Dnepr Rocket Launch a Failure - 18 Satellites Lost

A Russian rocket, the Dnepr which is a converted SS-18 ballistic missile, has suffered a launch failure with the loss of all 18 satellites onboard. More details on my personal blog - the Btown Monitor Post.

Milair Nationwide Frequencies Part 6

Milair Nationwide Frequencies Part 6

This is part 6 of our exclusive nationwide milair assignment list.

Previous parts and the dates they appeared on this blog:
Part 1 Monday May 29, 2006
Part 2 Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Part 3 Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Part 4 Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Part 5 Wednesday, July 5, 2006

260.200 Aerial Refueling Established Tracks Secondary
260.250 USAF Special Purpose Comms
260.350 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.375 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO November
260.400 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.425 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO Papa
260.450 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.475 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO November
260.500 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.525 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO Papa
260.550 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.575 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO Oscar
260.600 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.625 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO Quebec
260.650 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.675 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet Relay UFO Oscar
260.700 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.725 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha/Fleet relay UFO Quebec
260.750 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.775 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.800 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.825 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.850 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Alpha
260.900 NORAD Northeast/Western SOCCs
261.100 Department of Energy
261.200 AWACS voice coordination
261.400 Milsat Unknown transponder downlink
261.425 Milsat Unknown transponder downlink
261.450 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.475 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.500 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.525 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.550 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.575 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO November
261.600 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.625 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO Papa
261.650 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.675 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay November
261.700 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.725 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay Papa
261.750 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.775 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO November
261.800 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.825 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO Papa
261.850 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.875 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO November
261.900 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.9125 Milsat Russian GONETS Store-Dump satellites
261.925 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo/Fleet Relay UFO Papa
261.950 Milsat AFSATCOM Wideband Ch 23 Fltsat Bravo
261.985 Milsat Unknown transponder downlink

More to follow.

STS-116 to launch Naval Academy Satellites

If STS-116 launches in December, it will carry two experimental satellites into orbit built by students at the US Naval Academy.

RAFT is a US Naval Academy Aerospace student project currently manifested on Space Shuttle Mission STS-116. It is designed to give students real hands on experience in satellite engineering, design and operations. The USNA RAFT hopes to accomplish the following objectives:

The education of Midhsipmen in Aerospace Engineering See their RAFT WEB page.

Development of our ability to design/construct CUBESAT/Picosat type spacecraft

Provide a 217 MHz transmitter/receiver for Navy Space Surveillance System (NSSS) Radar Fence experiments.

Provide TDMA packet, and FDMA Multiuser PSK-31 transponders for experiments in the Amateur Satellite Service.

Provide voice/data experiments in support of the Navy/MarineCorp MARS programs and the Naval Academy's boats.

As usual there is the usual MARS frequency disclaimer on the main webpage stating that the MARS frequencies are sensitive and will not be published. But also as usual digging around the website and its links revealed the following:

RAFT1 Satellite
Downlink 145.825 MHz, 2 watts 20 kHz bandwidth FM with both AX.25 packet and PSK-31 signals
Uplinks
28.122 MHz linear PSK-31
216.980 MHz NSSS transponder (Radar fence)

RAFT1 Satellite Operating Modes:
Telemetry Mode, Packet Transponder Mode, PSK-31 Transponder Mode, Packet/Voice transponder, and the XP217 radar fence mode.

MARScom Satellite
148.975 MHz Uplink
27.9635 (27.962) MHz SSB downlink
123.100 MHz SAR AM Monitor

MARScom Satellite Operating Modes:
Telemetry Mode, Packet Transponder Mode, Voice Relay Mode, and SAR Monitor Mode.

What is amazing to me is that the brain thrust in MARS actually thought they could keep the frequencies of an orbiting satellite secret? Even DoD can't pull that one off. Bottom line, I will have more on these two cubesat birds as we approach the STS-116 mission launch.

Cosmos 2422 - A Russian EW Sat Launched Update

Cosmos 2422 (International Desig 2006-030A/SSC #29260) was launched from the Russian cosmodrome Plesetsk onboard a Molniya-M/2BL rocket at 0420 UTC, 21 Jul 2006. The payload launched by the Molniya-M appears to be a Lavochkin built Oko-class early warning (US-KS) satellite, the 87th satellite in the series, launched into a highly elliptical Molniya orbit. The two satellites currently operational in the early warning HEO constellation are Cosmos 2388 and 2393.

"The aim of the launch is to reinforce the military network already in space," said Alexei Zolotukhin, a spokesman for the Russian military's space division.

Reported downlinks for this series of satellites are 2298.0 (channel A) and 2304.0 MHz (channel B), both frequencies courtesy of UHF-satcom.com.

You can read more information about the Russian early warning satellite network at
Michael Jasinski, "Russia: Strategic Early Warning, Command and Control, and Missile Defense Overview," Nuclear Threat Initiative website, and at Gunter's Space Page.

What is in the August MT Milcom Column?

We have some neat stuff for the August MT Milcom column.

The MT Milcom column was the first to uncover the new 380-400 MHz DoD LMR subband a couple of years ago, even before any of the internet websites carried any info about it. Now in the August issue another MT Milcom first.

We present the first detailed look at trunk and conventional LMR frequencies in not only the 380-400 MHz band, but new trunk system frequencies in the 138-144 and 148.0-150.8 MHz DoD bands. You will get our exclusive list of the 41.5% of the 800 frequencies in the new DoD subband that we have been identified and their usage.

We also present a profile of the new West Point VHF trunk system, a Westover ARB P25 frequency update, the story behind the closing of NAS Keflavik, Iceland, and our exclusive list of Seattle and Oakland ARTCC frequencies.

As I have said before, "miss one issue of MT and you miss a lot." And remember right now you can get special offer on MT Express. Get it delivered via email for only $1.25 per issue. Twelve issues of Monitoring Times Express, the full electronic version of the printed version for #14.95. This offer is available for only a few more days, until the end of the month. See the MT Express offer on this or any of the other MT author blogs.

DoD FLIP Publications Online

A couple of people in the last 24 hours have asked me where they can download the electronic versions of the Department of Defense FLIP enroute publications and other aero related products.

You can download all the FLIP pubs in Adobe pdf format from their internet website at https://www2.nga.mil/products/digitalaero/enroute.cfm.

But the bad news is after October 1, 2006, these products will no longer be available to the public because the NGA is withdrawing them from the internet. They will only be available to DoD on their secure NIPR network.

Bottom line: Download them now before they disappear forever. And no, the FAA ATA-100 information base is not as accurate, updated and complete in coverage as the US IFR supplement. There is a lot of information that has changed, especially the ARTCC frequencies. The IFR supplement also suffers from the same problem. Neither publication has been updated to show all the new ARTCC RVSM related frequencies that have been put on the air.

Middle East Crisis and Italian Navy

According to international press reports the Italian Navy, based out of Cyprus, is involved in the evacuation of Beirut. European listeners should watch for ship-to-shore activity on the Italian Milsat Sicral UHF transponder (258.150-258.300 MHz). I have also seen some reports of STANAG 4285 activity on the other UHF transponder (252.200-252.350) which is cross strapped to a SHF uplink. This satellite is located in geostationary orbit at 16.3 deg east (no chance from the US east coast). Photo and coverage map courtesy of Alenia.

Monitoring the Middle East Tinder Box Update

Photo of an Israeli Air Force F-16 enroute to a mission over Lebanon (Courtesy of Israeli Air Force).

There has been some milair traffic associated with the Middle East crisis passed on the new RAF TASCOMM net (Info first presented here July 7, 2006). Watch for activity from Cyprus:

Cyprus
Voice Call Sign: CYPRUS
Frequency (USB mode): Channel 1 - 4742 kHz (a) Channel 2 - 9031 kHz Channel 3 - 11247 kHs, Note: (a) H+15 weather broadcasts, when active.

Keep a real close watch also on the JCS HF-GCS primary 11175 kHz USB as the RAF Cyprus station has used this frequency in the past crisis.

You can get complete shortwave broadcast schedules and frequencies from the region on Gayle's Blog page (see link on the right). Here is a summary of recently logged frequencies for various Israeli intelligence and military services.

You will find information on Lebanese amateur radio activity including echolink repeater info on my personal blog at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/.

And for those in country (Israel) with an amateur radio license check out the Israel FM Repeater Network website amateur radio repeater information.

Kol Israel.com
Live TV and radio feeds, news and sports, newspaper links, plus links to over 150 hot Israeli sites. There are also links to various Arabic news sources in English.

---

Israeli Mossad Number Station (Enigma E10)
An excellent writeup on the Mossad number stations is on Simon Mason's numbers website.
High Traffic ART EZI FTJ JSR KPA PCD SYN ULX VLB YHF
Low Traffic CIO MIW
No Traffic ABC BAY FDU GBZ HNC NDP OEM ROV TMS ZWL

Transmission times:
H+15 KPA MIW
H+45 CIO SYN VLB

ABC 6428.0
ART 3415.0 5435.0 6986.0
BAY 5530.0
CIO 3557.0 4780.0
EZI 6840.0 9130.0 11565.0 15980.0 17410.0
FDU 4418.0 6210.0
FTJ 2628.0 4461.0 7358.0
GBZ 5170.0
HNC 4110.0 6575.0
JSR 5091.0
KPA 3230.0 5339.0
MIW 3270.0 4360.0 5230.0
NDP 6658.0
OEM 5339.0 6911.0
PCD 3150.0 4270.0 6498.0
ROV 4604.0 6438.0
SYN 3640.0 4648.0
TMS 4015.0 5339.0
ULX 2743.0 4880.0 6270.0 7760.0
VLB 3360.0 5170.0 5710.0 9165.0
YHF 2844.0 3840.0 4560.0 5820.0 7918.0 9202.0 10648.0
ZWL 3940.0

Military branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women)
Note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
Website: http://www.idf.il/

4XZ Israeli Defense Forces Haifa(Enigma M22)
Mode: Morse Code
2680.0 2800.0 3150.0 3594.0 4159.0 4241.0 4331.0 5159.0 6379.0 8437.0 8594.0 8780.0 10064.0 11096.0 12984.0 kHz

VFT: 6775.3 7866.3 9253.3 11461.3 13485.3 kHz

Israeli Air Force
Voice Tactical Net: 11208 kHz (USB)

Mode: USB/ALE (MIL-STD-188-141A)
3823.0 4507.0 4681.0 4823.0 5210.0 5456.0 5478.0 5720.0 5813.0 6224.0 6288.0 6565.0 6720.0 7390.0 7839.0 7848.0 7957.0 8020.0 8040.0 8135.0 8234.0 8365.0 8858.0 9229.0 9232.0 10537.0 17128.0 19602.0 kHz

Other previously reported frequencies:
5418.0 6864.0 7630.0 7734.0 7780.0 8100.0 9080.0 9248.0 10614.0 11465.0 11491.0 13442.0 14422.0 14535.0 14913.0 19043.0 19309.0 22769.0 kHz

ALE Addresses:
AA1 Ben Gurion (Lod Air Base), 103th Squadron
AA3 Ben Gurion (Lod Air Base)
BB1 Palmachim Air Base, 124th Squadron
BB3 Palmachim Air Base, 161st Squadron
AAA Tel Aviv AF HQ/NCS
RAM Ramat David Air Base

Other stations: 055, AS5, BB2, C53, C56, C65, CCC, DD1, DD2, EEE, MN1, NAK, SSS, TKM, TS2, TSR

USB/ALE (MIL-STD-188-141A)
Frequency: 10537.0 kHz
1DVIAF AF 1st Division
8DVIAF AF 8th Division

Israeli Border Patrols
Frequencies in MHz and narrowband FM mode.
30.000 30.250 30.300 30.350 30.550 30.600 30.750 30.800 30.900 30.950 31.050 31.200 31.250 31.350 31.450 31.850 31.950 32.000 32.050 32.100 32.200 32.300 32.350 32.400 32.450 32.650 32.800 33.050 33.250 33.300 33.350 33.400 33.500 33.600 33.700 33.950 34.050 34.100 34.200 34.300 34.350 34.400 34.450 34.750 34.900 35.000 35.050 35.250 35.300 35.650 35.700 35.750 35.800 36.100 36.150 36.200 36.250 36.350 36.850 37.000 37.400 37.460 37.500 37.850 38.200 38.450 38.800 39.350 39.400 39.500 39.700 40.000 40.150 40.200 40.300 40.400 40.500 40.550 40.600 40.650 40.700 40.750 40.900 41.150 41.200 41.450 41.500 41.550 41.600 41.650 41.700 41.850 41.900 41.950 42.100 42.150 42.300 42.750 42.800 42.850 42.950 43.100 43.200 43.250 43.450 43.550 43.600 43.800 43.850 44.350 44.550 44.850 45.000 45.850 45.950 46.150 46.500 46.600 46.650 46.700 46.750 46.800 47.100

More information as it becomes available.

US Navy Callign "Catbird"

A callsign that is commonly heard on US military HF frequencies is "Catbird." You can learn more about this historic callsign and the aircraft that use it on the NAS Sigonella website.

Another MT Author Blogs

A warm welcome to Hugh Stegman, the author of the Monitoring Times Utility World column to the growing list of MT Column Bloggers. You can visit Hugh's Blog at MT Utility World

Russian Military Rocket Launch Announced

The Russian Ministry of Defense is scheduled to launch a missile with a fragment impact area encompassing the following Pacific Ocean latitude/longitude locations: 2210n/17340w 1950n/17220w 1910n/17345w 2140n/17455w 2210n/17340w. The impact area should be avoided for flight operations at all altitudes. Primary launch date: July 12 1400 -1800 UTC. Alternate launch date: July 13 1400-1800 UTC.

Wright Patterson AFB Trunk System

This week we move back east and look at a unique base. In many aspects Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the largest, most diverse and organizationally complex Air Force base in the U.S. Its mind-boggling array of services include worldwide logistics supporting the entire Air Force, aeronautical research and development, home for more than 70 units, second-largest medical center in the branch, and about 10,000 scientists and engineers.

Website: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/
Motorola Type II Trunk System (ID 2b1c)
For scanner owners use a base frequency of 406.350 MHz, 50-kHz spacing, and an offset of 380.

System Frequencies:
406.3500 406.5500 407.1500 407.3500 407.9500 408.7500 408.9500 409.5500 409.7500 409.9500

Talkgroups:
16 Patterson Ground
48 Unknown user/usage
112 Civil Engineering – Housing
144 Unknown user/usage
176 Crash Crews
208 Hazardous Material?
272 Fire Ground
336 Unknown user/usage
368 Fire – crosspatch to 154.280 MHz
400 Unknown user/usage
432 Unknown user/usage
496 Base Operations
528 U.S. Air Force Museum
560 Unknown user/usage
592 Fire/Medic 1
624 Unknown user/usage
656 Fire Ground
688 Fire Ground
720 Unknown user/usage
752 Civil Engineering
816 Civil Engineering – Grounds
944 Transportation
976 Fuel Control
1008 88 Air Base Wing Flight Line
1040 Security car to car
1072 Flight Line
1136 Flight Line
1200 Unknown user/usage
1232 Supply
1584 Unknown user/usage (heard Charlie 3, Cobra 1 on weekend)
2352 Medical Net?
2384 Unknown user/usage
2480 Bio Net
2512 Unknown user/usage
2640 Unknown user/usage
2704 Unknown user/usage
3216 445 Airlift Wing Aircraft Maintenance
3248 Nightwatch Net (E-4B system)
3280 445 Air Wing Aeromed?
7568 Unknown user/usage
8016 Security 1
8048 Security 2
8080 Security 3
9776 Unknown user/usage
9808 Unknown user/usage
9840 Unknown user/usage
9904 Commo
10000 Unknown user/usage
10064 Unknown user/usage
10128 Unknown user/usage
10224 Civil Engineering
10320 Unknown user/usage – testing radios
10352 Unknown User Maintenance
10640 Civil Engineering
10672 445 Air Wing
10736 Unknown user/usage – testing radios
10800 Civil Engineering
10928 Civil Engineering
10960 Fire
11008 Unknown user/usage
11024 Security Tactical
11056 Security Tactical
11088 Security Tactical
11216 Transportation
11248 445 Air Wing
11280 445 Air Wing Aircraft Maintenance
11312 Flight Line Operations

Shuttle Launch Audio Files Now Available Online

We have posted our first two audio files on the Milcom webpage. One of these audio files was a pre-launch Milsat SAR net on 261.875 MHz. The other file is actual Shuttle UHF downlink audio and Milsat SAR Support net audio from the July 4, 2006, Discovery launch. I would like to thank Chris C in West Central Georgia for passing these files along and allowing us to post them to our MT Milcom webpage.

We are working on building an online Milcom audio file library as a free public service for radio hobbyist on the internet. If you have an interesting Milcom audio file you would like to share why not drop me an email at the address in the masthead. I will certainly give it a listen and see if it should be added to this online resource.

RAF STCICS is no more - Introducing TASCOMM

Note: TASCOMM frequencies were posted in the previous message of this blog

On June 12, 2006, Rear Admiral Rees Ward, Chief Executive of the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA), opened the hub of a rationalised and enhanced High Frequency (HF) communications service for the UK’s Armed Forces at Forest Moor in North Yorkshire.

The refurbished Defence High Frequency Communications Service (DHFCS) Network Control Station (NCS) is at the centre of a multi-million pound investment by VT Communications as part of a 15-year PPP (Public Private Partnership) contract valued at £220 million. The DHFCS contract was awarded in 2003 to modernise the HF beyond line of sight communications capability for UK armed forces and other authorised users. The contract has enhanced the quality, availability and reliability of the worldwide network of HF communications assets used by all three UK armed forces, with a programme of improved operational arrangements and new technology introduced by VT. This includes new transmitters, receivers, antennas, and an integrated control system to provide new data services offering Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) and Automatic Link Management (ALM).

Admiral Rees Ward commented: “The opening of the Network Control Station marks another major step towards the delivery of the new DHFCS but more importantly demonstrates the strong partnership between the MoD and VT Communications. This successful relationship helps to promote the DCSA's Vision of Industry/MoD partnering to deliver assured, integrated information services to the UK's Armed Forces." VT Communications Managing Director Doug Umbers added: “DHFCS has produced considerable benefits for the users by streamlining and modernising the use of HF communications for ships and aircraft and other users.

“The programme is a great example of industry and Government working together. Our partnership with the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA) and, in particular, the Strategic Terrestrial Radio Systems (STRS) Integrated Project Team has delivered one of the most advanced HF communications systems used by any military in the world.” VT has achieved significant cost savings by utilising modern technology. This has led to the rationalisation of the number of UK sites delivering the service from 14 to six, allowing the return of surplus land. Overseas, four sites provide services to both air and surface platforms. In addition, the global rationalisation programme has led to the release of approximately 200 military personnel to other higher priority duties

Under DHFCS, Terrestrial Air Sea Communications (TASCOMM) is available for use by RN, RAF and the Army. TASCOMM is a ground-air-ground, ship-shore and ground-to-ground HF radio communications service designed for NATO and National use. Previously known as STCICS, TASCOMM has its control centre at the NCS at Forest Moor with an alternative network control centre (ANCS) located at RAF Kinloss. Both the NCS and ANCS will control, transmit and receive assets around the world to provide an efficient and responsive service to the users.

Combined with the introduction of new RAF and RN platform HF communications equipment supplied under separate contracts, DHFCS will take full advantage of the modern high-speed waveforms to provide rapid data throughput, eventually including HF email. ALE, ARQ and ALM techniques both simplify and speed up the process of establishing HF communication channels.

New DoD Flight Information Handbook Released

A new DoD FLIP Flight Information Handbook was released yesterday (Jul 6) on the NGA public website. This will be the last public edition of this publication. The next edition will be released in Feb 2007 and by that time all the DoD FLIP pubs will be withdrawn from the internet and only available on the DoD NIPR net.

The big news in this edition of the FIH for radio listeners is the new info on the RAF Flight Watch Support. Here is that information in detail:

FLIGHT WATCH SUPPORT - The Royal Air Force (RAF) Flight Watch (FW) Centers are:

The RAF FW mission is to United Kingdom FW station provides United States High frequency (HF) aircraft support to relay command and control messages. Respond to aircraft distress/emergency calls. In addition, assistance with request for or relay of weather information. Reference: Internet http://www.aidu.mod.uk/.

Phone patches can be provided (where available) to DSN numbers. Aircraft requesting this facility will be required to provide their 10-digit DSN number. NOTE: There is 24 hour manned operations center at DHFCS Forest Moor and DHFCS Kinloss.

United Kingdom (TASCOMM)
Voice Call Sign: ARCHITECT
Frequencies: 4742 5702 9031 11247 13257 18018
NOTE: Long range HF communications FW for RAF/Naval aircraft from 24 hour manned operations center at DHFCS Forest Moor and DHFCS Kinloss.

Ascension
Voice Call Sign: HAVEN
Frequency: 4742 9031 11247
NOTE: Flight Watch available for notified flights.

Cyprus
Voice Call Sign: CYPRUS
Frequency: Channel 1 - 4742 (a) Channel 2 - 9031 Channel 3 - 11247
NOTE: (a) H+15 weather broadcasts, when active.

Mount Pleasant (MPA)
Voice Call Sign: VIPER
Frequency: 4742 (a) 11247 (a)
NOTE: (a) H+35 weather broadcasts when active.

1. Flight Watch available for notified flights.
2. Aircraft not fitted with ALE are to scroll through the frequencies in order to select the best reception. Transmissions are to be made at 15 sec intervals before changing to the next guard frequency.

Hurricane Monitor List Updated

My N5FPW 2006 Season Hurricane Emergency Monitoring List has been updated. It has links to official publications, including the National Hurricane Operations Plan 2006, and quite a few frequencies for military and government nets. You can see that updated list on my personal blog page the Brasstown Monitoring Post.

Hot Spot - North Korea

Kim is at it again. I think he has taken "the rocket's red glare" to new heights with his seven missile launches.

And contrary to what some have posted in the last 24 hours, you won't directly hear how our US military is responding to these multiple missile launches from North Korea on any DoD HF or military satellite frequencies. But you can listen to English language broadcasts directly from Pyongyang via shortwave radio.

Ms Gayle, my better half, posted this morning on her blog the latest English language broadcast frequencies from Pyongyang. You can view those freqs on her super spot on the web, the best place for shortwave broadcast info, the MT Shortwave Central Blog. But hey, I am partial and I like to eat.

But in order for monitors here on the east coast to hear Pyongyang, their signal travels to us via the great circle path over a near polar path. Given the current prop conditions from the N3KL prop monitor on her blog page as I type this (geomagnetic field is at storm levels),we do NOT have good conditions from North Korea right now.

More as we get it and be sure to stop by the MT-Shortwave Central for the latest SWBC freqs for this event and the Israeli-Palestine situation.

Milair Nationwide Frequencies Part 5

Milair Nationwide Frequencies Part 5

This is part 5 of our exclusive nationwide milair assignment list.

Previous parts and the dates they appeared on this blog:
Part 1 Monday May 29, 2006
Part 2 Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Part 3 Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Part 4 Tuesday, June 20, 2006

255.250 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) UFO November
255.350 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Alpha/UFO Oscar
255.400 FAA Flight Service Stations
255.450 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Bravo/UFO Papa
255.550 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Charlie/UFO Quebec
255.600 ATC Tower amd Approach/Departure Control ATC functions
255.750 Aerial Refueling Operations
256.375 Newly discovered, previously undocumented Milsat downlink (Note: I first found this frequency 6/22/2006. I have yet to tie this to a particular satellite platform.)
256.475 Another newly discovered, previously undocumented Milsat downlink (Note: I first found this frequency 6/22/2006. I have yet to tie this to a particular satellite platform.)
256.600 NORAD Tactical
256.700 ATC Services
256.800 ATC Services
256.850 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) UFO November
256.875 ATC Services
256.900 ATC Services (primarily Tower and Approach/Departure Services)
256.950 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Alpha/UFO Oscar
257.050 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Bravo/UFO Papa
257.150 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Charlie/UFO Quebec
257.200 ATC Services (primarily Tower and Approach/Departure Services)
257.250 Have Quick
257.500 AWACS Voice Tel
257.550 MARISAT Gapfiller 25 kHz narrowband channel
257.600 ATC Services
257.625 ATC Services (Local services, i.e. Tower, ATIS, etc.)
257.650 ATC Services (Local services, i.e. Tower, ATIS, etc.)
257.675 ATC Services
257.700 ATC Services
257.725 ATC Services (Approach/Departure Control Services)
257.750 ATC Services
257.775 ATC Services (Clearance Delivery Services)
257.800 ATC Services (FAA Towers)
257.875 ATC Services
257.900 ATC Services (Various services including AR Exit support)
257.950 ATC Services
257.975 ATC Services
258.350 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) UFO November
258.450 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Alpha/UFO Oscar
258.550 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Bravo/UFO Papa
258.575 USAF Special tactical operations training
258.650 Milsat Fleet Broadcast (25 kHz) Fltsat Charlie/UFO Quebec
259.000 Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations/Training
259.100 ATC Services (Approach/Departure Control Services)
259.300 ATC Services
259.700 NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter Air-to-Ground

More to come.

A Special Offer for MT Blog Readers

The good folks at Monitoring Times magazine are offering a special, limited time, discounted rate of US$14.95 on a one year MT Express subscription if you mention the BLOG page (Editor’s Page, Fed Files, Milcom, Monitoring Post, or Shortwave) you are viewing right now.

What is Monitoring Times magazine?
MT is a full-spectrum monthly magazine for the radio listener, Monitoring Times covers scanning, shortwave, military and federal comms, and other radio topics from below 500 kHz to 900 MHz and above. Presented in an easy-to-understand style by an experienced writing staff, MT helps you get the most out of your time and your equipment with practical listening tips and frequencies.

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Cosmos 2421 - A Mission Failure

According to press reports in the Russian Daily Online Kommersant, Cosmos 2421, a Legend (US-PU) ocean recon satellite launched on June 25, has failed to start its mission. The reason given is that one of its two solar panels have failed to deploy and the satellite lacks the power to activate surveillance and target indication devices.

It was the U.S. Space Command that first reported problems with this Russian US-PU satellite. Though the RF Defense Ministry, Russia’s Space Agency (Roskosmos) and Space Forces declined to comment, a source with the General Naval Staff said on July 1 that Cosmos-2421 [US-PU got this name after delivery into the orbit] really has problems, which are currently being tackled by experts.

The satellite spent the past week maneuvering in an attempt to open the second solar panel. All efforts have proved fruitless, the source said, but Arsenal Design Bureau that developed the satellite still hopes to recover the satellite.

According to the Kommersant report the Russian military doesn't share the optimism of the firm that developed the satellite. The satellite was produced 15 years ago and kept in the storage until its June 25 launch. Arsenal has troubles not only with US-PU birds, but also with a new Liana satellites, which are expected to replace Legend.

NASA Shuttle Launch Radio Activity Part Trois

HF: 5711/0132//10780 kHz Active
At 1145 UTC this morning have caught shuttle related comms on 10780 USB (ETR Primary) and 5711 USB kHz. Cape moved SRB ship off 10780 to 5711 kHz for traffic. 5711 kHz is getting heavy ALE interference since this is a Shares SCN ALE Net . I have also heard King SAR Support aircraft using 9132.0 kHz USB.

UHF Milsat: Frequency 261.875 MHz has been up with Cape Osbourne, King 5 and Rescue Bird East.

Barney Hamlin in South Central Georgia using his Timestep setup has observed the following INMARSAT TAL Nets this morning:

1535.5 and 1535.825 MHz parallel. The 1535.5 MHz is the stronger of the two in signal strength.

Also I do have additional information on the shuttle launch, such as TLEs, etc., on my personal blog page at the Brasstown Monitoring Post.

More to follow...

Image courtesy of NASA/KSC.

NASA Shuttle Launch Radio Activity Part Deux

Well here we are again, day two, trying to get the STS-121 mission off the pad. Hear is what is being heard. Will update this file as the day progresses.

Barney Hamlin reports the following INMARSAT L-band downlinks in use:

1535.500 MHz
1541.025 MHz

The SRB recovery ships are using 5711 kHz USB.

Orbital information and launch TLEs posted to my other blog at http"//monitor-post.blogspot.com.
More as it develops.

NASA Shuttle Launch Radio Activity

Barney Hamlin, in Georgia, is reporting a NASA Briefing net up on INMARSAT downlink 1535.5 MHz at 1500 UTC 1 July 2006. This was parallel to 1540.975 MHz.
At 1622 UTC, a NASA INMARSAT net was up on 1539.865 MHz.

From the N5FPW shack:

UHF Milsat frequency 261.875 MHz is active with shuttle launch activity ITC.
The SRB recovery net is active on 5711 kHz USB (liberty and Freedom Star SRB recovery vessels).

9132 kHz USB is active with shuttle activity.

Shuttle INMARSAT/Milsat Net Update 7/1/2006 @ 1325

Barney Hamlin checks back in and has the following update on INMARSAT frequencies being used in support of the STS-121 launch.

NASA KSC was heard on five Inmarsat frequencies yesterday:

1535.5250
1538.4500
1539.5250
1539.8750
1540.0500

1539.8750 was the most active. A few times during the day traffic could be heard simultaneously on two channels. They had a big pre-flight briefing at 10a.m. yesterday which lasted over an hour. Traffic was monitored throughout the day until approximately 3 p.m. Eastern Time yesterday afternoon (June 30).

As Paul Marsh mentioned, 261.875 on UHF milsat was very active during this same period with several aircraft contacting Cape Osborne (Cape Radio) and Wolf Hound.
Call signs included: Mexican (a/c) Rescue Bird (a/c),and East Rescue Bird (a/c).

So far nothing has been heard today.

And I concur with Barney and Paul's observations. Today has been quiet accept for an occasional HF check on ETR Primary (10780 kHz USB).