US Navy TACAMO E-6B Activity in South Texas

blantonl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2012, 2:09 PM

Yesterday, we had a USN TACAMO E-6B do racetrack patterns just west of Houston for over 5 hours. I tracked him on ADS-B. The E-6 was broadcasting the following:

304.250 Wideband Data Link
362.250 Narrowband Data Link and Orderwire voice
230.575 Narrowband Data Link and Orderwire voice
295.175 Vinson Satcom Voice UpLink

Today, we've not got two E-6B which are USN TACAMO aircraft in South Texas, one orbiting just west of Houston, and another orbiting just east of the Mexico border. This is what is being broadcasted

368.250 Wideband Data Link
351.000 Wideband Data Link
356.150 Narrowband Data Link and Orderwire voice
338.950 Narrowband Data Link and Orderwire voice
311.000 Broadcasting as "Antiquity, standing by for traffic" numerous times

On the narrowband data links, I can hear what appears to be voice in the background of the data but I cannot make it out. The data sounds like lower speed FSK data. Anyone know how to pull the voice out of the noise? It sounds similiar to the order wire stuff that the command posts used to transmit when we could pull out the FDM voice by tuning the receiver to USB mode. Any ideas?

I've attached a screenshot of the ADS-B locations for both of these guys for today's loggings.

MtnBiker2005 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2012, 3:11 PM

http://planefinder.net/flight/GOTO%20FMS
http://www.flightradar24.com/GOTO%20FMS

For the people without Mode-S/ADS-B boxes. You can watch the replay here.

Aircraft: Boeing E-6 Mercury (E6) - Reg: 164404
http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/164404

blantonl · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2012, 3:28 PM

338.950 is now an orderwire channel, no carrier or voice at this time but very strong. One of the E-6's is out in the gulf right now and the other is just about over Austin.

nd5y · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2012, 4:11 PM

You say this was yesterday? This morning I heard the data on 338.95 here in Wichita Falls. I didn't listen long enough to tell if it had any voice in the background.

BMT · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2012, 4:57 PM

You need to monitor all 2,024 Wideband freqs to really hear the activity. ;-))

BMT

MtnBiker2005 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 12:56 AM

This one making over 10 laps tonight.

ColoradoRedlands · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 2:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnBiker2005

This one making over 10 laps tonight.

Looks like that one is still out there at 0700Z +.

ecollins11 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnBiker2005

This one making over 10 laps tonight.

I was seeing that too last night.

ColoradoRedlands · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 2:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecollins11

I was seeing that too last night.

Since you are in OK, did you hear any radio traffic to go along with that aircraft?

ecollins11 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 8:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoradoRedlands

Since you are in OK, did you hear any radio traffic to go along with that aircraft?

I tried the freqs that were listed in the first post an did not hear anything last night and today I heard some weak traffic on 311.0000 though.

darkwolf · #11 (**permalink**) 10-30-2012, 11:09 PM

so really no true frequency for the tacamo e-6b unless you have hf radio ? unlike the awacs use an lot of uhf mainly ramrod and touch and go'si live really close to tinker afb thats about what i hear here unless there are other frequencies they use and i don'y have maybe someone out there does if you do pvt msg ms thank you

KevinC · #12 (**permalink**) 11-05-2012, 5:46 PM

May or may not be related, but I received a Close Call hit on 337.200 around Columbus (Tx.) and carried it to around Brookshire. Appeared to be wideband dead carrier.

When the 383.550 people are overhead I get them on CC also.

darkwolf · #13 (**permalink**) 12-05-2012, 5:35 AM

Any more new news about the navy tacamo And any new frequency updates ?

Avery93 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-05-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkwolf

Any more new news about the navy tacamo And any new frequency updates ?

There were two E-6's flying around the southeast on Monday (12/3). According to planefinder.net, the first one appeared to come from Little Rock AFB and flew on a heading toward Meridian, MS; then Galveston, TX; then out into the Gulf. It was almost continuously transmitting FSK-like data on 383.550, but I didn't hear any other traffic related to it.

The second one appeared to come from somewhere in Missouri, and flew on a heading to roughly Double Springs, AL, before turning more to the south. At this point both of them disappeared from the Plane Finder map. I did not hear ANY traffic from the second E-6.

BMT · #15 (**permalink**) 12-07-2012, 6:52 PM

The E-6B version also has a secondary role as a “Looking Glass” Airborne National Command Post, and in recent years they have seen use as communications relay stations over the front lines of combat.

The USA’s E-6 Fleet: TAke Charge, And Move Out! | Military

BMT

MtnBiker2005 · #16 (**permalink**) 12-10-2012, 3:27 AM

Click on the ICAO hex code for the E-6B aircraft.
Click on "View" to open it in Google Earth, or read the other info for the aircraft.
etc....

Boeing E-6B Mercury
http://www.dissrr.com/1090GS/LookupA...s.php?&id=GOTO
http://www.dissrr.com/1090GS/LookupAircraft.php

mainetrunk · #17 (**permalink**) 01-04-2013, 5:09 PM

Up here in Maine-Portsmouth Naval Shipyard control-149.000/dc 025. Fire-140.050,dc-043.. coast guard-165.1375,p25 ecryption.

darkwolf · #18 (**permalink**) 01-30-2013, 9:16 PM

Bmt 2, 024 wide frequencies are they wfm nfm. What's the frequency span ?