fifties, sixties, air waves. Over time, we learned on our own that a bigger and seventies. And older yet! I soon became bored with antenna got better reception. A higher antenna got better ham radio because it just didn’t pose the magic for me reception. Antenna, antenna, and antenna with some anymore. I didn’t need it. Don’t get me wrong, over time I more power too. Relays could be done to communicate had found some people my own age I could talk to and we with more distant club members, which was overcome by did have some things in common. However, between most some pretty ingenious (albeit probably dangerous) child of the repeaters being dead silent, or being in use by men engineering with car batteries, crank-up chargers, and talking about doctors’ appointments and podiatric surgery, Grandpa’s old mobile radios in the forts. We realized we it was quite boring. Therefore, it became increasingly could be in touch with one another without ever picking up difficult for me find new people to recruit into ham radio a phone. For a couple of years, this was cool. As we got because I, myself, didn’t really care to be a part. older, however, our club disbanded on its own. Adolescence is a disaster for clubs sometimes, but it Several years later (yes, I’ve kept my ham radio license wasn’t the end of our use of radios yet. and do use it on occasion) I found GMRS. I realize GMRS had been a well-kept secret for many years prior, which is Into our teens come the drivers’ licenses and a weird C.B. probably why I had never even heard of it until 2002 while resurgence in popularity. It was the early 90’s and it I was searching the Internet. At the time, my wife and I seemed we had a good group of people using CB’s again. had two different cell phone plans that did not share It was a lot of fun; many of my old “club buddies” put CB’s minutes or calling features. We had decided to try GMRS into their cars. However, soon after would come the new- out for our basic communications needs and it worked fangled technology; the cell phone. Now I know the cell great. Some friends of mine had the same problem, and phone had been around since the 80’s; we all remember we banded together to build a repeater system. For a few the Miami Vice brick Motorola phone. But I’m talking about years, this thing was cool. We had a little party line we the actual “real every-day” cell phone like the Motorola could gab on to each other and it didn’t cost us anything in Star-Tac. It actually fit into your coat pocket or some huge theory. We figured out that the money we’d have paid for holster, but it wasn’t the size of a brick and it didn’t come calling each other and talking for the amount of time we in a bag. And for those who couldn’t afford the Star-Brick, did, the repeater and radios had paid for themselves. we had these cool pagers. You could call someone on However, nothing lasts it seems. People moved away, their beeper and they’d get back to you instead of leaving opinions changed, but the biggest killers were the Internet, messages at home. Of course the pager was somewhat e-mail, and our cell phone plans with family talk and free short-lived as the cost of owning a cell phone dropped incoming minutes. Repeaters and radios were sold, and dramatically over the years. Soon, junk drawers were full back to the phones it was. of beepers and Star-Tacs as the phone technology seemed to advance quite quickly. Where did my C.B. go? Enough history of mine, let’s get to the meat and potatoes. It was weird; it was almost like overnight the radio became Why do I bring this up? I am just a cog in a story that has silent. When people did use it, questions were more like been repeated hauntingly fast over and over again during “hey, I can’t hear you so just call me on my cell.” What fun. the last 10 years. Radio doesn’t share the magic it once Whoopee. C.B. for me all but died again a short time used to for a lot of people because there is less necessity later. because of cell phones and the Internet. Computers have been around a long time, but the Internet is what has During the entire hubbub of the middle 90’s, I went and got transformed our society; we all know this. With a few key my ham radio license. I actually had no intention of getting strokes and mouse clicks, I now have access to a world of one (I had my groovy beeper and Star-Tac) but a guy I knowledge and ability to communicate with just about knew coerced me into taking the test. He wasn’t the only anyone I want. Chat rooms, boards and forums, E-mail, one; there were several guys from the C.B. group I knew MySpace, Face book, it’s all there. I know more about that had ham radio licenses and thought I might be people I haven’t spoken to in years because of social interested because of my ability and skill to modify and/or networking sites. Video, games, and online blogs; there is reverse-engineer anything. I learned those skills out of a never-ending plethora of entertainment and juvenile exploration from my backyard radio days. But communicative opportunities abound with the Internet. those skills were learned out of “necessity’; we needed to And it seems we’ve all got it. But the Internet didn’t start it; communicate in our club and found better ways. it was just the nail in the coffin. Here comes the cell Nowadays, is there any necessity? Do we really need phone again, but this one is on steroids! radio? This question will come back time and time again as I go on.
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Cell companies, in their incessant competition, have come more often than radios. Phones also allow companies to up with new and more attractive ways to get people to sign expand out of the certain area that radio communication into their services. I can get two, three, four or more cell systems are limited to. Radio shops have been closing phones that all share the same plan and/or minutes. Free down in numbers they increase the cost of radio air time to incoming calls. Free mobile to mobile. At a cost that is make up for the losses of business, which in turn drives most solvent in many households. But they’ve taken it to more business away. It seems that they’re pricing the next level also. Now we have the iPhone and themselves out of business. Those that do survive often Blackberry. Cool applications and touch screen operation are the ones selling cellular phone plans. Look at Radio with loads of games have transformed the cell phone into Shack while we’re at it. They used to sell all kinds of cool an all-in-one communications and entertainment device. electronic gizmos, but their business plan has drastically Texting is rampant with teenagers because they can talk changed to be more competitive in today’s market. And to each other in relative silence and ubiquity. There was today’s market wants phones, HDTV, and satellite service. an article I had just read recently saying some girl sent No more radios in Radio Shack. over 14,000 text messages in a month! It is an addiction with these devices, but it comes at a cost. And the phone GMRS users are also feeling the pain, but yet have the companies couldn’t be happier. most to offer a family. You get one license that can cover a whole lot of people. You can set up a repeater or use So where does radio fit in here? It fits well on the cell portables in times of emergency and when the cell phones phone. You would think that most people with half a brain are out. You are able to communicate with your licensed know that cell phones are little radio transceivers. I neighbors in clubs, watches, or even emergencies. The recently asked a teen-aged kid if he knew how his phone FCC, in its interest with Corporate America, started the worked and his response was “Yeah, I punch these Family Radio Service, which allows families to numbers and hit send. It goes to a tower and goes to a communicate with one another on trips or campouts phone.” Okay, good for starters. I asked him if he knew without getting a license. These flew off the shelves and what ham radio or GMRS was and he said “Uh, sort of. companies now mingle GMRS with FRS like they’re one in Isn’t that a bunch of old guys talking antique radios?” Well, the same. Those families out there that use and function I guess he’s right. And the funny thing was that I had with licensed GMRS have taken a huge hit with illegal responded “Hey, I’m a ham radio guy and I’m only 34,” to activity because many fail to license. And that, many think, which he responded “Yeah, you’re old.” Humph. Busted. was the intention all along. The FCC sees that radio has Folks, if radio is to survive, we need to attach radio to lost its magic for big systems, yet there still is a small necessity. I learned radio out of sheer necessity and play niche for these little throw-away toys. GMRS enforcement with it today as such even today. I have an awesome cell is sparse, if not absent at all. So, once again, technology plan that I can talk to my entire family for one low cost. We is replaced with technology, yet this is a backwards step. haven’t had a home “landline” phone in four years. We Radio communication via commercial-grade equipment still keep our GMRS and ham licenses for emergencies, can be done readily, yet we’ve been usurped to using road trips, and cell phone outages, but that is about it. We small, toy-like radios that barely work to the end of a city no longer own a repeater, but we do donate to local ones block. Necessity, in the FCC’s eyes, is that most people that are up and running. I thought about building another need small radios for talking around camp or in vehicle GMRS repeater just to play with. Maybe I can get some convoys. People don’t need them to cover an entire city; buddies to play too. But where is the necessity? Yes, I they can use the phone! Irony is deep here; the FCC said play. supporting the phone companies. Go figure. There are those of us out there, however, that don’t want to depend So, let’s think about this. We have a couple of generations on the government or others for our own well being. (mine included) that is addicted to our mobile phone Without sounding like an Armageddonist, I think people devices. Families are texting each other constantly. We should be able to set up systems for their families to play games in the waiting room. We take pictures and communicate heartily without using a cell phone. That is video with our phones and load them up to the Internet to why I will ALWAYS have some sort of GMRS share. Who has time for radio? Boring. Necessity, my communications gear. What the FCC is doing here is two- friends, is what we need. We can say all day that radios fold; they’re supporting the interests and plans of tech can be cheaper than cell phones in the long run, but there corporations building radios and phones while relieving are HUGE limitations. Range, who I can talk to, can’t themselves of their duties to police and enforce radio make phone calls on GMRS; many ham repeaters have rules. Look at all the non-licensed frequencies out there: removed auto patches because they’re outdated. So C.B. (27 MHz), MURS, FRS, 49 MHz, GMRS, 9000 MHz where is the attraction? Look at the business world. A blocks; it goes on and on. The less licensing, the less good many companies are using cell phones, enforcement they have to do because there isn’t any Blackberries, or other data-type phone systems to necessity to do so. communicate. Companies find that using phones to communicate with field personnel are better because they Ham radio is still great for emergencies also. It has been don’t share trade or competitive secrets; they’re cheaper shown time and time again how amateur radio operators than buying radios and renting air time, and are answered “saved the day” by providing reliable communications
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during disasters and situations that rendered things case of emergencies. If the phones don’t work, I’ll have inoperable. But the ham radio community has also met its something. My wife and kid will have something. My family demise in many places by its own direct and indirect is the most important thing to me and we have the doing. The population of ham land is ever increasing; necessity. However, how do you share that with a 15 year many ARES and RACES groups have a hard time old kid who’s infatuated with his iPhone? These are the recruiting “able-bodied” personnel to function in challenges we all must face when trying to reopen the art emergency situations. I was once told by a police officer at of radio. an incident once that the local ARES group “looked like a conglomeration of nursing home residents during lunch So, next time you ask yourself why your repeater doesn’t time”. What was even more interesting is when a picture get any use or why your radio is always quiet, remember was taken, several of the men were in wheelchairs, most that most people aren’t like you; they’re embellished within were overweight and looked unkempt, and the radio table their iPhones and the Internet. The radio doesn’t have the was laden with prescription medication bottles and magic it once did to many people. So when your 10 year Imodium A.D. So, it is no wonder that ARES/RACES don’t old comes up in the back yard and says he needs to be do so well in some areas. Of course, they do well in others able to communicate with his friends, go get him some and I am not detracting from the services they offer. Again, little portable radio for him and his buddies. Maybe he can we’re losing the necessity. But this isn’t even the worst learn electronics through necessity and grow up part of it. understanding the magic of radio. Show your kids how radio works via practical experience. Show them you’re Cell phone companies and emergency services personnel prepared for an emergency with these magical little have actually learned from the hams. They’ve watched us squawk boxes and tell them the limitations of cell phones. for years set up our little radio stations in campers, trailers, Teach them and make them see the necessity. tents, and mini-vans. They’ve watched how we can put up an antenna and work the comms like mad in an entire county. They’ve seen our ability to use multiple NEW HAMPSHIRE John Bolduc frequencies for traffic passing. They’ve seen the magic of [email protected] radio out of necessity. Therefore, cell companies invest http://www.swnh.org huge amounts of money into Cell on Wheels or COW’s. YahooGroup NewHampshireScanner Cows are strategically located in specific areas across the country and can be deployed to an area with short notice. Cell service can be re-established in disaster or The Nashua 800 MHz Trunked Radio System has just emergency-stricken areas sometimes within hours. Most completed rebanding, but not without considerable cell sites are built to withstand storms and tampering; heartburn and a run to the local store for Rolaids. they’re built of strong aggregate shelters with huge back- Depending on the type and age of your Trunking capable up power generators. If the power goes out, the phones scanning radio your remedies for programming the newly still work. If a site is hit by lightning, another site picks up rebanded channels vary. the signals. Back-up and more back-up. Of course, it doesn’t work in every situation, but it is rare that One of the earlier transitions involves using a PRO-96 and someone’s phone doesn’t work. the latest version of WIN-96, version 1.59. Using the trunking table options, select the multi-table option. A Emergency personnel are moving to the forefront with window opens showing the trunking table options. their comms too! They’re getting and many have huge Choose the option for "800MHz rebanded". This option RV-looking machines loaded with communications devices with save you from to manually edit the trunking table that span multiple frequencies. Frequencies have been set entries aside to make officials (yeah, I’m gonna use it) interoperable. Antennas can be deployed in minutes. Another scanner listener is now reporting success with a Those radio systems that the storm took down are back up Pro-197 with Win500 using the new re-banded and running in a matter of minutes, and the ham never frequencies only and set the custom trunking table for the had to get out of bed. re-banded 800 MHz.
Of course, this can’t be the be-all-end-all of radio in Other scannerists have found there options involved general. It will always have a use to someone. But, what is considerable manual entry of frequency, channel, and the necessity of it? We’ve seen cell phone systems get offset in the special tables within their programming jammed when emergencies struck and people couldn’t get software. out. We’ve seen hurricanes and tornadoes rip down entire towns, which includes their precious cell towers. We’ve Some of the local agencies that rely on being able to seen emergency communications equipment fail or also monitor Nashua Fire on the 800 Trunked Radio System get bogged down with traffic. Knowing this, we need to indicate that they have been slow in getting assistance focus the shift of radio and its necessity. Again, I’ve from the power that be in Nashua. always maintained that I’d keep some radios around in
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When the Nashua Trunking System first came on-line New Hampshire State Police Troop F which cover many years ago, a good friend of my, and now a silent Northern New Hampshire, Coos and Grafton Counties, key, received several threatening "official" correspondence has added two dispatch frequencies for a total of three, from an official with the city over his "detection and and all are active. discussion" Police and Fire Talk Groups. Quite apparently Nashua now is still as scanner unfriendly now as they 152.630 P25 NAC 826 154.680 P25 NAC 852 were back in the 1970's and '80's and '90's. I personally 154.920 P25 NAC 852 know of a handful of instances where portable scanners were either unjustly confiscated without being returned, or More Network Access Codes for APCO-P25 departments smashed to the ground in front of the person using the (NACs) scanner. I know, because I lent or gave up spare scanners to replace the ones that were lost. Durham Police 159.0675 P25 NAC 1A7 Durham University of NH PD 155.7750 NAC 293 During the transition phase, which seems to have taken a Laconia NH Police 155.790 P25 NAC 0817 whole 7 days, portions of the system were switched over. Plymouth NH Police 154.755 P25 NAC 0417 For instance the analog public works department, and Portsmouth Police 154.740 NAC 88A schools Talk Group, where switched first, while the P25 Rochester Police 159.405 NAC 117 public safety Fire and Police Talk Group had yet to be Strafford County Sheriff 156.030 NAC ABE switched. Temporarily there were two primary control Wolfeboro NH Police 155.610 P25 NAC 0117 channels and two backup control channels and 20 +/- total channels in the transitional trunked system. This resulted As occasionally mentioned in this column, there was a in a temporary hybrid system that changed bit by bit every radio operator using CB, FRS (over the power limit) and day. GMRS (expired license) in a bizarre way in the Nashua area. After a $10,000 fine by the FCC on the operator, Two area amateur radio operators that followed the things got a bit more compliant transition closely and provided much aid and comfort were Dave N1DAS and Peter K1PGV. They contributed there A new storm has arisen since Thanksgiving 2008 in expertise extensively to the NewHampshireScanner southern New Hampshire, as newly licensed amateur YahooGroup. radio operator KB1QBC has apparently overcome the fear of the FCC breathing down his neck. We last reported that Litchfield had a new fireground repeater but was using still using their old frequency for Fighting on air with an amateur repeater trustee and the dispatch. Now dispatch and fireground (not involving owner is never a good thing. Continuing to fight after being mutual aid) is on 151.1075 with a PL tone of 94.8. The notified to cease using the repeater is never a good thing. input frequency used to be troubled by the Lexington Mass Denying the repeater owners privilege to decline any FD repeater output that had a moderately strong signal in operators use of the repeater is never a good thing. As I write this, once again this ham is on 2 meters taunting his this part of the state. Lexington has mainly gone to UHF, detractors and the repeater owner. This exactly one week with only minimal traffic still on their old frequency. to the hour after he was verbally kicked off the repeater.
Pagers for Litchfield personnel don't always get tripped To hear cases of the conflict visit: properly as the pagers do not handle the split frequency of http://www.swnh.org/nhfireaudio.htm 151.1075. They are probably set for 151.1050 or 151.1100, 2.5 kHz off. On again, off again 2 meter repeater Greenfield NH 147.060, temporarily off again. As with many repeaters in The Litchfield transmitter does not get out very well, so New Hampshire, more permanent repairs/solutions will don't expect to hear them more than a few towns away. have to wait until spring as we are suffering a second much worse than normal winter in a row.
We’re looking for contributors for the The Temple Mountain amateur repeater on 447.425 is Scanner Digest Newsletter. back on the air. The unit had suffered from a "dead" receiver. Interesting in writing? Send us a note and indicate your intentions. Several towns in the Durham area, are now being dispatched on a new frequency. Barrington, Madbury, Lee and Durham Ambulance are now being dispatch on [email protected] 153.935 with a PL of 136.5 by the Southern Strafford Fire Communications Center. In other words these agencies have decided to staff with the University of NH dispatch
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center in Durham, under a new moniker on a new and Information Service. “Each year NOAA satellites show frequency. their versatility by helping us forecast the weather, learn more about our environment and contribute to these Durham Fire is still on 154.415 (229.1) but is now being life-saving rescues.” dispatched by Strafford County, out of Dover. NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along It doesn't seem to make sense, but that's what has with Russia’s Cospas spacecraft, are part of the happened. international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, called COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a Last minute Logging network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center 151.595 PL signals from emergency beacons onboard aircraft and 94.8 "Base to Residential" Crotched Mountain is also boats and from handheld personal locator beacons. licensed on 151.895 151.955 152.0075 159.735 When a satellite finds the location of a distress signal 73's de N1QGS within the United States or its surrounding waters, the information is relayed to the SARSAT mission control Need back issues of the newsletter? center at NOAA’s satellite operations facility in Suitland, Be sure to visit our website. Md. From there, it is sent to a rescue coordination center, operated by either the U.S. Air Force for land rescues or the U.S. Coast Guard for water rescues. www.ScannerDigest.com
PUBLISHER Lou Campagna, Publisher [email protected] MARINE It’s that time of year again as we prepare for the 22nd Paul Sanchez provided some excellent information in Issue 45 annual SWL Winter Fest to be held in Kulpsville PA which about the ELT technology being used by the Coast Guard. located approximately 30 miles north of Philadelphia. Here’s some additional information that was released by NOAA regarding their policy on beacon monitoring. By Alan Cohen www.swlfest.com
NEWS ALERT from NOAA The annual convention is the largest gathering of listeners to the radio spectrum — longwave, mediumwave, *NOAA to Detect Only 406 MHz Beacons Beginning Feb. shortwave (broadcast, utilities, pirates), VHF/UHF, FM, 1 (1/28/09)* National Oceanic and Atmospheric scanners, television and satellites — in the United States, Administration (NOAA) satellites were key factors in the perhaps the world. About 200 persons from around the rescues of 283 people throughout the United States and world attend each year. It is a nice way to break out of the its surrounding waters in 2008. In each incident, NOAA doldrums of the northern hemisphere winter. Broadcaster satellites detected and located a distress signal from an representatives, clubs, and vendors attend. The gathering emergency beacon and relayed the information to first is sponsored by NASWA (North American Shortwave responders on the ground. Association).
However, starting Feb. 1, NOAA satellites will only receive When? 22st — 2009 March 13-14 signals from new 406 MHz frequency beacons. The older emergency beacons, operating on the 121.5 and 243 MHz Where? The festivities are held in the meeting frequencies, will no longer be detected by SARSAT. rooms of The Inn at Towamencin (a member of the Best Signals from the 406 MHz beacons can be detected Western chain), 1750 Sumneytown Pike, Kulpsville, PA instantly, are more accurate and offer global coverage. 19443, USA — telephone +1 215 368 3800 — fax +1 215 NOAA has provided advance notice of the switch since 368 7824. 2000. The inn is located at the Pennsylvania Turnpike's “It’s vital that anyone with the old 121.5 MHz beacon make Northeast Extension Exit 31, north of Philadelphia and the switch to 406 MHz beacons immediately so their south of Allentown. Driving time is about 30 minutes north distress signals can be heard,” said Chris O’Connors, of the city of Philadelphia. Do you have a GPS? The program manager for NOAA SARSAT. “Plans for this coordinates are N 40° 14.736', W 75° 20.342'. changeover started in 2000, and we want everyone that Are you flying in? The Philadelphia International Airport relies on these devices to have the proper equipment.” (PHL) is the closest major airport. Alternatives to a car rental include Septa's R5 rail (with a train–stop in “With every rescue made, a tragedy was avoided,” said Lansdale) and an airport shuttle service. Mary E. Kicza, assistant administrator for NOAA Satellite
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Updated February 2009: The Fest Blog is now being Another P-25 user is Biddeford PD, which has two updated; check it out for last-minute updates as the Fest channels, 159.945 (Ch 1) and 156.21 (Ch 2). Lewiston PD date approaches. is on 158.790R P-25.
Room reservations are your responsibility and are not As always, we encourage Maine scannists to join the Scan included in the festival registration fees. At the end of the Maine List on Yahoo! Groups. The latest scanning info is calendar year (usually December), call or fax the inn there. For example, several on the List are cataloging the directly and ask for the special event rate (not available Central Maine Power frequencies. Their compilations and through any Web site or the 800 number reservation efforts can be viewed on the following Scan New England system). If you opt not to stay at the host inn, there are link: other lodgings in the area; check the Internet for details. http://www.scannewengland.net/wiki/index.php/Central_M Festival Registration The registration form is normally aine_Power made available in December. Availability is announced by the newsfeed (see below). Just remember, folks, that many landscaping businesses, etc. plow during winter storms to supplement their income. Links Many of these can be found illegally running telltale white • Winter SWL Fest Blog — hosted by Richard Cuff, marine band radios. This could include those companies this is a must–read blog with up–to–date contracted to plow major parking lots such as Sam’s Clubs information, schedules, and announcements. The and Wal-Marts. Most of the newer scanners have a pages include the schedule of presentations, door “marine band” scan feature. Consider deploying this asset, prizes and all that you need to know. and start logging, especially in more urban areas. The • SWLfest discussion list — for fun and bootleggers will invariably have NO tone, due to the “tone- entertainment, for questions and answers, sign up free” nature of their marine band radios. for this mail list. • Scanner Scum — hosted by Skip Arey (N2EI), The FCC published the following nationwide VHF-common these pages include data on scanning, amateur frequencies this past year or so. Some have been licensed radio repeaters, area broadcast media and much (at least the outputs) by various agencies in Maine. Here more. is the FCC list for VHF:
I’ve been scanning them since last year, and here’s what MAINE Loren Fields I’ve found: Central Maine monitors will find that 151.1375 [email protected] picks up Maine Dept. of Cons. with a 118.8 pl. It is one of their inputs very near the splinter channel freq, and Welcome to the Maine portion of the Scanner Digest! “overloads” into it while I’m on I-95 between Fairfield & Jumping right in…. Augusta. Who knows what might be heard! There are also other such nationwide frequencies in the UHF and 800 Augusta PD, as reported previously, is in the process of MHz range. They can be found on Radio Reference. Plug installing a P-25 system from Tait. They are planning on them in, and let us know what you might hear. adding some frequencies, currently listed as YG trunking frequencies under the call sign WPRF720. This comes Under the “cool vehicle installation category, here’s a fine back Maine Mobile Communications INC out of Augusta. option for the Blackberry Curve. It will be going into my The proposed channel breakdown is as follows: Impala when the “big install” happens:
Ch. #1 PD Dispatch: 158.2875R http://www.elitextreme.com/bl83cubucocr.html Ch. #2 PD TAC: 157.5525R Ch. #3 FD Dispatch: 159.9525R Interesting links: Ch. #4 FD Business/Paging 155.1900 (Old PD freq) Neato-keen FBI vehicles that were “rolled out” to There will be either 50W or 110W mobile radios installed. support Obama’s inauguration: The mobiles will be the TM9100’s and the portables http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn16440-hardware- TP9100’s. The two transmitting sites will be on Bolton Hill rolls-out-to-protect-obama-inaugration/1 and Granite Hill. New Hampshire company awarded a contract for Currently, the Togus Veteran’s Hospital, the Federal DHS/Customs & Border protection communications Protective Service (FPS) and limited simplex Maine State vehicle: Police details are the only P-25 users in central Maine. https://www.fbo.gov/index?&s=opportunity&mode=form&id =a64dcc40479747874466074512ad58ce&tab=core&tabm ode=list
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Fascinating look a near-future 5.9 GHz civilian car-car Typically on LTR systems, each of these controllers data-exchange communications: periodically sends out a data burst (approximately every http://newcarbuyingguide.com/index.php/news/main/5684/ event=view 10 seconds on LTR Standard systems) so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. The idle Cisco’s solution to coordinating any type of data burst can be turned off if desired by the system emergency radio traffic, including cell phones, all in operator. Some systems will broadcast idle data bursts one vehicle: http://www.truveo.com/Fred-Federal-on- only on channels used as home channels and not on Ciscos-Network-Emergency-Response/id/991002281 those used for “overflow” conversations. To a scanner user the idle data burst will sound like a short blip of static Pennsylvania and their communications woes: like someone keyed up and unkeyed a radio within about http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_607 ½ second. This data burst is not sent at the same time by 677.html all the channels but happen randomly throughout all the system channels. You also have LTR standards which New York State dumps M/A-Com: work different; I am still learning these systems but have http://www.oft.state.ny.us/News/PressRelease_SWNContr mapped out many in the Lehigh Valley area. act.htm Listed below are LTR Systems that have been mapped That’s it for this issue’s Maine installment. Please contact out but always looking for input or changes if they need to me directly at [email protected] with any questions or be made: comments. I also welcome any submissions for the next issue. Until next time, may God bless America, & obey LCN01 854.8625, LCN02 855.8625, LCN03 857.8875, Acts 2:38. Fields out. LCN04 860.7875 0-02-000 Getz Service Station – Towing Service 0-02-103 Getz Service Station – Towing Service EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA Steve Bower, Jr. 0-02-144 Bon Appetite Vending Service Bethlehem, PA [email protected] 0-03-185 Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross Bethlehem, http://lvcomm.proboards33.com/index.cgi PA 0-04-160 Yeager Fuel Service Allentown, PA Hello everyone, hope you all had a good New Year and a 0-05-053 Bumper to Bumper Auto Allentown, PA great holiday season? Well Its February 2nd 2009 and the 0-05-054 Bumper to Bumper Auto Bethlehem, PA ground hog seen its shadow so we get 6 more weeks of FREQ INPUT License Tone Alpha winter weather, Can’t wait for spring. Description PL Tag VHF – Things have been very crazy in my life this last year along B V- 155.7525 155.7525 VARIES 156.7 Emerg M CALL with all Americans with the economy and job market things Calling are not looking that great but hopefully everyone keeps a B V- VHF – 151.1375 151.1375 VARIES 156.7 head up and things will get better soon. Working since M TAC 1 Tac Ops 1 been 14 years old doing odd jobs and always had a job B V- VHF – until Nov was kind of difficult but now working and had 2 154.4525 154.4525 VARIES 156.7 M TAC 2 Tac Ops 2 months not working was hard for me. I am now working in Public Safety full service level and enjoy what we do. B V- VHF – 158.7375 158.7375 VARIES 156.7 Good Luck to everyone in these tuff times… God Bless M TAC 3 Tac Ops 3
B V- VHF – 159.4725 159.4725 VARIES 156.7 Working in a different area also gave me more time to play M TAC 4 Tac Ops 4 with my scanner and explore a new region normally not picked up that well at home. The Poconos is an active RF Most users stay on home channel which is the second area with all types of Conventional, to LTR trunk systems. digit and all frequencies in most scanners need to be in We are trying to map a few of these out so any help would order LCN (Logical Channel Number). be appreciated from that area.
LCN01 462.1250, LCN02 464.4000, LCN03 463.7625, LTR (Logic Trucked Radio) was originally developed by LCN04 464.9375 E. F. Johnson in the early 1980s. LTR systems do not 0-02-002 Central Air Freight Allentown, PA have a dedicated control channel like Motorola and 0-03-102 Young Plumbing & Heating Service Bethlehem, EDACS systems. Each repeater has its own controller and PA all of these controllers are coordinated together. Even 0-03-103 Colonial Parking Service Allentown, PA though each controller monitors its own channel, one of 0-03-104 Young Plumbing & Heating Service Ch.2 the channel controllers is assigned to be a master and all Bethlehem, PA the other controllers report to it. 0-03-107 Number 1 Service Towing Allentown, PA
SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 8
0-03-120 Network Ambulance Service Bethlehem, PA 154.1300 Fireground 2 0-03-147 Rent-A-Center 154.4150 Fireground 3 0-03-151 Rent-A-Center 155.2800 Fire Police 0-03-153 Rent-A-Center 154.9800 Potter County EMA & Local Gov’t 0-03-155 Rent-A-Center 151.3325R Harrison Valley Fire Dept. Repeater 0-04-130 Grand Central Sanitation Pen Argyl, PA 158.8425R Gale Hose Ambulance Repeater 154.8150 Potter County Police Dispatch Again, any help with these would be appreciated. Well that should do it for now. If you have any inputs please send Coudersport: them to me and we can update the lists. Rent-A-Center is 155.190R Coudersport Police Dispatch Rpt. the most difficult to figure out. They use multiple TGID’s and use MD-1200 ID on the radios? Potter County uses: MED 6 463.125 MED 10 462.975 Keep monitoring and always looking for your input, please don’t be afraid. Looking to see how I am doing and for 162.500 NOAA Weather your suggestions on what you want to see. This is your column; I just type it up and figure things to type. Be Safe Tioga County Dispatches for Potter County. & Take Care! Steve… FIRE: 1 Wellsboro 2 Mansfield CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA James Rokitka 3 Elkland 4 Bloosburg c/o Scanner Digest 5 Westfield 6 Knoxville/Deerfield [email protected] 7 Tioga 8 Lawrenceville 9 Liberty 10 Galeton Common use frequencies for Tioga County, Pennsylvania. 11 Middlebury Center 12 Millerton 13 Daggett 14 Osceola 151.0475R Tioga County Local Govt. 15 Morris 16 Clymer(Sabinsville) 151.0700R Morris fire 17 Chatham(Littlemarsh) 18 Nelson 151.3850R DCNR Tioga Co. 19 Germania 20 Harrison Valley 151.5350R S. Tioga School Transp. 37 Genesee 39 Shinglehouse 151.8350R N. Tioga School Transportation (East) 44 Austin 46 Roulette 152.3600 N. Tioga School Transportation (West) 47 Ulysses 48 Coudersport 153.8900 Wellsboro Fire Dept. Fireground 154.0550R Delmar Township Local Govt. Repeater EMS: 154.1750R Tioga Co. Fireman’s Assn & Fireground 2 1 Wellsboro 2 Mansfield 154.3100 Tioga Co. Fire & EMS Response 4 Bloosburg 7 Tioga 154.3550R Wellsboro Fire Dept. Repeater 8 Lawrenceville 10 Galeton 154.4450 Tioga County Fire and EMS Dispatch 15 Morris 16 Clymer 154.7175 Tioga County Police Tactical 25 Harrison Valley 37 Genesee 154.7325 Wellsboro Local Govt. Repeater 39 Shinglehouse 44 Austin 154.8375 Tioga County Inter-Agency 46 Roulette 47 Ulysses 155.1450 Mansfield University Police 48 Coudersport 155.1750 Wellsboro Fire Dept. Fire Police 155.3250 Tioga County Fireground 1 Medic 1 & Medic 2 are stationed at Soldiers & Sailors 155.3400 HEAR Ambulance to Hospital Hospital 155.6100 Mansfield Fire Dept. Repeater 155.6700 PASP Mansfield Barracks (Base) Medic 6 Coudersport 155.9100 PASP Mansfield Barracks (Mobile) 156.0150 Tioga Fireground 3 POLICE: 158.7975 Richmond Twp. Local Gov’t. Repeater 1 Bloosburg 2 Elkland 159.0975 Tioga County Police Dispatch Repeater 3 Knoxville 6 Mansfield 8 Tioga 9 Wellsboro MED2 is used in Tioga County 463.0250 11 Westfield 23 Gaines MED4 is limited use 463.0750 26 Lawrence Township 30 Nelson 31 Osceola 41 Galeton Weather frequency used in Tioga County is 162.475 45 Austin 46 Coudersport Potter County frequencies: 48 Shinglehouse 68 Sweden Township 154.2500 Potter County Fire & EMS Dispatch 154.1900 Command Potter County is dispatched by Tioga County. 155.3400 Fireground 1
SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 9
461.4000R – PL 114.8 – security at the Christian Scientist MASSACHUSETTES Peter Szerlag Center in Boston [email protected] 168.3250R – PL 110.9 – Corps of Army Engineers Flood Hello again from Beantown. The ground is covered by Control – RCC (Reservoir Control Center) in Waltham snow and ice, and another storm is predicted for Tuesday. talking to dams in the Springfield MA area via a repeater On the bright side – only 2 months left of winter! Let’s which is possibly on Mt Wachusetts ignore the cold stuff for a while and enjoy some scanner 173.6825R – NAC 1AF – Hanscom AFB Police – frequent stuff. Peter Sz training exercises 166.225R – NAC FDC – Hanscom AFB FD primary I bought a new Pro 106 handheld scanner, and I am channel having fun figuring out how to program it. It gives me P25, 173.5125R – NAC FDC – Hanscom AFB FD secondary and PL / DPL / NAC decode capability that I never had channel before. The Pro 106 also has a signal strength indicator 173.5875R – Hanscom AFB Crash Net which is interesting. 453.2375R – PL 206.5 – Winthrop DPW 450.6125 – PL 136.5 – possibly a repeater for TV7 in AFAIK – In the Greater Boston area, the only major radio Boston – seldom used changes that are in progress are: 155.7825 – DPL 565 – possibly Methuen DPW 150.995R – PL 127.3 – Beverly DPW 1. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 155.4075R – DPL 331 – ambulances being assigned (MBTA) is migrating to a new digital 800 mhz TRS. I think parking spaces at the MGH ER that the South bus channel, and the bus repair units channel, are the only channels that have transitioned to Hopefully those frequencies will keep you busy for a while. the 800 MHz system at this time. I believe that the MBTA Police and the subway lines remain on UHF. CONNECTICUT Keith Victor 2. Milton FD, Lexington FD, Everett FD, Chelsea FD, and 44 Suffolk Drive Medford FD have moved from VHF channels to UHF East Hartford CT 06118 channels. Malden FD, Revere FD, Lynn FD, and Weston [email protected] FD seem to be ready to move. Waltham FD, Saugus FD, and Melrose FD probably also will move from VHF to Today the Springfield Intercity 154.280 MHz is now cross- UHF. There are also apparently new regional fireground patched to the WMLEC Simulcast 2 460.475 MHz. channels in use. There might be new regional repeater channels added down the road. The former 453.4125 MHz is no longer in service, so make the correction. 3. A couple of 800 MHz conventional channels have been re-banded. North Andover FD and Cambridge FD Ch14 The cross band is 465.475 MHz both ways since the are examples. Apparently the Cambridge TRS, Massport 460.475 MHz has a long repeater tail. This will give the TRS, City of Boston TRS, and State TRS have not been Springfield Intercity VHF 154.280 MHz PL 82.5 greater re-banded as of yet. distance when repeated on the WMLEC Simulcast Fire 2 460.475 MHz PL 206.5. 154.9650 – Wilmington – simplex – PL 118.8 – DPW, Water Dept, and Public Blds – they also use NEXTELs Both control points for the new system Holyoke Fire and 484.9500 – Lowell PD “Tac 5” – used as a backup to the Ludlow Fire will monitor the Simulcast Fire 2 for mutual aid main channel on 482.4125R operations. 170.7500 – encrypted in Boston area 153.3500 – DPL 503 – mtnce men 154.7100 – Princeton input to 151.295R – PL 156.7 on both Looking for a column writer to provide 462.2750R – MGH orderlies – PL 206.5 464.4000R – Channel 1 for someone – PL 71.9 information on AMATEUR RADIO.
159.3000 – DPL 025 – Wimington FD input to 154.2875R Interested? Contact us at: 453.8250R – PL 186.2 – Townsend Police 154.2350R – Weymouth FD – PL 136.5 483.2875R – PL 131.8 – MetroFire [email protected] 470.1625R – Weston FD – DPL 172 159.0900R – Harvard PD & Amb – PL 107.2 – MedStar 2 from Nashoba Hospital is the ALS responder 154.7550R – NAC 117 - ? Plaistow NH PD
SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 10
SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK Frank B. O’Connor 23 New City VAC / Rescue Squad [email protected] 240(C), 244, 246, 248
24 Nyack Community Ambulance Corps Way back in my inaugural column (Issue 34) I told of my 397, 398, 399 radio experiences while shopping at the Woodbury
Common Premium Outlets in Orange. Guess where I was 32 South Orangetown Ambulance Corps on Black Friday? You guessed it. Turns out that there 344, 346, 348, 350 were some changes made since I was last up there. The outlet center’s traffic channel is now 463.6625 (DPL 271). 33 Pearl River Alumni Ambulance Corps 451.275 (DPL 271) has been re-designated as the 347, 349 Security / Operations alternate channel (F3). The
Harriman Engine Company’s channel plan has changed 41 Ramapo Valley Ambulance Corps as well. 154.235R (DPL 516) is their operations channel. 447, 448, 449 154.1225 (DPL 516) is Fireground 1, and 154.1825 (DPL
516) is Fireground 2. Lastly, Woodbury FD’s fleet has 42 Sloatsburg Volunteer Community Ambulance Corps expanded. 526 is a support vehicle (a Chevrolet Tahoe) 498, 499 and their brush truck is now designated 505.
43 Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps I hit not only the Woodbury Common that day, but the 441, 444-6, 497,ESU1 Galleria at Crystal Run in the Town of Wallkill as well.
Their Security uses 461.075R (D115) as F1 and 466.100 45 William Paul Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps (D503) as F2. 442, 443
*** 51 Haverstraw Ambulance Corps A new radio ID system has been devised for Rockland 539, 549, 559 County’s basic life support ambulances. BLS ambulances were using three digit numerical IDs within the appropriate 61 Stony Point Ambulance Corps police agency’s series. For example, a Pearl River 646, 647, 648 Alumni ambulance – since it’s based in Orangetown and was dispatched by the Orangetown Police (station “301”), H - # Rockland Hatzolah (New York City Hatzolah style) would use a 300 series ID – 347 and 349 to be exact. 466, 467, 468, 469 Well, it was bound to happen. Police fleets expand.
EMS fleets expand. A conflict arose recently in the Town NS1 New Square Hatzolah (New York City Hatzolah style) of Clarkstown when a new ambulance was purchased and New there weren’t any numbers available to assign to it. So, Square 1 much in the pattern of Westchester County’s EMS radio ID system, an entirely new radio ID system has been created So, for example, the “fly” car from New City will now ID as for all of Rockland. Here’s the basic formula: 23-C-1; the ambulances from Sloatsburg that were 498
and 499 are now 42-B-1 and 42-B-2. The system used to ## (agency ID) identify the advanced life support units and the fire + department-based ambulance remains unchanged. B (for BLS ambulance) or
C (for Rapid Response Car, commonly called a “Fly” Car) I commend Rockland’s EMS providers for their forward + thinking and wish them the best as the new system is # (unit ID in sequential order) rolled out.
The agency IDs break down as follows... I understand that In other Rockland EMS news, scannists in southeastern there is some resistance to the implementation of the new Rockland may be hearing ambulances on 155.160 (151.4) system, so I’ve included the old radio IDs in the right going over the Jersey border again. Back in November of column, in case they continue to be used, either by 2007 Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood (Bergen mistake in a moment of forgetfulness or by a stick-in-the- County), New Jersey closed due to bankruptcy. PVH was mud. an EMS receiving hospital that was, on occasion, used by
Rockland emergency medical services (i.e.: South 21 Congers – Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps Orangetown Ambulance Corps) because portions of 243, 245 their districts were closer to PVH then to hospitals on the
New York side. 22 Nanuet Community Ambulance Corps
247, 249
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Hackensack University Medical Center reopened the ear on 482.9625R (107.2) and let me know what you’re emergency department on the old PVH campus. It’s now hearing. called Hackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack Valley. Controversy is swirling around a proposal *** by HUMC to reopen more of the old PVH as other I’ve been avoiding reporting on this until something more surrounding Bergen hospitals (such as Englewood and substantial happened within my coverage area, but reader Valley) are fighting Hackensack’s proposal in the belief “Computer Doc” e-mailed me the following great news: that it would create a glut of hospital beds in Bergen, thus http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/011609-new- [inserting my opinion here] resulting in reduced profitability york-kills-contract-for.html for everyone. As the saying goes...”follow the money;” should be interesting to see how this all pans out. As many of you may have been aware, a scheme was launched back in 2004 to build a Statewide Wireless Speaking of hospitals and bankruptcies, this of the so- Network (SWiN, for short) based on Tyco / M/ACom’s called “fatal” variety...Brooklyn-Queens Health Care, Inc. OpenSky platform. The system was originally conceived has closed both of its Caritas hospitals. Therefore of as a replacement for the State Police’s two-way radio scannists in Queens will no longer be hearing patients system, one that they feel is too easily monitorable. It being removed to Hospital 36 (Mary Immaculate Hospital) interestingly grew well beyond the original purposes, with or Hospital 39 (Saint John’s Queens Hospital) on the offers being made to counties and local agencies to come FDNY*EMS channels. This is on top of the recent closure on board, all in the name of “interoperability.” Setting of the emergency department at Parkway Hospital, thus aside the fact that OpenSky systems are not monitorable no more Hospital 79. The tabloid dailies are reporting on by the current crop of consumer grade scanners all manner distresses over these closures – to the point (remember the NYSP’s original goal?), the selection of the that calls for criminal investigations are being made by OpenSky platform itself, under the premise of some in the communities surrounding these facilities. “interoperability” was questionable for many other Keep on eye on this to see how it unfolds. reasons. Firstly, it’s an extremely proprietary system. Despite contract stipulations that equipment specifications *** be offered to other manufacturers in an effort to create Posters on both the Radio Reference and www.w2lie.net more competition for end users to choose from, M/ACom – forums have mentioned that they’ve heard testing being after four years – hadn’t done so (it was also questionable done on the new New York City Department of Information if the other manufacturers such as Kenwood, Motorola, or Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) and Nassau ICOM would even bite at the offer). Secondly, OpenSky County UHF trunked systems. There’s nothing more Systems already in use in other jurisdictions (i.e.: the State concrete then that to report. I’ll keep you posted as I hear of Pennsylvania, the City of Milwaukee) were prone to more. In the meantime tune into the frequencies listed “difficulties,” to put it mildly. After $54 million of your tax under call signs WQIQ-740, WQFH-238 and –239 for the money has been expended around the Buffalo area for new New York City system and WPVS-875 for the new initial testing of the proposed system, the State’s Office for Nassau County system. Technology finally terminated the contract with M/ACom before any more damage could be done. Of course, Speaking of New York City...as many readers are already M/ACom is planning on suing the State, but at least we aware, there’s a conventional 800 MHz frequency loaded here in the New York Metro area can be safe in knowing into just about every DoITT 800 MHz trunked system radio that we – for now – aren’t going to be subject to this kind to allow for local unit-to-unit communications when there is of system. I say for now only because, with the legal no need to tie up a talkgroup covering the whole city. The system being what it is here in New York, there is no frequency, designated CityTac, is 868.9875 (156.7). Well, guarantee that this will be killed once and for all in the as mentioned above, with activation of the 400 MHz courts. Until a settlement or injunction one way or another trunked system somewhere on the horizon, the UHF is announced, the risk remains that we the taxpayers equivalent of CityTac is starting to roll out. Keep an could get stuck for the whole bill and with a crappy radio ear on 487.9375 (110.9) for any traffic near to you. system.
*** *** As you may have caught on the local TV news networks I’ve been hearing reports that New York Communications (i.e. NY1), New York City and New York State Company has turned on a Kenwood NEXEDGE system in Departments of Transportation (along with the Orange County. Further, I understand that Walden Police NYPD) has finally moved into a new Joint Transportation has already switched over to it, although I continue to hear Management Center in Long Island City, Queens. A new traffic over their operations repeater – 156.150R, 100.0. channel, designated “TF1” is now being used by NYC DoT Perhaps they are using for tactical or back-channel – for what I don’t know – considering how lightly used purposes. I can not say I have any direct experience with their already existing UHF channels are since most of their these systems so I’m wondering if NEXEDGE (based on day-to-day operations are conducted via Nextel. Keep an
SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 12
the NXDN protocol) is even monitorable over any of Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Unfortunately they are not yet today’s scanners. Can any Orange or southern Ulster available in digital format. I had purchased one of these scannists advise? Directories over ten years ago and found it to be a total waste of money for the military monitor. It listed no *** military facilities or UHF frequencies. While the current Marlboro (Ulster) Volunteer Ambulance Corps has closed Airport Facility Directory is not quite as good as the US its doors for good. Emergency medical services in the IFR Supplement, it does contain every military facility in village are now provided by Mobile Life Support Services. the country with UHF frequencies! If you don’t want to spend the money for the books, you can research and And lastly, the State Police Troop F’s SP Newburgh download each airport individually for free. Here is the barracks have been closed. The northeast portion of web address: http://naco.faa.gov Orange County is now covered by a new barracks, designated SP Montgomery and located at 2022 State Route 208 in the Town of Montgomery. CRASH IN THE HUDSON – US Airways Flight 1549
MILITARY Daniel Myers KB3IBQ 823 Horsham Rd. Horsham, Pa 19044-1209 [email protected]
SCANNER DIGEST ISSUE 47 (C-130 Hercules pt #2)
For this edition of the newsletter, I would like to continue with Issue 41, where we first looked at the C-130 Hercules. I have constructed a file of almost every unit that flies this aircraft; all branches of the US Air Force (ANG, AFRC and Active Duty) as well as some US Navy and USMC units. I have broken down the Air Force files into three groups; ANG, AFRC, and Active Duty and others. I will also include the USMC.
The 2005 BRAC commission has resulted in bases closers, units; deactivated, moved to other bases or transitioning to different type aircraft. Although I have tried to offer you (and myself) the most accurate information possible, it is impossible for me to personally confirm everything listed below. The frequencies are gathered from official sources and/or have been confirmed by me. I have only listed those call signs that I can personally confirm. While I do collect frequency and call sign information from various sources for my own files, I will not disseminate these to the newsletter without first verifying. Any corrections, comments or additional information is always welcome from the readers. Listed are the units that now fly the C-130 for State Air National Guards.
Click Here for Excel File Listing C-130 ANG Units
As of October 2007, the DoD pulled the US IFR Supplement from public sales. For us military monitories, that was a sad, if not catastrophic, day. In my web search to find officially published military frequencies, I came across a publication listed on the National Aeronautical Charting Office’s web site. The Airport Facility Directory can be accessed from the web or paperback copies can be purchased. These books can be purchased in seven individual editions broken down by sections of the US or you can buy the entire set which also includes; Alaska,
SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 13
The controller replied instantly, O.K., yeah, you need to return to La Guardia, turn left, heading of, uh, 220, that is, further to the left. Captain Sullenberger acknowledged, and the controller, in a windowless radar room at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control in Westbury, L.I., used a land line to reach the control tower.
Tower, stop your departures, he said. We got an emergency returning. His voice was urgent but not evidently stressed, until he, too, bungled the call sign, calling it 1529. The controller turned his attention back to the airplane at 3:28:05 p.m.
New York Tracon La Guardia Departure: Cactus 15-29, if we can get it to you, do you want to try to land runway 1- http://www.atc-network.com/ 3? http://www.scribd.com/doc/11719666/Tracon-Transcript AWE1549: Were unable, we may end up in the Hudson. The controller offered him coordinates from his position to YouTube audio of flight the runway. Unable, Captain Sullenberger responded, in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji5428o1nMs standard pilot phraseology. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CEptcA99no The other La Guardia runway was also available, the Primary animation scenes created by SceneSystems controller said, but Captain Sullenberger replied, I am not USA Los Angeles, CA. sure if we can make any runway. He asked about anything in New Jersey, maybe Teterboro? He was given a routing http://www.scenesystems.com/ to that airport, but then replied simply, We can’t do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDFSn... Were going to be in the Hudson, the captain said.
Compiled/edited by RicBNH. I’m sorry, say again, Cactus? the controller said. But Captain Sullenberger had more serious problems that The FAA has released the audio tapes and transcripts of no controller could help him with; he did not radio back. the radio communications between Flight 1549, the US His last communication was at 3:29:28, a few hundred feet Airways jet that crash-landed in the Hudson River on Jan. over the Hudson. Soon after, a plane in flight reported that 15, and the various air traffic controllers in the area on the the airliner, an Airbus A320, was down near the Intrepid afternoon of the accident. aircraft carrier, which is moored at 46th Street. All of the 155 people on board survived. The tapes are dramatic, providing a moment by moment account of the flights communications from the time it As the plane went down, air traffic controllers moved suffered a double bird strike to the time it glided down quickly to organize an emergency response an exchange without engine power onto the chilly surface of the Hudson that is captured on another tape released Thursday called River just off Manhattans West Side. the Cab Coordinator Position Audio.
At 3:27:32 p.m., a scant 2 minutes and 32 seconds after Just after the Airbus cleared the George Washington the flight was cleared for takeoff by the tower at Bridge approaching its water landing, the La Guardia LaGuardia, Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III alerted air control tower coordinator reached out to the Port Authority: traffic control of trouble. 3:28:53 p.m. La Guardia control coordinator: O.K., listen, ah, were going to tell you something important. It’s Cactus In a deep, calm voice, Captain Sullenberger said, Ah, this 1549. We see somebody low level in the Hudson River is, uh, Cactus 1539. Hit birds. We lost thrust in both below 400. OK? You’re going to need to, um, alert the engines. We’re turning back towards La Guardia. New York and New Jersey Port Authority police over His cadence is brisk, in the clipped syntax that is normal there. for communications between cockpits and controllers. If there was a sign of stress, it was that the captain had Less than a minute later, at 3:30 p.m. and 9 seconds, the fumbled his call sign; Cactus is the correct sign for US plane hit the water. The La Guardia control coordinator Airways, but he was Flight 1549, not 1539 or 1529, as the immediately reached out to Kennedy International Airport flight was occasionally called, incorrectly, at various points air traffic control: in the tape.
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3:30:48 p.m. La Guardia: Get me a Police Department helicopter. Have you got one on your frequency?
J.F.K.: Say again.
La Guardia: Get me a Police Department helicopter if you got one on your frequency right now.
J.F.K.: We don’t have one right now. But we will make a call.
La Guardia: You get anybody you send them right into the Lincoln Tunnel. We had a Cactus Airbus go down in the water.
Update 2:51 p.m. For those wondering why US Airways jets would be referred to by the call sign Cactus, it stems from the 2005 merger of US Airways and America West. ------Cactus was America West’s call (perhaps because the FDNY RUNDOWN airline is based in Tempe, AZ), and after the merger, it ------eventually became the call sign of US Airways. That also explains why Flight 1549 is referred to in the transcripts as The rundown- Manhattan Box 868 1/15/09 AWE1549. AWE has long been the call letters of America West. Hudson River between NY and NJ, 1/15/09 Location: Hudson River @ W50 St
15:34 Hours Phone Box 868 - Report of a plane in the water Engines 54, 34, 65 TL21, L4 Battalions 9, Rescue Rescue 1 Squad 18 Tactical Support 1 Marine 1 Alpha
15:35 Hours Also receiving reports of plane in the water @ Hudson River @ W83 St. Multiple calls received in the Bronx reporting a plane with engine fire. Queens in contact with LGA tower reporting a plane with a bird into the engine. E76, TL22 assigned to W83 St.
15:36 Hours Rescue 1 to Manhattan, urgent! Plane in the water with people out, we're launching our boat! E23 available assigned in
15:37 Hours Rescue Battalion: Start a second rescue. Rescue 4 S/C
15:37 Hours Battalion 9: Have all units respond to the Intrepid, that's where Rescue 1 is.
10-60-868 - 15:38 Hours
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Battalion 9 to Manhattan, Urgent! According to PD we DC1: Have Division 3 set up a secondary command post have a major airliner in the water, possibly a 707, give me at the tip of Pier 76 (W36 St) a 10-60! Engines 8, 21, 40, 16 E9 w/ Satellite 1, E93 w/ Mobile Command Center 2 L2, L16 TL35 is the FAST truck L25 15:48 Hours w/ Collapse Rescue 1, Collapse Rescue 4 TL7, TL1 (SOC Car 4A (AC Robert Sweeney, Assistant Chief of Support Trucks) Operations) is responding. Battalions 10. 11, HazMat, Safety, Marine Battalion 6 (Safety Officer), 15:49 Hours Battalion 8 (Resource Unit Leader) Battalion 4 (Planning DC1: We want FD units to respond to Pier 76, all Sections Chief), command units respond to Pier 81 Battalion 58 (Air-Recon Chief) Squad 1 w/ TRV, HazMat 1, SOC Logistics, 15:50 Hours SOC Compressor Divisions 1, 3 Marines 1, 6 FieldCom, Battalion 6 is 10-84, already designated the Resource Unit Command Tactical Unit Leader, Battalion 8 re-designated the Safety Officer. RAC1 Car 36B (Department Chaplain) 15:51 Hours 15:38 Hours DC1: We want a Major EMS response to both Piers. First TL21 to Manhattan, Urgent! The location of the plane is 43 boat loaded with passengers is heading to Pier 81. We and West Side! have reports of 146 passengers on the plane.
15:39 Hours 15:52 Hours Marine 1 to Manhattan, this is confirmed! You have a Coast Guard reports 4 ferries and 1 cutter en-route commercial airliner in the water, 2 ferries alongside, Marine 1A is pulling up alongside, 15:53 Hours Marine 1 is responding as well. Car 4A: Notify Division 1 as per FDOC there are 146 Passengers and 5 crew, total of 151. 15:40 Hours BC9 to Manhattan, Urgent! We have a commercial airliner 15:54 Hours down, have all units respond to Circle Line Piers, we have E14: Notify Division 1 we're at the 33 St Heliport, they're people on the wings, we have a Circle Line Boat pushing it directly opposite us now, it's a perfect place to land boats. to the pier. E14 assigned
15:42 Hours 15:56 Hours BC9: We're going to use the Command Post at the end of Car 9 (DAC John Sudnik, Queens Borough Commander) Pier 83 is responding to DC3 command post Car 11(DAC William Siegel, Chief of SOC) is responding 15:43 Hours Division 1: Have All-Units respond into 42 St, Pier 81. 15:59 Hours L10 acting 24, as per Division 3, we'll be operating at W33 15:44 Hours at the Heliport Battalion 1 acting 9 S/C to the 30th street Marine 1: Tide is moving downtown. Heliport E1 S/C to 30th Street Heliport
15:46 Hours 16:00 Hours DC1: At this time, we have an FD command post set up at Rescue 3 is relocating to Rescue 1 Pier 81 opposite 41 and 12th. We have a US Airway Jet, approximately 60 passenger Jet, we have Circle Line 16:03 Hours ferries circling the plane, it is drifting south at this time, L25 w/ Collapse Rescue 1 is responding to 41 and 12th right now south of 41st and 12th. L116 w/ Collapse Rescue 4 is responding to Pier 76 16:03 Hours 15:46 Hours DC1: Have all Chief officers switch over to command DC1 to Manhattan, Urgent! I want all the Marine Units channel 2. responding on this incident! At this time we have numerous people on the wings on the plane, we have 16:03 Hours numerous Circle Line ferries surrounding the plane, FD FDOC reports plane took off with 21800 Gallons of Fuel units are jumping on additional ferries. Marine 9 w/ Rescue 5, E153, TL77, Battalion 21 S/C 16:04 Hours Marine 9 has a 30 minute ETA responding with Rescue 5 15:47 Hours 16:05 Hours
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Car 9: Have TL35 respond to with their water gear 41st 16:23 Hours and 12th, also special call another FAST truck to 36th and Battalion 58 is airborne with a 5 minute ETA 12th. Marine 6A is responding TL22 acting 12 S/C as an additional FAST Truck 16:23 Hours DC1: Be advised Division 1's command post is now at Pier 16:06 Hours 61 (23 St @ West Side Highway) Car 11A (DC William Seelig, Chief of Rescue Operations): We're responding to your 10-60, advise the Chief of 16:24 Hours Rescue Services the Scuba Support Van is responding Division 6 is relocating to Division 3 from Fort Totten. 16:27 Hours 16:09 Hours Manhattan requesting a rundown of which company is at E9: We're at 40 and 12th, pier 79, we have approximately which location 30 people here no one seriously injured, if we can get some blankets over, everyone's soaking wet. 16:26 Hours DC3: At this time at Pier 76, I have TL22, he'll be 16:10 Hours appointed contact at this time. Car 12 (BC Stephen Raynis (Acting), Chief of Safety and Inspectional Services) is responding 16:27 Hours DC1: I need an EMS supervisor to assist me at Pier 61 16:11 Hours The staging area is W42 st and 11 ave 16:28 Hours Rundown for Pier 76: W36th St and 12th Ave 16:13 Hours TL22 Marine Battalion: Marine 1 and Marine 6 have lashed the Collapse Rescue 4 plane to ensure the remaining fuel and engine do not break away, notify Coast Guard. 16:28 Hours Marine 9 gives a 20 minute ETA. 16:13 Hours Car 12A (Executive Officer of Safety and Inspectional 16:35 Hours Services) is 10-84 DC1: We are still waiting for an EMS Supervisor at Pier 61. 16:15 Hours Car 11A: Have the SOC Scuba Van respond to 42 and 16:40 Hours 12th E9 is at the Waterway Building (W48 St) with approximately 54 passengers, 2 were taken to the 16:15 Hours hospital. SOC Scuba Support Van: Be advised we have 5 confirmed divers on board at this moment. 16:43 Hours Marine 9 is 10-84. 16:18 Hours BC1 acting 9: We're at the Chelsea Pier. We're with 16:45 Hours Division 1, we're at the end of the Chelsea Pier at the Nassau PD and Jersey City PD reports each has a Command Post at Pier 61 helicopter at the 30th St heliport.
16:20 Hours 16:49 Hours FieldCom: As per DC1, the pilot stated he got all the PD is requesting a representative at W34 and 12th ave people off the plane onto the wings, and the pilot was dropped off at Pier 76. At this time we are attempting to ascertain the number of people and injuries. As per the 16:49 Hours pilot there is no one left on the plane. BC1/9: There is no FC: Assign another battalion chief, we're moving our one operating at the heliport, the plane has drifted south of command post, it's heading south. Battalion 46 acting 7 that area. S/C as "PD Liaison" Battalion 14 acting 8 S/C as Staging Manager 16:21 Hours FC: Have the Planning Unit respond to W41 st and 12th 16:57 Hours E262 w/ IMT Planning Vehicle is responding E1 is 10-8 L116 (Rescue Collapse 4 support) is responding. 16:59 Hours BC1/9: We're being directed with TL1 to respond to Pier A.
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17:10 Hours 17:49 Hours As per news report from US Airways: FC: Have an EMS Supervisor respond to Murray and Latest reports are that US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus River View Terrace. A320, flew into a bird or flock of birds and lost both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport over 17:52 Hours the Bronx while en-route to Charlotte, NC. The pilot E9: Advise all units coming in on the 10-86 to come in on was unable to return to the airfield and instead managed Warren as close as they can to the water. to successfully crash-land in the river. All passengers are reportedly accounted for. Majority of injuries are 17:52 Hours hypothermia-related. At this time, as per news conference with the mayor, victim tracking is still in progress. It is believed that all 17:14 Hours passengers got out and were picked up by a variety of DC3: Get in contact with Mobile Command, have them Circle Line, FD, PD, USCG, and civilian vessels. respond to Battery Park Pier, we have the plane tied off It is believe that most were recovered to Manhattan, with now. Can we also get 2 engine companies down here, we some to New Jersey. need them to stretch 2 foam lines, we're at north of Murray St, right at the pier. Engines 205 acting 10, 7 S/C 18:04 Hours Battalion 10: Could you 10-10 (get location of) L16, I have 17:17 Hours one of their members. DC1: At Pier 81, we have Battalion 8 and 2 engines committed there. We have no units left at Pier 76, have 18:08 Hours Collapse Rescue 4 take up from there and head down to E238: Have an ambulance respond to Murray and West Battery Park City. St, we have an injured member!
17:19 Hours 18:29 Hours L25/Collapse Rescue 1 are 10-8. FC: By order of Deputy Chief Daly, all companies not at Battalion 58 is returning to Brooklyn. the command post are to go 10-8, with the exception of the 10-86 units, Rescue 1, Rescue Collapse, Tactical 17:24 Hours Support, Rescue Battalion Battalion 8: We have 14 passengers remaining at this location (Pier 81) that require transportation back to Currently Operating @ Battery Park City: LaGuardia. We had 20 passengers, 6 transported by Engs. 7, 205 acting 10 EMS. E9 w/ Satellite 1, E5 w/ Foam 5, E95 w/ Foam 95, E238 w/ Foam Tender 1 17:26 Hours L116 w/ Collapse Rescue 4 Battalions 9, 10, 31 (Foam Car 9: Have E205 go to Battery Park City and just go to Coordinator), Rescue the water, they'll see us there. Divisions 1, 3 Rescues 1 Marines 1, 6 Tactical Support 1 FieldCom, Mobile 17:28 Hours Command Center 2 Car 9: The aircraft has been secured, it's being secured to the sea wall opposite Battery Park City, 2 precautionary At this time: handlines are being stretched. Division 3 will be radio Manhattan was already in Fallback Step III prior to this contact, Car 11 will be Incident Commander operation. FDNY Command Post moving to Battery Park Pier. Incident remains Doubtful Will Hold. West Side 10-86-868 - 17:33 Hours Highway is closed, FD and PD units are operating from 23 DC3: Transmit a 10-86 (Fleuroprotein Foam Operation), up to 50 Sts. 1st avenue is also closed for emergency we're going to need some more foam units down here. E5 vehicle access. The plane touched down at around W50 w/ Foam 5 E95 w/ Foam 95 E238 w/ Foam Tender 1 St. FD units located it at around W43 St, and southbound Battalion 31 (Foam Coordinator) tide has gradually carried it. It has now been secured at Battery Park City pier. FD is now standing by with a foam 17:33 Hours response as agencies work to secure the plane and drain DC1: I want all agencies to respond to River Terrace off of remaining fuel. Circle Line Ferries scrambled ferries Warren St on the water. immediately nearby and picked up most of the passengers. All passengers are reportedly accounted for 17:44 Hours with mostly hypothermia-related injuries. Worst reported The NTSB advises that no FD members are to enter the injury is a broken leg to a flight attendant. Rescue 3 has plane. relocated to Rescue 1.
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SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 47 PAGE 19