Charleston Military Trunk Radio Systems and Aircraft Frequency Profile

 

 

While in Charleston, South Carolina, over the Thanksgiving holiday, I had a chance to monitor the military trunk radio systems (TRS) in the area. Due to the holiday, activity was fairly light so I did not make a lot of progress tying up TRS talk group identifications (TGID).

One of the systems is located on the Charleston Naval Weapons Station (NWS) and is a 380 MHz trunk radio system. 

 

Naval Weapons Station Charleston -- System ID: 14c, Site: 206, WACN: BEE00.

 

380.0750c  380.2750  380.4250  380.5750  380.7250  380.8375 380.9375  381.0125  381.0875  381.1750  381.2375  381.3125  MHz

Talk Group IDs on this system used numbers from the 286xx series. TGIDs 28647 and 28653 were noted on both the NWS site and Charleston AFB site. These have been previously IDed as Fire and Law Enforcement dispatch TGIDs respectively. They cover both bases. Some encryption was noted on the law enforcement TGID.

The new critical information uncovered this trip involved the trunk radio system on the Charleston AFB. This system leveraged the existing ELMR system on the Weapons Station when it was placed on the air in 2012.

Unlike the NWS system, the CAFB TRS operates in the US Federal government 400 MHz UHF band. The Site ID fully indicates that it is part of the Navy ELMR system (see article below for confirmation of this fact).

 

Charleston AFB -- System ID: 14c, Site: 270, WACN: BEE00

 

406.1625  406.3625  406.5625  406.7625  406.9625  407.1625  407.3625c  407.5625 407.7625  407.9625  408.3625  409.1625

 

This system used TGIDs from both 286xx and 287xx talk groups. As mentioned above 28648/28653 appeared to be simulcast on both sites.

 

Hopefully in future trips I will be able to nail down some additional information on the TGIDs used on these two systems.

 

In other news from Chuck-town, per the ATIS at KCHS the 135.800 MHz approach/departure freq is no longer used and has been replaced with 119.300 MHz.

 

I confirmed this freq change via NOTAM 06/002

 

06/002 - COM REMOTE TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER 135.8 CHANGED TO 119.3. 01 JUN 15:58 2015 UNTIL
PERM. CREATED: 01 JUN 15:58 2015

Some other freqs noted during our stay included:

 

119.300 Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 284.000)
120.700 FAA Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 306.925 317.450)
121.900 KCHS Ground Control
122.100 FAA FSS Anderson Radio (KCHS)
122.200 FAA FSS Anderson Radio (KCHS)
122.500 FAA FSS Anderson Radio (KCHS)
122.950 KCHS Unicom
124.750 KCHS ATIS
126.000 KCHS Tower
127.325 KCHS Clearance Delivery
134.100 KCHS Command Post Palmetto Ops
135.800 Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 257.100)

 

237.900 USCG - CG Sector Charleston
239.000 FAA KCHS Tower (Local Control)
243.000 USCG - CG Sector Charleston
255.400 FAA FSS Anderson Radio (KCHS) (Nationwide)
284.000 FAA Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 119.300)
291.650 FAA KCHS Clearance Delivery
306.925 FAA Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 120.700)
317.450 FAA Charleston Approach/Departure (p/w 120.700)
326.150 USCG - CG Sector Charleston
345.000 USCG - CG Sector Charleston
348.600 FAA KCHS Ground Control
349.400 USAF 437AW Command Post Palmetto Ops
372.200 USAF KCHS Pilot to Dispatcher (PTD)
379.050 USCG - CG Sector Charleston

Finally here is the DoD article published in 2012 regarding the trunk radio system on the Charleston AFB.

 

JB Charleston uses ELMR to bridge geographical gap

by Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle, Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

Story at a Glance

• By utilizing the existing Weapons Station ELMR solution to expand on the Air Base, the 628th CS was able to generate an investment savings of $3.5 million. ELMR equipment has been in operational use since Feb. 25, 2012, at the Air Base. • The ELMR System is a non-tactical Navy Installation Command sponsored conformant trunked land mobile radio system. This system is being implemented Navy-wide and will eventually interconnect all Navy sites onto one comprehensive communications network.

7/17/2012 - JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 628th Communications Squadron recently saved $3.5 million by leveraging the Navy's Enterprise Land Mobile Radio solution at Joint Base Charleston.

By utilizing the existing Weapons Station ELMR solution to expand on the Air Base, the 628th CS was able to generate an investment savings of $3.5 million. ELMR equipment has been in operational use since Feb. 25, 2012, at the Air Base.

Land Mobile Radios are hand-held voice devices, much like a walkie talkie, used to speak on any Ultra High Frequency range over a network of equipment designed to enhance signal strength and quality.

The ELMR System is a non-tactical Navy Installation Command sponsored conformant trunked land mobile radio system. This system is being implemented Navy-wide and will eventually interconnect all Navy sites onto one comprehensive communications network.

"The Navy was utilizing an ELMR network that essentially put the NWS on a grid of other ELMR systems which enabled the master control site to view and route voice traffic to any user on the network," said Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Swab, 628th CS Transmissions Systems non-commissioned officer in charge. "It enables a user on the Weapons Station to speak with users at other sites such as Norfolk, Va., Jacksonville, Fla. or any other user on the network."

The system change required coordination between the 628th CS and the ELMR master site in Norfolk. The old LMR equipment, used by the Air Base, had to be replaced with equipment that was compatible with the Navy's ELMR system. Once the equipment was installed, the site was added to the network. The Air Base can now connect to the Weapons Station, as well as an entire network of ELMR users worldwide.

"One of the key benefits of the ELMR system is that it offers another means of local communication to be monitored at a long range in case of a disaster scenario," said Swab. "First responders can be aided from afar because a controller can listen to real time on-site responders without having to be in the disaster zone."

ELMRs are primarily used for quick, coordinated responses between first responders and provide centralized communication capabilities via handheld units, mobile and base stations. The ability to relay information between installations in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation is critical.

"First responders can coordinate operations across one channel for two sites," said Swab. "In the past, the two towers, one located on the Weapons Station and the other on the Air Base, were not able to talk to each other. The ELMR puts both sites on one network. This allows dispatchers to reach first responders at two situations if needed. In the future we are looking at a goal of joining civilian first responders to our extensive ELMR network."

"This was huge in affording first responders and the installation commander the ability to rapidly bridge the geographical gap between the Air Base and Weapons Station to maintain situation awareness and relay critical, crisis information," said Lt. Col. David Joerres, former 628th CS commander. "It's an exciting time to be a cyberspace operator."

 

Fleet Complete: Joint Base Charleston welcomes last C-17

The final U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, P-223, gets hosed down Sept. 12, 2013, during the beginning of the delivery ceremony at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, S.C. This historical event comes more than 20 years after the 437th Airlift Wing and the 315th Airlift Wing took delivery of the very first C-17 to enter the Air Force inventory June 14,1993 and marks the successful completion of C-17 production for the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Rasheen Douglas)

by 2nd Lt. Alexandra Trobe,  Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C.  -- A long-awaited milestone was reached at Joint Base Charleston Thursday, as the last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, arrived home where C-17 operations first began.

The arrival of the last U.S. Air Force C-17, P-223, represented a landmark day and offered a moment for reflection on more than 20 years of successful global airlift, whenever and wherever duty calls.

The first C-17, The Spirit of Charleston, landed at Charleston Air Force Base June 14, 1993 and was piloted by Gen. Merrill McPeak, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the time.

P-223 was piloted by Gen. Paul Selva, Air Mobility Command commander, Lt. Gen. James Jackson, Air Force Reserve Command commander, and Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, Air National Guard director.

Col. Jeff DeVore, Joint Base Charleston commander, began the ceremony by marking this day in history as one that "highlights the heritage of the men, women and industry partners who contributed to the significant milestones over the last 20 years."

Whose legacy has enabled Joint Base Charleston to become a "worldwide leader continuing to move people, vehicles, munitions and supplies in support of global reach aircraft capability worldwide."

The delivery ceremony celebrated not only the closing of this chapter of Air Force history but also the hard work and innovation of the original cadre and all of the Airmen since then who helped make this day possible.

"There's nothing we won't do with this airplane. It is a tribute to the men and women who built it, a tribute to the men and women who had the vision to field it. Men like Tom Mikolajcik, Bud Engersoll, Steve Roser and a whole variety of others... who said 'not only are we going to build it, but we are going to use it for everything it was designed to do," said Selva.

Since its inception, the C-17 Globemaster III is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in remote locations. The C-17 can perform airlift and airdrop missions and can also transport patients during aeromedical evacuations.

During the ceremony, Clarke highlighted the versatility of the C-17, "Out of necessity, we plan for a lot of things we never do, we have to. Conversely, we do a lot of things we never plan for. This aircraft gives us that opportunity. It gives our national leadership the opportunity to do many things whether it's humanitarian aid or global strike capability."

Col. Darren Hartford, 437th Airlift Wing commander, reinforced the adaptability of the C-17 aircraft and ingenuity of Airmen in pursuit of the mission.

"The Airmen of the 437th continue to find new ways to maximize the capabilities of this aircraft and to make sure we are always ready to answer the nation's call," said Hartford.

Threats to U.S. interests will continue to change in the future. Consequently, the demand for newer and more flexible aircraft is needed to meet a wide variety of mission requirements around the globe.

Col. James Fontanella, 315th Airlift Wing commander, added that, "Over the past 20 years, the Charleston tail flash and the American flag that's just above it represents a symbol of American might, American reach, and American innovation. However, the people behind that symbol are what we really need to celebrate, the men and women of the 315th, the 437th and the 628th Air Base Wing."

The ceremony ended with Hartford and Fontanella receiving the keys to the C-17.

"She's all yours, take good care of her," said Gen. Selva to the receiving party.

Jackson reminded all the members of the audience that "Wherever our citizen Airmen in the C-17 are, they are an impressive team, and while this may be the last aircraft delivery to Charleston, this proud bird has many more flights to go."

Before the ceremony concluded members of the audience were reminded of the true source of airpower.

"The crews that fly this airplane, the maintainers who maintain the aerial porters that feed cargo into it," said Selva. "They give it life, they give it a conscious, they are its heart and soul."