Thursday, January 22, 2015

One Service You Can Hear to Monitor Navy Ships on HF

Interested in listening the Navy ships on HF? Then the U.S. Navy SESEF frequencies are your ticket to make that happen.

The Shipboard Electronic Systems Evaluation Facilities (SESEFs) are land based test sites established to facilitate testing of ships' electromagnetic transmitting and receiving equipment. The SESEFs provide test and evaluation services to U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command activities as well as allied foreign navies.
So were do you listen? Set your rig to USB and try our list below. You will hear occasional encrypted comms and the ships will use tactical voice call signs.
* indicates a frequency guarded continuously during normal working hours.

SESEF Norfolk -
4040.0 4515.0 7535.0* 9260.0 12315.0* kHz (USB) 274.800* MHz (AM)
The Norfolk SESEF facility is operational 5 days a week from 0700-1600, excluding weekends and holidays.

The Norfolk SESEF facility is located in Building 102 at Fort Story, Virginia Beach. The facility overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay and the approaches to the Virginia Capes operating area.  In addition to at-sea testing, directional antennas provide LOS support for pier side testing from all naval and shipyard facilities in the Tidewater area.  The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Newport, RI operates this facility.


Norfolk SESEF at Fort Story (US Navy Photo)

SESEF Mayport -
5745.0 kHz (USB) 274.800* MHz (AM)
The Mayport SESEF site is operational 5 days a week from 0700-1600, excluding weekends and holidays.

The Mayport SESEF is located in Building 1860 on  Naval Station Mayport, FL. The facility has LOS capability for pier side testing as well as easy access to ships in the Jacksonville operating area. This facility is operated by NUWC Division Newport, RI and managed by the Norfolk SESEF facility.

Mayport SESEF (US Navy Photo)
SESEF Ediz Hook (PACNW) -
3235.0* kHz (USB) 308.500* MHz (AM)
The Ediz Hook SESEF facility is operational 5 days a week from 0800-1600,
excluding weekends and holidays.

The Ediz Hook SESEF is located on the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Ediz Hook, near Port Angeles, Washington. The Puget Sound coastal waters are adjacent to the facilities. This site supports the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bangor Naval Submarine Base, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Everett Naval Station. NUWC Division Keyport, WA operates this facility.

Navy SESEF Ediz Hook (US Navy Photo)
SESEF Pearl Harbor -
16087.0* kHz (USB) 277.000* MHz (AM)
The Hawaii SESEF facility is operational Monday through Friday from 0700-1530, excluding weekends and holidays.

The Hawaii SESEF is located at the Barber's Point Light Station, Kapolei, HI.  It is within line-of-sight (LOS) of Pearl Harbor, Sand Island, Naval Air Station Barber's Point, and the Fleet Operational Readiness Accuracy Check Site (FORACS) III.  Surface ships, submarines, and aircraft can be serviced at dockside, hanger side and underway.  This facility serves the U.S. Naval Forces in the MIDPAC area.  SESEF testing is conducted in port, during transit to and from Pearl Harbor, and on designated test ranges.  NUWC Detachment, Waianae, HI operates this facility. SESEF Hawaii is located at latitude 21 degrees 17 minutes 48 seconds north and longitude 158 degrees 6 minutes 23 seconds west.

Navy SESEF Hawaii (US Navy Photo)
SESEF San Diego -
5742.0 kHz (USB) 236.200 264.200 MHz (AM)
The San Diego SESEF site is operational 5 days a week from 0700-1600, excluding weekends and holidays.

The San Diego SESEF is located at the SPAWAR Seaside Complex, Building 610, on the ocean side of Point Loma, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This location provides easy access to ships as they transit the entrance of San Diego's harbor. NUWC Detachment, San Diego, CA operates this facility. SESEF San Diego is located at latitude 32 degrees 41 minutes 35 seconds north and longitude 117 degrees 15 minutes 4 seconds west. The Nominal Range Center is located at latitude 32 degrees 41 minutes 12 seconds north and longitude 117 degrees 25 minutes 30 seconds west.

SESEF Facility San Diego (US Navy Photo)
SESEF Yokosuka -
5304.0 kHz (USB) 295.000 MHz (AM)
The Yokosuka SESEF site is operational from 0700-1600, excluding weekends and holidays. 

USS George Washington in Yokosuka (US Navy Photo)
For the radio monitor these are some neat frequencies to monitor and they will let you follow the comings and goings of the fleet.