US Army to modernize existing CONUS land mobile radio systems

Photo courtesy of Harris

Geoff Fein - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

Key Points

• The five-year effort will link all US Army bases
• The army wants to move from proprietary systems to open standards

Harris and Motorola Solutions will each upgrade and modernise the existing US Army land mobile radio system infrastructure, as well as replace systems with the latest technology.

Each company received an award of USD461.246 million to update the 63 army installations within the United States. The bases resemble cities, equipped with emergency services, similar to those found in municipal settings, Carlos Whaley, director for federal sales for Harris Public Safety and Professional Communications (PSPC), told Jane’s.

“These 63 army bases are like islands, they have communications systems that are not connected outside of the base; so for example at Fort Benning, Georgia, they can talk to Fort Benning, Georgia, and that is it,” Whaley said.

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."

 

Wright-Patterson AFB Trunk Radio System Upgrade

MMP readers in the Wright-Patterson AFB area, I have some interesting information for you. In May 2008, the 88th Communications Group at WPAFB issued a public PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)for a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) System Expansion and Five Channel Backup System. here are the details.

"WPAFB requires expanding its current 11 channel trunked LMR system to 16 channels to provide reliable communications for all base supported personnel. WPAFB also requires a five channel backup system, to be installed in a different location than the primary site, to support disaster recovering in the event the prime site is lost. WPAFB requires a “turnkey” effort to include the system upgrade design, furnishing of equipment, complete systems integration, testing, and training. These additional channels as well as the backup system also need to accommodate secure voice operation and support the Project 25 defined Common Air Interface and AES encryption algorithm.

"The current 11 channel system is located in Bldg 20620 and this is the location where the five channel expansion shall be installed. The five channel backup system shall be installed in the off-base Ground-to-Air-Transmitter/Receiver (GATR) site. The backup site shall be at a geographically separate location and will be accessed via radios and landlines.

"The system upgrade shall not affect the Radio Frequency (RF) coverage currently provided by Wright-Patterson’s LMR system. The system shall provide Radio Frequency (RF) coverage for base support radio users operating mobile and portable radio units throughout the installation. For mutual aid response purposes, coverage is required for at least a 10-mile radius outside each installation.

OK readers, I need your help to see if the freq info below has been implemented. Reports to our email address in the masthead are really wanted and appreciated.

Frequency Information

System Infrastructure Equipment located at Bldg. 620, Area B, WPAFB
This site will hold the System Central Controller and the current eleven (11) UHF Repeaters and the additional five (5) new UHF Repeaters, the Communications Dispatch Console Central Electronics including the LAN console position, and all system management terminals.

Channel Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz)
1 408.7625 417.7625
2 408.9625 417.9625
3 409.1625 418.1625
4 409.3625 418.3625
5 409.5625 418.5625
6 409.9625 418.9625
7 410.1625 419.1625
8 410.3625 419.3625
9 410.5625 419.5625
10 410.7625 419.7625
11 408.5625 417.5625
12 406.1625 415.1625
13 406.3625 415.3625
14 406.5625 415.5625
15 406.7625 415.7625
16 406.9625 415.9625

Backup Site (GATR Site)
This site will hold the five channel backup system and all required interface/system equipment

Channel Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz)
1 408.7625 417.7625
2 409.1625 418.1625
3 409.5625 418.5625
4 409.9625 418.9625
5 410.3625 419.3625

Water Tower Single Channel backup Site
This single channel site will remain as tertiary backup site in the advent both the primary and secondary site fail.

Channel Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz)
9 410.5625 419.5625

So what is really going on at Wright-Pat on the TRS right now? Your help is needed.

What is Happening at Fort Riley?

Do I have any readers within ground range of Fort Riley with a scanner? Based on information presented in the FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 05, 2007 FBO #2078, the folks at Riley should have made major changes to their LMR trunk radio system. See the pdf doc at: http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2007/08-August/05-Aug-2007/FBO-01361752.htm

They will at a minimum replace their EDACS ProVoice system in the 406-420 MHz band with an APCO P25 system or possibily replace it with a new 380-400 MHz TRS. I need some help here ladies and gents. If you are within earshot, please check the following freqs for activity:

406.1625/415.1625 406.7625.415.7625 407.5625/416.5625 407.7625/416.7625 409.5625/418.5625 410.3625/419.3625 410.7625/419.7625 MHz

Also check the 380-390 MHz segment (repeater outputs/390-400 MHz repeater inputs) of the UHF aero band for a possible TRS. You will know you have one if you hear the TRS control channel.

Here is a portion of the text from the FBO Daily release.

"We have a requirement for upgrade of the installation base radio system (BRS). Fort Riley is looking for sources with capability to upgrade its M/A-COM ProVoice ?, trunking radio system to an APCO 25 compliant Trunking radio system consisting of a p rimary site and 2 new sites. The Primary site currently consists of 7 transmitters and will be expanded to a total of 14 operating in the 406 -420 M bandwidth. The Grant Ridge site will be a new 3 transmitter site utilizing an existing tower and communicat ions hut. The Range 54 site will be a new 3 transmitter site utilizing an existing communications hut but requires the erection of a 100 transmitter tower.

"SECTION 2.0 - SYSTEM UPGRADES AND CONVERSIONS RF Sites Current RF Site (BUILDING 5002 Main Trunking tower) The seven-channel ProVoice? system located at Building 5002 will require t he following upgrades or replacements. Provide and install a complete 14-channel RF site at this location. This will support cutover of current users to the APCO 25 compliant system, while continuing to support the ProVoice? system currently installed. Granite Ridge and Range 54 RF Site Additions Granite Ridge and Range 54 will each receive a three-channel RF trunking site. Although both sites provide similar services, the configurations differ.

Granite Ridge RF Site: The Granite Ridge site is co-located with the tower beacon for the adjacent airfield. A single antenna will be mounted on the 60-foot tall beacon tower to support the TX and Rx needs of the site through a duplexer. This allows the site to provide the bes t coverage from a short tower. The Granite Ridge RF site will consist of the following items: One APCO 25 compliant RF site consisting of the following: Three Repeaters, with trunking controllers and switching power supplies Alarm and monitoring system. Trunking control system RF Diagnostics system One Layer 2/3 switch OTAR, OTAP and other data support One UPS sized as needed to support the equipment for 10 minutes One ten foot ice bridge between GFE shelter and tower One RF System consisting of the following: One three-channel combiner (TX RX Systems) One eight-channel multicoupler (TX RX Systems) One Bandpass Duplexer (TX RX Systems) One 8 dB gain antenna, with associated cabling and lightning protection (TX RX Systems and others) All site equipment, including the shelter, generator and grounding system will be provided GFE. Vendor will ve able to coordinate the installation of the UPS system in the shelter by the shelter vendor or by other contract. The UPS should be included in this quotation.

Range 54 RF Site: The Range 54 site is located on a green field (undeveloped) site in the northeast area of the Fort. The Range 54 RF site will should consist of the following items: One APCO 25 compliant RF site consisting of the following: Three Repeaters, with trunking controllers and switching power supplies. One Network Sentry alarm and monitoring system. Trunking control system RF Diagnostics system One layer 2/3 networking switch OTAR, OTAP and other data support One RF System consisting of the following: One three-channel combiner (TX RX Systems) One eight-channel multicoupler (TX RX Systems) Two 8 dB gain antenna (TX RX Systems) One 100-foot Tower guyed tower, designed to carry the load of the new antenna system. One UPS sized as needed to support installed equipment for 10 minutes One ten foot ice bridge between the GFE shelter and Vendor-provided tower All site equipment, including the shelter, generator and grounding system for the shelter will be provided GFE. Tower site prep, grounding and lightning protection will be included in the tower work. Contractor may consider an option to include an FAA ap proved Lighting system for a guyed tower.

System Routing, Control and Management: The Fort Riley system control center will continue to house the primary control subsystem of the new APCO 25 compliant system, as it does for the current ProVoice? system. The new control center will be housed in the newly installed shelter that also hous es the main site. Command and control of the radio system must be possible via a remote management system on a client PC that will reside on the Ft. Riley Network. Also the capability to provide call routing to and from each of the RF sites, and five dispatch consoles should be included.

"SECTION 3.0 - IMPLEMENTATION Frequency Licensing Current Fort Riley frequencies will be reused and additional in-band frequencies added, unless Fort Riley decides to utilize the dedicated DoD band from 380-399.9 MHz. The decision to utilize this band will not affect the current 7100 series radios, which operate from 380 MHz through 430 MHz. Use of the dedicated 380-399.9 MHz DoD band may offer Fort Riley more options for expansion and frequency selection in the future. If authorized, sites in both bands can be used. Licenses and Permits Fort Riley will be responsible for all permitting and licensing. Site Development Fort Riley will be responsible for providing all site infrastructure including, but not limited to, towers, new shelters, site grounding and generators to support the new equipment. Vendor will have the capability to furnish and install the equipmen, incl uding UPSs and ice bridges at all three transmit sites and a new 100 guyed tower at Range 54. All vendor-provide d equipment will be grounded to the GFE grounding systems. Coverage Description RF coverage provided by the new radio site will be similar to that provided by the existing system. The proposed two new sites will provide additional coverage not currently supported, expanding the coverage footprint. Coverage maps will be provided upon request. Interoperability Interoperability must be provided by an interoperability gateway device using the current 4-wire connection devices. Functionality must be comparable to that currently offered, but may differ in operation."

Military TRS Freqs to Monitor During Prez Ford Funeral Events

The following military trunk systems should be monitored for support of the President Ford funeral events in the Washington, DC area. Reports, updates, additions and corrections would be most appreciated. Send your stuff to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

380-400 MHz Trunk Radio Systems

MCB/MCAS Quantico, VA
Site 1 385.6750/395.6750c
Site 2 385.6250/395.6250c 386.4375/396.4375 386.9125/396.9125 387.9500/397.9500
Site 3 380.4875/390.4875c 381.2000/391.2000 381.3375/391.3375 381.6875/391.6875 381.83750/391.8375

Washington, D.C. – Joint National Capitol Region System
Site 1 386.1875/396.1875 386.9875/396.9875 387.0625/397.0625 388.1125/398.1125 388.1375/398.1375 388.1625/398.1625 388.1875/398.1875 388.2125/398.2125 388.2625/398.2625 388.3125/398.3125 388.3375/398.3375

Ft. Detrick, Maryland
Site 1 385.7000/395.7000c 385.8000/395.8000c 385.9500/395.9500 387.2375/397.2375 387.5375/397.5375 387.6375/397.6375

Ft. A. P. Hill, Virginia System 00a
System ID: 00a P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 385.7875/395.7875c 387.2250/397.2250c 387.5250/397.5250 387.8250/397.8250 389.1250/399.1250 389.3000/399.3000

Washington, D.C. System 00c
System ID: 00c P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 385.7125/395.7125c

Tyson's Corner, Virginia System 00d
System ID: 000d P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.1250/390.1250c 380.4250/390.4250c 380.4875/390.4875

Ft. Belvoir, Virginia System 1
System ID: 001 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 381.6750/391.6750c 381.8250/391.8250c 381.9750/391.9750 385.0125/395.0125 385.2125/395.2125 385.8875/395.8875 386.3375/396.3375

Ft. Meyer, Virginia System 2
System ID: 002 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.0625/390.0625 380.3250/390.3250 380.3750/390.3750 380.6250/390.625 380.6750/390.6750 380.8250/390.8250 380.9750/390.9750 381.0875/391.0875 381.2375/391.2375c 381.2875/391.2875 381.6250/391.6250 381.7750/391.7750 381.9250/391.9250Site 2 380.5250/390.5250c

Fort Meade, Maryland System 7
System ID: 007 P25 WACN: 580a0
Site 1 380.3875/390.3875c 380.5500/390.5500c 380.8375/390.8375c 380.9875/390.9875c 381.3250/391.3250 381.7875/391.7875Site 2 380.5750/390.5750 386.5625/396.5625

Washington, D.C. System 8
System ID: 008 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.0750/390.0750c 380.4250/390.4250c 380.7250/390.7250

Washington, D.C. System 9
System ID: 009 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.2750/390.2750c 380.5750/390.5750c 380.8750/390.5750

Washington, D.C. – Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC)
System ID: 032 P25 WACN: BEE0A
Site 1 385.7125/395.7125c 385.9125/395.9125c 386.2125/396.2125c 386.5625/395.5625c

Andrews AFB, Maryland
System ID: 017a P25 WACN: BEE00
Site 1 385.2125/395.2125c 385.3125/395.3125c 385.9000/395.9000 385.9125/395.9125 386.0375/396.0375 386.2000/396.2000 386.3375/396.3375 386.5000/396.5000 386.6375/396.6375 386.8000/396.8000

US Department of Defense System
Fort Meade, Maryland and other areas
System ID: 001 P25 WACN: 1b5c8
Site 202 380.1750/390.1750 380.4125/390.4125 380.6875/390.6875 380.7375/390.7375 381.1125/391.1125 381.1625/391.1625c 381.4250/391.4250 381.5625/391.5625 381.7500/391.7500c 381.8750/391.8750c

Site 303 385.0625/395.0625 385.9250/395.9250 386.9625/396.9625c 388.2625/398.2625 388.8875/398.8875 389.1625/399.1625 389.2375/399.2375 389.4875/399.4875 389.8375/399.8375

Site 404 380.4375/390.4375 380.8625/390.8625Site 505 380.4625/390.4625 380.9125/390.9125

Site 707 380.6625/390.6625 385.7125/395.7125c

Site 808 380.7125/390.7125

Site 909 385.7750/395.7750 386.3125/396.3125c 387.3375/397.3375c 387.6750/397.6750c

Site 1010 380.8875/390.8875

Site-1616 380.8875/390.8875c

VHF Trunk Systems

Washington Naval District, D.C.
System: EDACS Regular
Site 1 Washington Naval Shipyard: 138.775 (LCN1) 140.125 (LCN2) 140.625 (LCN3) 138.650 (LCN4) 140.275 (LCN5) 140.225 (LCN6) 140.550 (LCN7) 139.525 (LCN8) 139.475 (LCN9) 140.300 (LCN10) 150.150 (LCN11) According to reports only the first four channels are being used. Not sure the status of LCN 5-11.
Site 2: Bethesda Naval Hospital: No frequencies available, need reports from the area.
Site 3 Annapolis Naval Academy: 138.125 (LCN1) 142.100 (LCN2) 142.600 (LCN3) 143.700 (LCN4)
System wide frequencies: 138.575 (Security talk around) 138.550 (Fire talk around) 143.550 (Non-public safety talk around). Unconfirmed reports indicate that 138.775 could have replaced 138.175 in this system.

Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
System: Motorola Type II SmartNet (Analog)
141.2000c 142.4750c 142.9250c 143.3250c 143.4000

UHF Trunk Systems

Andrews AFB, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartzone 3600 baud (Mixed Mode)
406.3500c 406.9500c 407.1500c 407.4250c 408.0250 408.2000 408.7500 408.9500 409.3500 409.7250

Fort Detrick, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartnet
406.3500 407.0750 408.5500 409.1500 409.7500

Fort Meade, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartnet
406.3250 407.4000 407.5750 409.4500

Fairfax County, Virginia – Department of Defense FED-SMR
System: Motorola Type II SmartNet
406.2000 406.3000 406.5250 406.7750 407.0250 407.9500 408.8500 409.2500 410.2750 411.2000

Fort Belvoir Area, Virginia – Unknown Federal System
System: Motorola
System 1 406.1125 406.3625 406.5250 406.7750 406.9250 407.0875 407.2375 407.4125 407.5625 407.7125 407.8875 408.0875 408.2625 408.4250 408.5750 408.7375 408.9125 409.1125 409.2750 409.4750 409.6375 409.9125 410.7625

System 2 409.9125 410.5625 410.7625

Will have additional information on area government systems and frequencies on my Btown Monitoring Post Blog.