National/Federal Emergency Freqs

[Harrison]

Hello All:

Was hoping someone could shed some light on the subject of Federal or National Emergencies, here in Washington State. Are there certain public frequencies that would be ideal to monitor for these? I am primarily interested in Terrorist alerts, National Security Notices... things along that line.

I checked the RR Database and found an entry for Federal Freqs but didnt seem to be what I was looking for.

Surely these exist, anyone have any info?

Thanks.

- Harrison

[brucewarming]

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ Ok I believe this is one way thats planned for a national/regional warning for emergencys.

[brucewarming]

I'am glad you brought that up Harrison, this link is also where you go for weather radio alerts codes. You can print them out for reference. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm

[icom1020]

155.475 is used as a link from DEM in Washington State.

[brucewarming]

Everyone should have a bank set just for emergencys, National weather service, Skywarn, Ham. local police. With most recent scanners theres the national weather service with standby alerts that you can set the "SAME" code and when your not doing regular day to day scanning or at night you set it to standby. With what happened in New Orleans, loss of power and radio/tv stations, the people with scanners had a heck of a tool for information. The NWS has been around for sometime and has full national coverage and most places if a tower or station goes down theres another close enough to recieve. Thats why I say to have it programed and ready once the power goes out is a little to late!

[eyes00only]

I have NEVER heard an alert on my scanners, because they don't work when you are scanning.

Jerry

[shades2914]

they work on my bc246t. i have it set to pick up all codes not just my county. because if i can hear it then its on its way to me. it gives me extra time to see whats happening before it gets here.

Ben

oh ya and it works while i'm scanning too.

[rdale]

"The NWS has been around for sometime and has full national coverage and most places if a tower or station goes down theres another close enough to recieve."

Actually many parts of the country still have no service, and a majority only has coverage from one tower.

[Harrison]

Excellent, thanks for the info guys.

And I agree Bruce, a bank set for Emergency is mandatory. I couldnt imagine trying to program this PRO-95 without the PC Link, and I understand that is one of the easier ones!

Originally Posted by icom1020

155.475 is used as a link from DEM in Washington State.

Forgive me icom1020, but what is DEM? I did a search and came up with several explanations.

[K5MAR]

Originally Posted by Harrison

Excellent, thanks for the info guys.

And I agree Bruce, a bank set for Emergency is mandatory. I couldnt imagine trying to program this PRO-95 without the PC Link, and I understand that is one of the easier ones!


Forgive me icom1020, but what is DEM? I did a search and came up with several explanations.

Likely Department of Emergency Management.

Mark S.

[brucewarming]

rdale your right about the coverage of NWS. But if you look at it in the fact that the majority of the US's popalation is with in 150 miles of the coasts. Thats a close guess ta mation from what I have seen. That puts them fairly close to that second tower.
Correct me if I'am wrong, what other means of comm's are so universal, interoperabilty, it may be one way, which is twice as good as people had it in N.O. NO information!
My thinking is along the lines of Major/Major mass destruction. Think of the BBC during WW 2 with out a doubt PRICELESS. It's there and with a little improvement, it's about the best thing we have.

[K5MAR]

Originally Posted by rdale

Actually many parts of the country still have no service, and a majority only has coverage from one tower.

Coverage is constantly being improved, I believe the coverage of population areas is better than 90%. Remember, vast areas of the country are not populated, and the need for NOAA radio is low.

As for areas only being served by one tower, this is by design. With the introduction of SAME, ideally the only signal somebody receives is the one that has the SAME alerts for their area.

NOAA has a site that discusses all this, can't find the link offhand, I'll post it later if I find it.

Mark S.

[brucewarming]

Off one of the links I posted you will find infromation on using the system for national alerts including Amber alerts. I have FIPS and SAME codes set for all countys around me. Also SKYWARN, that will be more local happenings. I pick up at least 3 different systems on that. NWS at least 4 systems that I can recieve.

[rdale]

"I believe the coverage of population areas is better than 90%."

Correct - but that still leaves 10% of our population without. That's all I was noting.

"As for areas only being served by one tower, this is by design."

Of course - they are expensive to install and operate. But I was clarifying the other post that if your tower goes down you will pick up another. That is not the case for most.

- Rob

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by eyes00only

I have NEVER heard an alert on my scanners, because they don't work when you are scanning.

Howdy Jerry, what do you mean they dont work when you are scanning?

[brucewarming]

yep your right, not perfect. Used scanners can be bought for next to nothing if you keep an eye out for them. They may not do "SAME" or even alerts, but you can turn them on when all He** breaks loose and get "some information". When the power goes out, I know where my flashlites are, scanner, first things I think of.
CSX runs very near here and theres always that chance of a derail with hazardous loads, could be anything from Nukes to Gasses. I often hear where the train has a problem that local police need to help with, people, cars on the tracks. So here is how that goes- Train calls Main dispatcher in Jacksonville FL. Main dispatcher calls Martinsburg WV police dispatcher who then radios the patrol units, says persons,ECT on tracks at mile marker 103.1 patrol unit says "wheres that?" so the marygo round starts. Sometimes I want to walk outside and 3 blocks down and point out to the police that it's right over there behind that building.

[loumaag]

Originally Posted by Harrison

...what do you mean they dont work when you are scanning?

No scanner can respond to SAME alerts while scanning, they must be parked on the WX channel for SAME to work.

[brucewarming]

I think your right on "SAME" messenging. I kinda got off subject with my train story. All started with national alerts and warnings. It's been awhile, but I have seen that they (NWS) plan on using weather channels for that. With all the different types of radio systems out there and them changing, rebanding taking nationwide freq's (I think). That the NWS should be one (NOT PERFECT) but reliable system.

[Thunderbolt]

Harrison: I think this maybe what your looking for:

LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANS

1. Frequencies 167.0875 MHz and 414.0375 MHz are designated as National Calling Channels for initial contact and will be identified in the radio as indicated in paragraph 2 below. Initial contact communications will be established using analog FM emission (11KF3E). The agency in control of the incident will assign specific operational channels as required for incident support operations.



2. The interoperability frequencies will be identified in mobile and portable radios as follows with Continuous Tone-Controlled Squelch Systems (CTCSS) frequency 167.9 Hz and/or Network Access Code (NAC) $68F:

VHF PLAN

Mobile Mobile

Identifier Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz)

Natl Call 167.0875 (Simplex) 167.0875

Inop 1 162.0875 167.0875
Inop 2 162.2625 167.2500
Inop 3 162.8375 167.7500
Inop 4 163.2875 168.1125
Inop 5 163.4250 168.4625
Inop 6 167.2500 (Simplex) 167.2500
Inop 7 167.7500 (Simplex) 167.7500
Inop 8 168.1125 (Simplex) 168.1125
Inop 9 168.4625 (Simplex) 168.4625

UHF PLAN

Mobile Mobile

Identifier Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz)

Natl Call 414.0375 (Simplex) 414.0375

Inop 1 418.9875 409.9875
Inop 2 419.1875 410.1875
Inop 3 419.6125 410.6125
Inop 4 414.0625 (Simplex) 414.0625
Inop 5 414.3125 (Simplex) 414.3125
Inop 6 414.3375 (Simplex) 414.3375
Inop 7 409.9875 (Simplex) 409.9875
Inop 8 410.1875 (Simplex) 410.1875
Inop 9 410.6125 (Simplex) 410.6125



3. All applications using these allotted frequencies shall be affixed with Record Note Sxxx - This assignment is for a joint law enforcement requirement pursuant to Section 4.3.X of this Manual.

INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANS

1. Frequencies 169.5375 MHz, paired with 164.7125 MHz, and 410.2375 MHz, paired with 419.2375 MHz, are designated as the calling channels for initial contact and will be identified in the radio as indicated in paragraph 2. Initial contact will be established using analog FM emission (11KF3E). CTCSS will not be used on the calling channels to ensure access by stations from outside the normal area of operation. The agency in control of the incident will assign specific operational channels as required for incident support operations.



2. The Interoperability frequencies will be identified in mobile and portable radios as follows:


VHF PLAN

Mobile Mobile

Identifier Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz) CTCSS

VHF Calling 164.7125 169.5375 None
VHF 1 165.2500 170.0125 As required
VHF 2 165.9625 170.4125 As required
VHF 3 166.5750 170.6875 As required
VHF 4 167.3250 173.0375 As required
VHF 5 169.5375 (Simplex) 169.5375 As required
VHF 6 170.0125 (Simplex) 170.0125 As required
VHF 7 170.4125 (Simplex) 170.4125 As required
VHF 8 170.6875 (Simplex) 170.6875 As required
VHF 9 173.0375 (Simplex) 173.0375 As required



UHF PLAN

Mobile Mobile

Identifier Transmit (MHz) Receive (MHz) CTCSS

UHF Calling 419.2375 410.2375 None
UHF 1 419.4375 410.4375 As required
UHF 2 419.6375 410.6375 As required
UHF 3 419.8375 410.8375 As required
UHF 4 413.1875 (Simplex) 413.1875 As required
UHF 5 413.2125 (Simplex) 413.2125 As required
UHF 6 410.2375 (Simplex) 410.2375 As required
UHF 7 410.4375 (Simplex) 410.4375 As required
UHF 8 410.6375 (Simplex) 410.6375 As required
UHF 9 410.8375 (Simplex) 410.8375 As required



Narrowband VHF Interoperability Channels

151.13750 V-CALL VHF - Emergency Calling
154.45250 V-TAC 1 VHF - Tactical Ops 1
155.75250 V-TAC 2 VHF - Tactical Ops 2
158.73750 V-TAC 3 VHF - Tactical Ops 3
159.47250 V-TAC 4 VHF - Tactical Ops 4

IRAC Web site

73's

Ron

[safetyobc]

Thunderbolt,

Do agencies really use these freqs? If so who? Govt? Nat. Guard? FEMA?

Just curious. I see these lists all over the internet but didn't know how accurate they really were. Thanks for any info.

matt