CG Sectors using the new cg/lant freqs for routine ops

[archduke]

With most CG sectors,stations and now most of the SafeBoats, MLBs, and the new UTBs all equipped with Rescue 21 radio gear it seems that there is a general shift away from using the customary operations channels (21, 23, 81 and 83) for routine communications.

Example: Sector LI Sound which in the past always used Ch 23 for SAR has now abandoned Ch 23 for the new "CG121" (they seem to add an extra "1" to the CG21 designation).

Sadly, when I have programmed the "CG" channel (16X.XXXMhz) into my scanner all I hear is hash/static. Can anyone tell me if the CG is using digital emission which could be heard if I invested in a newer scanner that decodes digital transmissions OR is the Coast Guard actually encrypting as well?

I understand that the CG might want to make their Law Enforcement operations impossible to monitor... but it's a shame that the Coast Guard is moving away from keeping SAR operations readily listenable to by the multitude of boaters whom the CG openly asks to be their 'eyes and ears' every time an UMIB urgent marine information broadcast is sent out.

Can anyone who really knows whether its digital or encrypted being used on the CG/lant channels clue me in please?

[Lynch_Christopher]

I believe that on their new LANT frequencies they are using P25 Digital and do have the capability to go encrypted.

[ecps92]

Yes it is a P25 System. Enc depends on the Operation and Sector.
Your milage will vary. Boston is 98% Enc, while Southern New England is 98% Un-Enc.

Depending on your Sector, they still use CG-## or NET-### or CG-###
all the same frequency, just a different Alpha-Tag designator

Typical NAC will be $293

Originally Posted by archduke

With most CG sectors,stations and now most of the SafeBoats, MLBs, and the new UTBs all equipped with Rescue 21 radio gear it seems that there is a general shift away from using the customary operations channels (21, 23, 81 and 83) for routine communications.

Example: Sector LI Sound which in the past always used Ch 23 for SAR has now abandoned Ch 23 for the new "CG121" (they seem to add an extra "1" to the CG21 designation).

Sadly, when I have programmed the "CG" channel (16X.XXXMhz) into my scanner all I hear is hash/static. Can anyone tell me if the CG is using digital emission which could be heard if I invested in a newer scanner that decodes digital transmissions OR is the Coast Guard actually encrypting as well?

I understand that the CG might want to make their Law Enforcement operations impossible to monitor... but it's a shame that the Coast Guard is moving away from keeping SAR operations readily listenable to by the multitude of boaters whom the CG openly asks to be their 'eyes and ears' every time an UMIB urgent marine information broadcast is sent out.

Can anyone who really knows whether its digital or encrypted being used on the CG/lant channels clue me in please?

[archduke]

Thank you to both Christopher_Lynch and ecps92 for the instant responses. Very helpful!

"Typical NAC will be $293" Does this mean what I would be likely to pay for a digital capable scanner?

[ecps92]

I don't know, might you ?? Or might Santa !

Originally Posted by archduke

Thank you to both Christopher_Lynch and ecps92 for the instant responses. Very helpful!

"Typical NAC will be $293" Does this mean what I would be likely to pay for a digital capable scanner?

[ka3jjz]

Below is a link to our wiki base glossary about NACs, what they are and what scanners can handle them...

NAC - The RadioReference Wiki

Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need NAC capability to copy a P25 signal - a 396T or 996T from Uniden, for example, can't decode NACs but it will handle the P25 just fine

73 Mike

[kb2vxa]

Just to set the record straight, my P25 scanner is unable to decode their digital signals. That leads me to believe they're not using P25 but rather another codec, or possibly 3DES encryption which has been used by federal law enforcement for decades. Being reception of Long Island Sound is spotty at best I'll reserve comment on that particular group.

[pro106import]

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

Just to set the record straight, my P25 scanner is unable to decode their digital signals. That leads me to believe they're not using P25 but rather another codec, or possibly 3DES encryption which has been used by federal law enforcement for decades. Being reception of Long Island Sound is spotty at best I'll reserve comment on that particular group.

Sector LIS is about 50-50 clear and encrypted.

[NML-21]

The Coast Guard is P25 capable but aren't currently using it. There really is not a need yet. They are however using DES encoding due to the whole CNN thing. Any and all operations and training missions must now be DES encrypted. Question: Is the Coast Guard using P25? Answer: No, the Coast Guard is not using P25.

[kb2vxa]

"Any and all operations and training missions must now be DES encrypted."
That's odd, I hear Manasquan on a regular basis and they're in the clear. Rarely is anything encrypted and then only one boat while the shore station and others are clear. That's odd in itself, maybe like the cops they haven't figured out what that switch is for. (;->)

As an aside, had that exercise in the Potomac a while back been encrypted the media frenzy over the Coast Guard shooting at a terrorist would never have happened.

[kennyblues]

Originally Posted by NML-21

The Coast Guard is P25 capable but aren't currently using it. There really is not a need yet. They are however using DES encoding due to the whole CNN thing. Any and all operations and training missions must now be DES encrypted. Question: Is the Coast Guard using P25? Answer: No, the Coast Guard is not using P25.

In the Sector Boston area the only use of DES/Analog is on the VHF-FM Marine channels, with little use of DES encryption. ALL traffic on the CG-### channels is P-25 with varying percentages of encryption.

[ecps92]

Hmmm, All the new LMR[listed in the WIKI] former LANT now CG-33 or CG-### or NET-### are P25 and the only Sector running P25/Enc is Boston [unless a boat comes in with the wrong or outdated key]

Sector Southern New England, Long Island and Northern New England are P25 w/o the Encryption

Originally Posted by NML-21

The Coast Guard is P25 capable but aren't currently using it. There really is not a need yet. They are however using DES encoding due to the whole CNN thing. Any and all operations and training missions must now be DES encrypted. Question: Is the Coast Guard using P25? Answer: No, the Coast Guard is not using P25.

[DPD1]

Originally Posted by NML-21

The Coast Guard is P25 capable but aren't currently using it. There really is not a need yet. They are however using DES encoding due to the whole CNN thing.

You for sure know this to be true? Because that would be a real shame.