[MilCom] Barnes ANGB "On Scene" Report 10/15/05

[Ken]

Arrived KBAF 1023 hrs, departed 1139 hrs local.
Very poor weather conditions with heavy/moderate rain & low ceiling. Flood 
warnings for the area.

As far as security/air base defense exercise, didn't hear any exercise 
traffic for the period I was there.

The following frequencies were active:

Aero Related (all AM mode):
118.9 Tower
121.7 Ground Control
127.1 ATIS
138.05 104 FW Command Post "Viper Ops"
138.25 A10's tactical
139.9 A10's tactical
141.675 A10's  tactical
251.1 Tower
325.8 Approach/Departure Control
303.0 104 FW Command Post "Viper Ops"
348.3 Approach/Departure Control

Intra Base Radio Support Nets (NFM mode) (searching as well as programmed in 
scanner):
148.10  Acft Maintenance/Common Net
148.20 Fire/Crash
148.45  Security
149.20 ? (couldn't ID net based upon traffic monitored)
149.325 Civil Engineering
150.175 Acft Maintenace related
150.2875 Unknown not enough transmissions
150.325 Security

Additional band searching (NFM mode or as indicated) revealed the following:
138 to 143 mhz -- No Barnes ANGB radio traffic
162 to 174 mhz -- No Barnes ANGB radio traffic
395 to 400 mhz:
396.225 Data (might have been harmonic from close by 400 mhz freq)
399.825 Data (might have been harmonic from close by 400 mhz freq)
No NFM/FM/P25 traffic detected from base.
406 to 420 mhz:
408.825  Data
409.175 Data
412.9375 Data
416.5875 Data
416.875 Data
No NFM/FM/P25 traffic detected from base.

Equipment utilized "On Scene" included BC 780XLT (with portable antenna), BC 
296D (with portable antenna), RS Pro 83 "signal stalker mode".  I eventually 
pulled out the RS magnetic mount antenna & put it on the roof of my 
vehicle -- Of course it was raining the heaviest when I did this :)...     I 
found a major drawback with the Pro 83 is that you can't lock out signals 
you've discovered (or perhaps I need to read the manual again) or constant 
signals (e.g. ATIS & paging transmitters).

Surely as most of you know these "On Scene" 'adventures draw lots of 
hobbyists & I was concerned with whether we would have enough parking in the 
large gravel lot.  Fortunately the heavy rains kept the numbers down - 
besides the MMI monitoring team one other hobbyist attended. :) ;)

I also stopped at the local FBO (Five Star Jet Service) & purchased the 
"Airport/Facility Directory" Northeast U.S.  It also appeared that they had 
"some aero charts" but I didn't take a close look as to what was actually 
available BUT I'd guess anything locally they probably have.

Although it was wet/soggy, it was still a good opportunity to find new 
frequencies/uses of frequencies as well as meet one other member of this 
mail list.

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area