[MilCom] POTUS at Ft Benning

[Mike Riffle]

On 12-Jan-07 13:34, Ken wrote:
> Regarding 300.4 WFM -- is this a satellite link with airborne and ground 
> stations access or is it a typical air to ground station(s) link, with 
> fixed ground stations throughout the country?

There are fixed ground stations throughout the country. There is a map at
http://ncamonitor.tripod.com/nmcs/northstar_gep_info.html but I'm not sure
how accurate it is. Many of the frequencies are used.

The WFM signal is actually composed of many individual circuits. They can
be voice or data, clear and encrypted. The following page describes how it
works http://ncamonitor.tripod.com/abncp/e-6b_communications.html (scroll
halfway down). It's not as easy as the old WHCA Echo/Foxtrot frequencies
but given the right equipment is is possible to monitor the circuits.

> Very Interesting on that  136.725 ground to air comms or air to air 
> omms  -- With all the elaborate comm gear they have, e.g. satellites, 
> encryption, etc. you would think that in the clear comms wouldn't be 
> used.

That frequency is a common SAM air-air. Typically comms will have the backup
SAM aircraft flying out in front of AF1 looking for smooth air and reporting
their findings back to AF1. You won't hear callsigns used on this freq, just
numbers, with 8000 and 9000 being AF1.

> I noted that you didn't list any Secret Service frequencies, which 
> are generally encrypted anyways BUT did you monitor any activity?

I did take a courtesy spin thru the 160MHz band but did not find anything.
Given that I am 23 miles away from the main post I really didn't expect
to hear anything.

Mike Riffle
Cataula, GA