Fed Interops in Boston and surrounding area

[sean128]

Hello everybody,

Im trying to find any federal interop freqs in use around Boston. I found this thread:

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93779

I looking for a repeater similer to the one used in NYC or Chicigo.

Thanks,

Sean

 

[nd5y]

You might try all the frequencies listed here http://wiki.radioreference.com/inde...tan_Areas_Interoperability_Assistance_Project and see if you hear anything.

 

[kennyblues]

Simply put, no there is no federal freq in use in the Boston area where all the Fed's can communicate with each other. However they all have radios affiliated with the BAPERN system where they can talk to all of the public safety agencies in the greater Boston area. The FBI conducts a roll call in the morning around 9am with all of their different offices located throughout New England(Except CT & VT)
BAPERN Channels;
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?aid=3897

 

[jack103]

The Boston FBI channel "ALPHA 4" 167.4375 pl 167.9 rebroadcasts traffic from BAPERN 3 AREAWIDE.

 

[ChrisP]

According to the DoJ information about the Boston area federal interop:

"The primary solution provides redundant wide-area interagency communications via the implementation of a backup repeater for an existing BPD wideband, very high frequency (VHF) channel that is linked directly to the BPD ultra high frequency (UHF) system. BPD dispatchers can use this channel to patch federal emergency response personnel on VHF radio systems to local and state personnel on UHF and 800 megahertz (MHz) systems (e.g., the Boston Area Police Emergency Radio Network [BAPERN] and an ITAC/ICALL channel). In order for BFD and FPS personnel to also have the capabilities to monitor and patch resources to the BPD VHF interoperability channel, DOJ provided BFD and FPS each with a VHF control station. In addition, DOJ implemented UHF and 800 MHz control stations at the FBI dispatch center to enable wireless linking, on an as-needed basis, to local and state systems operating in those frequency bands, as well as to other UHF and 800 MHz systems."

So it does appear that 167.4375 MHz is the VHF channel that's patched to BAPERN...

They also mention this:
"DOJ also improved interagency communications among local, state, and federal agencies during emergency maritime response. DOJ implemented a VHF standalone repeater on a USCG maritime channel. This maritime channel also supports regular USCG liquid natural gas operations."

Anyone know what VHF USCG maritime channel they are talking about?

- Chris

 

[ecps92]

165.3250 R "BosRpt" in the CG Radios. Hasn't been used for months, as the MSP has issued 800 Mhz TRS Radios for the LNG Escorts to the CG Assets.

CG typically has stayed on 162.050 CG-08 DVP/DES now migrated to P-25

165.3250 has always been DVP/DES or if [Opps] in the Clear CSQ.
The input [Deleted] has recently been observed as P-25, but not repeated
on 165.3250

The 167.4375 / 470.7875 was left in place from the DNC, sometimes [Special events] it gets linked to BOSTON PD [Varies on the Channel] and an 800 ITAC

According to the DoJ information about the Boston area federal interop:

"The primary solution provides redundant wide-area interagency communications via the implementation of a backup repeater for an existing BPD wideband, very high frequency (VHF) channel that is linked directly to the BPD ultra high frequency (UHF) system. BPD dispatchers can use this channel to patch federal emergency response personnel on VHF radio systems to local and state personnel on UHF and 800 megahertz (MHz) systems (e.g., the Boston Area Police Emergency Radio Network [BAPERN] and an ITAC/ICALL channel). In order for BFD and FPS personnel to also have the capabilities to monitor and patch resources to the BPD VHF interoperability channel, DOJ provided BFD and FPS each with a VHF control station. In addition, DOJ implemented UHF and 800 MHz control stations at the FBI dispatch center to enable wireless linking, on an as-needed basis, to local and state systems operating in those frequency bands, as well as to other UHF and 800 MHz systems."

So it does appear that 167.4375 MHz is the VHF channel that's patched to BAPERN...

They also mention this:
"DOJ also improved interagency communications among local, state, and federal agencies during emergency maritime response. DOJ implemented a VHF standalone repeater on a USCG maritime channel. This maritime channel also supports regular USCG liquid natural gas operations."

Anyone know what VHF USCG maritime channel they are talking about?

- Chris

 

[jack103]

I have heard what may be apco p 25 used on Marine channel 12 .

 

[zerg901]

I thought I heard a USCG callsign on 158.91 the other day. This might be the VHF BPD freq that is mentioned in the federal interop report. The carrier was very strong, but the audio was very weak. I suspect that the transmitter was on a highrise in downtown Boston. (Downtown Boston is right on the waterfront). I suppose that 158.91 could have a input at 154 Mhz - I think that BPD still has a couple of 154 Mhz channels licensed.

I have no idea what "backup repeater" they are talking about in the federal report.

165.325 seems to have a little bit of P25 or DES type traffic every morning around 7AM IIRC. The signal is very strong at my location. Perhaps the transmitter is also on a highrise in downtown Boston.

I have no idea if 167.4375 has a VHF input freq. If I hear any traffic on 470.7875R, it also is readable on 167.4375.

A few years back I did hear USCG traffic on a loud 172.30 repeater.

Peter Sz

 

[zerg901]

I can confirm that, as of today, traffic on 470.7875R is also heard being broadcast on 167.4375.

 

[zerg901]

158.91 was also rebroadcasting some weak P25 signals the other day. There was a little bit of enhancement in the atmosphere - I wonder if a NH SP P25 signal was getting into their system somehow. Peter Sz

 

[ecps92]

If they would not run CSQ on the input, you would only hear Boston PD, but since the Repeater is running Open Tone, you hear what it hears.

158.91 was also rebroadcasting some weak P25 signals the other day. There was a little bit of enhancement in the atmosphere - I wonder if a NH SP P25 signal was getting into their system somehow. Peter Sz

 

[zerg901]

Groveland MA FD does a daily 850AM radio test on 154.8675, and you can sorta hear it coming thru on 158.91. (It is very broken up and soft).

That might be a good time to scan thru the federal bands and see if 158.91 is tied to anything. I do not hear any other traffic on a regular basis on 158.91.

Reportedly Groveland FD uses a PL of 82.5. Perhaps 158.91 has a input of 154.86 with a input PL of 82.5.

Peter Sz