Milcom Blog Logs - December 21 - Btown HF

Spend the afternoon and overnight scanning selected US Army NG HF freqs. Found the following NG units active:

4924.5 D030CN G090UN M050IN AZC91NG
5821.5 S2L
5847.0 C010TN C080ON C090AN D030CN M050IN V020IN COC08NG
6910.0 R01
8047.0 C010TN D030CN M050IN V020IN ARC61NG AZC91NG
9295.0 BUFNY MVLNY TRYNY
10816.5 M050IN V020IN
12087.0 M050IN V020IN
13568.0 M050IN V020IN
14653.0 V020IN
16338.5 M050IN V020IN
17458.0 M050IN
19233.5 M050IN

U.S. Coast Guard adopts Thales HF-ALE radios for surface ships

U.S. Coast Guard leaders needed medium-powered, high-frequency automated link establishment (HF-ALE) radios for Coast Guard cutter surface ships to be acquired over the next five to seven years. They found their solution at Thales Communications Inc. in Clarksburg, Md.

Thales systems are going aboard the Coast Guard’s fleet of 75 cutters of varying classes, including high- and medium-endurance cutters and the polar icebreaker fleet. Specifically, the Thales HF-ALE radio system will go on the Sentinel Class fast-response cutters and offshore patrol cutters, as well as other cutter and shore communications acquisition programs that need HF-ALE radios as powerful as 1 kilowatt.

The radios are certified by the Joint Interoperability Test Command, which is the Defense Information Systems Agency’s testing and evaluation organization, and are interoperable with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration standards on HF-ALE. Thales is shifting the production of core components of its shipborne HF communications systems from Thales UK to Thales Communications’ Maryland manufacturing facilities. For more, visit Thales at www.thalescomminc.com.

Milcom Blog Logs - 29-30 Dec 2010 Brasstown NC

LaMoure, ND -- Ed Krell operates FEMA's Incident Response Vehicle (IRV) set up at the base of Lake LaMoure sillway to provide live streaming video to local and state emergency operations center for planning and documentation purposes. Photo: Michael Rieger/FEMA.

Ran PC-ALE on the various known FEMA net frequencies. Found a new 15 MHz FNARS net ALE freq, and a new FEMA sponsored HF ALE net that I have discovered, usage yet to be determined (see the HIJ listings). My good friend and colleague Hugh Stegman on twitter (Twitter feed at UtilityWorld)posted up a couple of additional freqs yesterday. My best guess is that HIJ may be WGY 912 at Mt Weather in Virginia.

This new FEMA sponsored net uses the following frequencies:
4610.0 4979.0 5837.0 7870.0 10424.0 11448.0 12109.0 13437.0 16011.0 18475.0 20361.0 23390.0 kHz. More monitoring research is needed to determine the usage of this net.

Here are the ALE addresses and frequencies spotted up until 0530 EST (1030 UTC) this morning. Conditions yesterday were the pits thanks to the prop gods.

12/29-30/2010 Intercepts

3341.0 FC4FEM FC6FEM FC8 FC8FEM FR2FEM FR4FEM FR5FEM
4603.0 FC4FEM FC6FEM FC8FEM FC0FEM FR3FEM FR5FEM FR7FEM
4610.0 HIJ
4780.0 FC6FEM002 FC8 FC0FEM002
4979.0 HIJ
5135.0 MA1NC NA1SH SEMO01 SEMO05 SEMOHQ
5192.0 MA1NC NA1SH
5402.0 FC6FEM FC8 FC0FEM008 FR7FEM
5820.0 FC8
5821.0 FC8 FC0FEM008
5837.0 FC8 HIJ
6809.0 FC8
7348.0 FC4FEM FC6FEM FC8 FR2FEM FR3FEM FR4FEM FR5FEM
7360.0 SAOPS (US Military?)
7428.0 FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002
7477.0 SEMOHQ SEMO03 SEMO05
7805.0 MA1NC NA1SH 2104CTSCSP
7870.0 HIJ
7935.0 CM4 MNA (Algerian Military)
8050.0 CLS (Fort Campbell KY) FC8
8160.0 CLS (Fort Campbell KY) FC8
9462.0 FC4FEM FC6FEM FC8 FC8FEM FC0FEM008 FR3FEM
10194.0 FC4FEM FC8 FR2FEM FR3FEM FR5FEM
10588.0 FC4FEM FC8 FC8FEM FC0FEM FR2FEM FR3FEM FR5FEM FR7FEM
10899.0 FC4 FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002 FC0FEM002
11108.0 FC0FEM008
12129.0 FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002 FC0FEM002 C4M F2H (Unknown DoD Tri-Graphs)
12164.0 C4M (Unknown DoD Tri-Graph)
13446.0 FC6FEM FC8 FR7FEM
13894.0 FC1FEM002
14450.0 FC6FEM FR7FEM
14776.0 FC6FEM FC8 FC8FEM
14885.0 FC6FEM
15708.0 FC6FEM
15840.0 FC6FEM002 FC8

New National CAP Command Net Freq Found

Jon in Florida discovered last weekend a new CAP National Command ALE Net frequency:- 29.894 MHz. The frequency was also confirmed by Monitoring Times magazine Utility World columnist Hugh Stegman out in California.

The nationwide set of CAP ALE freqs for the "National CAP Command Net" are as follows:

2011.0 3204.0 4477.0 4585.0 5006.0 5447.0 6773.0 6806.0 7602.0 7665.0 8012.0 9047.0 10162.0 11402.0 12081.0 13415.0 14357.0 15602.0 17412.0 19814.0 29894.0 kHz (all USB/ALE)

Here is some background information I have on the current state of the CAP HF network(s). Any additional information on frequencies is sincerely appreciate and you can contact me offlist via the email address published in the header of my blogs" http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/ or http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/.

The National Command Net operates in the Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) mode. It is composed of stations specifically approved by the NTC using equipment provided for this purpose. Most of these stations are “message center” stations which relay message traffic between the national and region levels of the CAP net structure.

The National Command level of the HF-ALE system, the "top level" of the CAP radio system, uses Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) radios to which a "suite" of frequencies is assigned, each with different radio propagation characteristics, and the radios automatically monitor which frequency is best to communicate with each other station in the net. Each region operates two ALE radios, serving as "message center" stations (see below), plus additional radios for Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. The ALE stations at the National Technology Center (NTC) and the National Operations Center (NOC) serve as the net control stations for the National Command level of the HF-ALE system. There are no scheduled formal National Command net meetings. Rather, ALE station operators are expected to attend their radios regularly and be ready for messages, as they may be received.

The mission of the National Command level of the HF-ALE system is to provide a survivable, commercial infrastructure-independent command and control communication (C3) link among regions and between regions and higher headquarters.

The specific functions of National Command level stations are:

• Provide a strategic communications tier of the communications network available for adaptive communications during high-level missions.

• Provide decentralized contact points to relay traffic between incident command posts and the NOC or other national CAP office.

• Conduct and report regular confidence checks, in accordance with the current CAP Communications Alert Level, and no less than once per week.

• Be available, as needed, for training.

Pending activation of region ALE frequency suites (see below) the following guidance applies to all stations operating on the National Command frequency suite (ALE Net #1):

1. Other than the two region stations and nationally designated stations, any CAP station may monitor the ALE suite, but should not sound in routine operations.

2. Pending release of region ALE channels, wings may use the national ALE suite (ALE NET #1) for actual missions and specific training events with the understanding that this use and active sounding will be for relatively limited periods of time. For ALE use during a training exercise, place a request several days in advance, but for actual missions, coordinate with the NOC.

3. Only NTIA compliant equipment with Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) certification may transmit on National and Region ALE suites of frequencies.

4. The NTC and National Headquarters determines and standardizes all ALE parameter settings, such as sounding interval.

To Jon and Hugh, nice job. Now if we can find the missing freqs I belive are there around 18 MHz and from 20 to 28 MHz.

Milcom Blog Logs - 22 Jan 2010 - BTown

Spent the day watching the HF-GCS Scope Command ALE Net (primarily watched 11226). Observed the following AMC aircraft sounding and calling various stations in the net.

100465 C-5A 164AW/155AS Memphis IAP, TN #70-0465 cld by Ascension (HAW) at 2011 UTC

290059 C-17A 62AW McChord AFB, WA #99-0059 1607-1954 UTC sounding on the net

538007 KC-135R 117ARW/106ARS Birmingham IAP, AL #63-8007 1848-1931 UTC sounding and calling various ground stations in the net including ADW Andrews, CRO Croughton, GUA Guam, and HIK Hickam.

Observed the following stations on this net throughout the daylight hours here EST:

ADW Andrews AFB, MD
AC2 Unid USAF aircraft possibly from the 89AW stable.
AE1 Complete unknown
CRO Croughton AB, UK
F12 USCG HU-25C Falcon Asset CGAS Cape Cod, MA #2112
GUA Andersen AB, Guam
HAW Ascension Island
HIK Hickam AFB, HI
ICZ Sigonella NS (Sicily), Italy
IKF Keflavik Iceland (see my blog for more on this at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-is-story-on-iceland.html)
JDG Diego Garcia
JNR Salinas PR
MCC McClellan, CA
MOBD17 USAF Air Bridge Station at Homestead ARB, FL Voice call: Kingfish
Kilo? (Tentative)
OFF Offutt AFB, NE
PLA Lajes AB, AZR

HF-GCS ALE Address Mystery Continues

Our colleague Mark Cleary down in Charleston caught an interesting intercept last evening on 6721.0 kHz. He caught our unknown 'AE1' calling 'MSF.' Now we have two unknowns in recent days on the HF-GCS Scope Command ALE network.

You can get more information on this HF ALE network at
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/08/hf-gcs-scope-command-hf-ale-network.html

You can see more of mark's handy work on his blog at
http://lowcountry-listening-post.blogspot.com/

His latest Haiti Earthquake related comm logs from 19-20 Jan 2010 can be viewed at
http://lowcountry-listening-post.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-earthquake-relief-logs-19-20.html

New ALE Addresses on HF-GCS Scope Command Net?

I have seen a couple of reports of some new ALE addresses on the HF-GCS Scope Command Network.

JNRALE Salinas PR
ADWALE Andrews AFB
OFFALE Offutt AFB
and AE1ALE Unknown

Not sure what is up with these ALE extensions so does anyone know that would like to share?

See our profile at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/08/hf-gcs-scope-command-hf-ale-network.html for freqs, more addresses, and more information.

Footnote: As of 1602 UTC this morning I have not seen any of the addresses noted above on 9025 or 11226 kHz.

I have seen AE1, ADW, JDG, JNR, MCC, OFF, and PLA sounding this morning. I have not seen the xxxALE addresses mentioned above. Oh, BTW anybody want to take a stab at the AE1 address?

Haiti Earthquake Amateur Radio Frequencies

I am posting any Haiti ham and civilian frequencies associated with earthquake relief operations on our sister blog - my BTown Monitoring Post. Below are a couple of links to the stories I have so far.

ALE High Frequency Network Alert: Haiti Earthquake EMCOMM
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/01/ale-high-frequency-network-alert-haiti.html

Earthquake Net Frequencies - 7045,3720 kHz - Please keep clear
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/01/earthquake-net-frequencies-70453720-khz.html

7045 kHz Haiti Ham Net feed on Teamspeak 2 Server
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/01/7045-khz-haiti-ham-net-feed-on.html

WJCC-1700 Miami Florida OTA for Haiti Disaster?
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/01/wjcc-1700-miami-florida-ota-for-haiti.html

Larry, N5FPW

Rural communications site has global mission

I have a complete frequency profile on the HFGCS on this blog, click here. You can learn more about the HFGCS ALE network exclusively here on MMP by checking out our JCS HFGCS Scope Command HF ALE Network frequency profile.


One of eight directional rotatable log periodic antennas stands tall behind a cornfield, Nov. 5, 2009, near Elkhorn, Neb. The directional rotatable log periodic antennas can rotate 360 degrees. A crew of telecommunications specialists maintained by the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., monitor the antennas, which support a wide variety of missions from executive levels of government to NASA. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

by Ryan Hansen, 55th Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) -- Although it's location in the middle of a cornfield on a quiet country road may seem cutoff from society, in reality the Elkhorn Communication Site reaches beyond almost every border -- worldwide.

Situated 35 miles northwest of Offutt Air Force Base, this 50-year-old rural communications site is one of the 13 stations around the world that comprise the High Frequency Global Communication System. Together, the sites provide the Air Force and the Department of Defense with rapid, reliable, two-way communications every day of the year.

"A lot of people don't even know we're out here," said Brady Bach, a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron. "Even members of the communications squadron on base have no idea where we're located a lot of the time."


Brady Bach monitors the antennas at the Elkhorn and Scribner Communication sites Nov. 5, 2009, from a detached facility located near Elkhorn, Neb. Mr. Bach is a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

But while their location may be at times a mystery, their mission certainly is not. The HFGCS serves as one of the main communications systems for many U.S. government agencies. This includes the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Central, Pacific and Strategic Commands, and U.S. State Department as well as the president.

"When the president is in the air, he has 24/7 communication thanks to our system," said Dave Clingerman, site chief and telecommunications specialist with the 55th SCS. "HF is one of the most reliable communications going."

In addition to its usual global customers, the HFGCS recently went out of this world to provide communication support to NASA as it worked to get astronauts safely back to earth following a trip to the international space station.

"I am amazed as to the number of agencies that use our system on a daily basis and more are added yearly," said Duane Swigert, a telecommunications specialist with the 55th SCS. "If only we had the time to just sit there and listen to those conversations -- that would be exciting."

Each HFGCS site around the globe has control of 6,000 square miles of coverage. But when a station is having technical difficulties or is down for maintenance, the other sites have the ability to step in and assist until it's fully operational again. And with the Elkhorn Communications Site being located in the central part of the United States, it is called upon frequently because of its flexibility.

"Sitting right here, we can support either coast," Mr. Clingerman said. "It's truly seamless to our customers."

Spread out over 386 acres just outside of Elkhorn, with an additional 156 acres in Scribner, Neb., the communications site features 32 antennas. This includes 15 high frequency, eight directional rotatable log periodic and nine omni directional antennas.

"They want as little interference as possible, which is why we're out here (in the country)," Mr. Clingerman said. "The receiver site is in Scribner because we don't want transmitters right next to them. The system puts out 4,000 watts, so you don't want that transmitting right on the front end of a receiver."

While the site is now maintained by a small staff of four, it was at one time a bustling hub of activity with more than 100 Airmen performing the mission.

"Technology was a big part (of the downsizing) as was budget cuts," Mr. Swigert said.

"The old equipment required a lot more people to maintain it, so what used to take a lot of bodies to perform the mission now only takes four," said Mr. Clingerman.

However, with the small staff, the mission doesn't suffer. With their diverse communications backgrounds these four can easily handle the system and its four technologies: radio, telephone, networking and tech control.

"We've got a bunch of experience and we're a very cohesive team here," Mr. Bach said. "We all have our strengths and we're all fully qualified to perform the mission."

"Diversity (in experience and knowledge) here is the key reason we are able to keep this system running at a nearly 100 percent operational status year round," Mr. Swigert said. "We each bring something important to the table that makes things work smoothly, like a well oiled machine, as they say."

While the system plays an important role in communications for organizations and personnel around the world, it has yet to reach its maximum capability. In the future, the Elkhorn Communications Site may see digital HF, airborne networking as well as possibly integrating with the Joint Tactical Radio System.

"When other satellites go out, HF is always around," Mr. Clingerman said. "More users are coming on board with our system, people are starting to realize what it can do and it's a technology that isn't going to go away."

So while this unit may be out of mind and out of sight for the most part, there's no doubt about its contribution to the mission.

"I have had folks tell me that this place is the Air Force's best kept secret," Mr. Swigert said, "and I would have to agree."

Dave Clingerman explains how he monitors antennas for the Elkhorn and Scribner Communication Sites Nov. 5, 2009, from a detached facility located near Elkhorn, Neb. Mr. Clingerman is a telecommunications specialist with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

New Unidentified HF ALE Net Information Available

If you like chasing a true radio mystery then I have just the thing for you. Over on my Btown Monitoring Post Blog are some interesting post from my good friend Sam in Europe regarding several HF ALE networks, including an Arab Voice/ALE network. How about taking a look and if you have some insight, I would really appreciate some email. I am sure a few of you intel types who read these pages might enjoy a good challenge.

Specific links are included below for the various articles I have posted.

http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/12/unidentified-arab-hf-voiceale-numbers.html

http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/12/unidentified-hf-ale-numbers-net-1k5.html

http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-unidentified-hf-ale-net.html

http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/12/unidentified-hf-ale-numbers-nets-15xx.html

http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/12/unidentified-hf-ale-nets.html


73 de Chief