Federal/ATF/Secret Servcice

[KG7PBS]

for my area of monitoring.
Federal - lots of fun to listen to almost daily
ATF - is a rare catch as they tend to be more of a Target Hit [no pun] than some active surv ops [of late]
USSS - everyone thinks POTUS etc, but there is much more to the USSS and yes they are active

Nextel has been Dead since being taken over by Sprint, yes similar types of applications, but many an agency
has gotten burned by the reliance on them, and many have built out robust regional networks and/or signed-onto
Regional/State TRS's in addition to leaving their own frequencies up and running.

YMMV as to what you find/hear and the best hint is, these agencies are not like listening to your local PD/FD/DPW/EMS where you
will likely have daily activity... OP-Temp varies, could be days, weeks, months before you hear something and never ever rule out Holidays and weekends.

I am sorry but NEXTEL IS BACK. That’s right baby NEXTEL is alive at Push To Talk PTT And Cellular Mobile Solutions • NEXTEL™ Communications check it out

 

[Larry51]

Even back "In the Day", 1980's, USSS used early cell phones for person to person talk, although WFO's used radio to coordinate certain ops but it was spotty. FBI and DEA used radio but again usually to setup certain things before a bust. Major crimes, like bank robberies went out over FBI channels but then got quiet again. Most all Fed agencies today that are LE are encrypted in the DC area accept security for places like the Dept. of agriculture or such. I would assume even the FED cell phones today are not your average Iphone at this point.

KJ4DGE

Even back "In the Day", 1980's, USSS used early cell phones for person to person talk, although WFO's used radio to coordinate certain ops but it was spotty. FBI and DEA used radio but again usually to setup certain things before a bust. Major crimes, like bank robberies went out over FBI channels but then got quiet again. Most all Fed agencies today that are LE are encrypted in the DC area accept security for places like the Dept. of agriculture or such. I would assume even the FED cell phones today are not your average Iphone at this point.

KJ4DGE

Greg,

I can tell you with certainty that "back in the day" the only USSS folks that had cell phones (and pagers) were supervisors. The rest of us used radios. BTW my AR-3000A is still working great after you fixed it!

Best, Larry

 

[Larry51]

Vehicle stops were prohibited by unmarked vehicles. If you wanted an investigatory stop or to do a take down, you called in a marked local/state police vehicle to do that. Vehicle pursuits were absolutely forbidden for any reason/s short of agent down-TS/SCI/codeword national security issues. Leased vehicles went to senior folks so they always got the fresh rides - again, no lights, no sirens, computers were still in the future, and mobile radios were not standard issue.

The FBI does a lot of plain ol' police work here on the Rez. Armed robberies, murders on the Rez, etc. don't require secret squirrel gear.

Not sure what alphabet agency you worked for, but as a USSS agent, I made plenty of felony stops and take downs while doing investigatory work. Our unmarked vehicles were equipped with lights, sirens and radios.

 

[Firefox10]

In ,y region, I very seldom hear comms. FBI is now fully encrypted but active. Does anyone know the Homeland Security Inspectors freqs? I bumped into a couple the other day and they had APX 8000s, couldn't tell by antenna what band since it was a triband antenna. Maybe worth listening.
One source told me they are using the FBI freqs.

 

[Firefox10]

Also, heard from a close source to USSS, that they have some L band radios. There is a cache in the road runner. Also saw in a pic recently an agent carrying a portable with an L band antenna.
Any ideas?

 

[kb5udf]

L-band suggests the possibility of SATCOM.

 

[ecps92]

Homeland Security Inspectors ??

Did you mean Homeland Security Investigators ? AKA 'HSI' - those folks are generally on the ICE networks [In my experience]

In ,y region, I very seldom hear comms. FBI is now fully encrypted but active. Does anyone know the Homeland Security Inspectors freqs? I bumped into a couple the other day and they had APX 8000s, couldn't tell by antenna what band since it was a triband antenna. Maybe worth listening.
One source told me they are using the FBI freqs.

 

[Firefox10]

In northeast, most are using Zello on phone app. Its a good idea since not everyone can be given an agency radio, so they use a Zello group.
Back to the L-Band, what would a L-Band mobile antenna look like?
What would USSS use L-Band for? since most comms on details are radio2radio. Rest go thru mobile repeater in one of the road runners.

Was chatting with a retired USSS agent the other day, and he told me some cars have 8500's while others have LTE radios. They do not require any outside antennas. The screens are green, when they go secure, the screens turn red.

 

[ecps92]

Yes, some [definately not "MOST"] agencies here in New England use Zello when interacting with "outside" agencies, however they still maintain their own RF networks and have both Portables and Mobiles [many of use have heard then reference Zello channels]

Agencies have been known to "LOAN" a radio out for interop, or have been given one from the other agency. This is regularly heard when they are conducting their operations.

In northeast, most are using Zello on phone app. Its a good idea since not everyone can be given an agency radio, so they use a Zello group.
Back to the L-Band, what would a L-Band mobile antenna look like?
What would USSS use L-Band for? since most comms on details are radio2radio. Rest go thru mobile repeater in one of the road runners.

Was chatting with a retired USSS agent the other day, and he told me some cars have 8500's while others have LTE radios. They do not require any outside antennas. The screens are green, when they go secure, the screens turn red.

 

[surfacemount]

It's possible.
Persistent systems have some very, very interesting handheld units out right now. L band is typically for satellite like inmarsat and iridium, and on-body for short-range video applications.

 

[BigLebowski]

In northeast, most are using Zello on phone app. Its a good idea since not everyone can be given an agency radio, so they use a Zello group.
Back to the L-Band, what would a L-Band mobile antenna look like?
What would USSS use L-Band for? since most comms on details are radio2radio. Rest go thru mobile repeater in one of the road runners.

Was chatting with a retired USSS agent the other day, and he told me some cars have 8500's while others have LTE radios. They do not require any outside antennas. The screens are green, when they go secure, the screens turn red.

I'm not saying this is incorrect, but if that is the case it is not the case in MOST areas nationwide. I have never seen a hard-mounted LTE radio in a fed vehicle (or any public safety vehicle for that matter). Also when it comes to secure/clear, Green means Go and Red means Stop. Green for secure.

As far as L-Band antennas on the roadrunner.. remember that is a WHCA (military) vehicle and yes, they have satcom.

 

[P25andstuff]

In northeast, most are using Zello on phone app. Its a good idea since not everyone can be given an agency radio, so they use a Zello group.
Back to the L-Band, what would a L-Band mobile antenna look like?
What would USSS use L-Band for? since most comms on details are radio2radio. Rest go thru mobile repeater in one of the road runners.

Was chatting with a retired USSS agent the other day, and he told me some cars have 8500's while others have LTE radios. They do not require any outside antennas. The screens are green, when they go secure, the screens turn red.

This is true, zello is used more than you would think

 

[Firefox10]

Met with my buddy on the USSS today and he got his new car last week. He was in the area so I met up with him. He showed me the set up. Mot. 8550 with handheld mic with controls for lights and siren. In trunk was radio "gear" that had a 100w VHF, rest were regular mounts. In glove compartment was LTE radio with mic drilled out the back sitting on seat. No name. Mic had screen and buttons. 3 TACS. 1} new england wide secured (yes screen was green) 2} "greater" new england not secured (red background on mic screen) and 3} nationwide (unsecured). He is NOT on a protection detail except when "anyone" is in "town". On bank unit. They use LTE cause VHF not reliable in NH and Maine. Says only 10-15 guys have the radios and they only use really to talk to base in Boston. The Mot 8550 has the new triband antenna which is awesum. Compact and nice design.
He said the protection units have Sat. comms in comm. vehicles and their is a bank of motorola portables in suburban to hand out if needed.
One question which he didn't know answer to was the reason for 2 VHF antennas on Presidential and VP Limos. Knows one is for mot. radio on passenger side up front. In limo, tail suburbans (almost every vehicle in motorcade) but why the other one????? He did say it goes back as far as JFK's limo.
Any ideas??

 

[Larry51]

Back when I was with the USSS the second VHF antenna on the limo was for the Yankee/Zulu telephone. I imagine it is still in use today and updated to feature full encryption. Although the POTUS may also have a cell phone for personal use, the convenience of picking up the mobile phone and having the WHCA operator connect you with anyone in the world is probably still available.

 

[Firefox10]

makes sense
Thanks for your service

 

[n2nov]

This picture was taken outside the New Executive Office Building on 17th Street during my DC trip last week. Notice the thick base on the whip antenna in the rear. I saw no other antennas on the vehicle.

 

[Firefox10]

That is the new motorola triband antenna

 

[ecps92]

excuse my stupid question, but the only Motorola 8550 (and are Portables) radios I see [Mr Google] are DMR and the USSS uses P25, so what model radio is it ??

Met with my buddy on the USSS today and he got his new car last week. He was in the area so I met up with him. He showed me the set up. Mot. 8550 with handheld mic with controls for lights and siren. In trunk was radio "gear" that had a 100w VHF, rest were regular mounts. In glove compartment was LTE radio with mic drilled out the back sitting on seat. No name. Mic had screen and buttons. 3 TACS. 1} new england wide secured (yes screen was green) 2} "greater" new england not secured (red background on mic screen) and 3} nationwide (unsecured). He is NOT on a protection detail except when "anyone" is in "town". On bank unit. They use LTE cause VHF not reliable in NH and Maine. Says only 10-15 guys have the radios and they only use really to talk to base in Boston. The Mot 8550 has the new triband antenna which is awesum. Compact and nice design.
He said the protection units have Sat. comms in comm. vehicles and their is a bank of motorola portables in suburban to hand out if needed.
One question which he didn't know answer to was the reason for 2 VHF antennas on Presidential and VP Limos. Knows one is for mot. radio on passenger side up front. In limo, tail suburbans (almost every vehicle in motorcade) but why the other one????? He did say it goes back as far as JFK's limo.
Any ideas??

 

[APX8000]

APX8500's.

 

[Firefox10]

Sorry extreme typo they are apx 8500's