ABQ Balloon Fiesta 2010

[Mick]

Here is my log from this morning:

452.5625R D271 CP, Public Safety, Flight Safety, Ops
464.6875S D743 Launch Director
451.8125S 103.5 Parking
161.8500S 156.7 Federal Law
853.0125S 156.7 Local Law

 

[fredclausen]

Excellent, thank you!

 

[SCPD]

Here is my log from this morning:

452.5625R D271 CP, Public Safety, Flight Safety, Ops
464.6875S D743 Launch Director
451.8125S 103.5 Parking
161.8500S 156.7 Federal Law
853.0125S 156.7 Local Law

What role does the federal government have in this event? Why are they using what I believe is a railroad frequency?

 

[appalachianscanner]

Air to Air

Any Unicom (air-band) activity?

 

[nmbobcat]

I have the following:
462.2250S DPL 431 Security CP1 (Emergency)
451.5625R DPL 226 Security CP2 (Traffic Control)
452.6375R DPL 271 Security CP3 (Primary)

464.6875S DPL 743 Launch Directors (Primary - used for countdowns)
469.1125S DPL 445 Launch Directors
469.1875S DPL 612 Launch Directors
469.9125S DPL 054 Launch Directors

463.8625S DPL 174 Concessions

The ULS listing for most of the Balloon Fiesta frequencies can be found under license WQDB522.

Dave

 

[Mick]

The last two days 120.650 has been an ATIS channel for the Balloon field.

123.025 might have had a small amount of activity. I really thought there would have been more. Several balloonists were using FRS/GMRS too.

Any Unicom (air-band) activity?

 

[Mick]

The Coast Guard allocated channels are interesting, I would not have searched those frqs, but did locate it with my scanner's Close Call. 157.25 sounds like the input or a link to 161.850, both 156.7 Hz. A Border Patrol agent told me the feds presence there was for aviation security.

The 161.85/157.25 frqs are simulcast/linked with 853.0125, all 156.7 Hz,

What role does the federal government have in this event? Why are they using what I believe is a railroad frequency?

 

[nd5y]

What role does the federal government have in this event? Why are they using what I believe is a railroad frequency?

161.850/157.250 is VTAC17 / VTAC17D, one of the nationwide interoperability channels.
Common Public Safety - The RadioReference Wiki
They are actually VHF marine channels, not railroad and its use is limited to some inland areas where there is no marine usage.

 

[abqscan]

The last two days 120.650 has been an ATIS channel for the Balloon field.

123.025 might have had a small amount of activity. I really thought there would have been more. Several balloonists were using FRS/GMRS too.

Most crews use only CB or FRS/GMRS for comms. I have only seen a hand full of balloonist actually have a VHF airband radio.

 

[nmbobcat]

Many of the balloonists operate as small businesses and utilize the Common Itinerant and Business (Common Itinerant and Business - The RadioReference Wiki) Color Dot/Star Itinerant and Low Power Frequencies in the VHF and UHF bands for communication with their chase crews.

A few are hams and can be heard on 2 meter simplex frequencies.

Dave

 

[nmbobcat]

The ULS listing for other Balloon Fiesta frequencies (including the Command Posts) can be found under license WQCB498.

Dave