Loveland (DOE?) Dispatch

[ColoradoRedlands]

I have found a fed net here in Grand Junction recently. The control station identifies as "Loveland Dispatch." It is loud & clear here so maybe be on Grand Mesa or Black Ridge. Maybe a network with many sites in the state.

163.375R P25 NAC777

I think it may be part of the Dept of Energy, but Im not sure which part, or what sort of office they might have in Loveland.

There is not a lot of traffic on this one. I have heard two different mobile units telling Loveland that they are beginning their patrol in snowcats of various high voltage electrical transmission lines in the mountains. One time it sounded like it was in the Hayden area.

There is also a helo "7DE" which I think is probably N407DE, a Bell 407 belonging to the DOE. It checks in with Loveland on departure and arrival at various locations. One time he was flying from Vernal, UT to some remote location. Another time he was flying from Catherdral to Magnetic Mtn, and another time from Grouse Mtn to Blue Ridge.

Any ideas?

 

[skipshark773]

What you are most likely hearing is the Department of Energy's Western Area Power Administration (or WAPA) who are dispatched out of Loveland. They have a frequency which is used in the Loveland area too, it is 166.250 I don't know what the NAC is but it is P25 conventional.

 

[ColoradoRedlands]

What you are most likely hearing is the Department of Energy's Western Area Power Administration (or WAPA) who are dispatched out of Loveland. They have a frequency which is used in the Loveland area too, it is 166.250 I don't know what the NAC is but it is P25 conventional.

Wow, its the middle of the night and I got an answer within 5 minutes of posting the question. Thanks very much Skip.

 

[aprswatcher]

D.O.E. in Loveland

As Skipshark773 mentioned this is DOE -Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) out of Loveland.
They are responsible for a vast majority of the high tension power lines and large electrical substations
around the Western US.
Whenever they go on patrol, to check the power lines and substations they must call in to let the dispatcher know where they are, if by truck, snowcat, helocopter or by other means.
If you continue to monitor this frequency you may hear them issue a "clearance" to work on a section of
transmission line or equipment in a substation, this takes it out of service so it can be worked on safely. The dispatcher will give them specific order of steps to be performed, the worker on the other end will readback the steps exactly as given to him, and must perform them exactly.
There is also a DOE dispatch center in Watertown, South Dakota they take care of the system to the
east of Colorado, mainly the Midwest as far east as the Mississippi River.
73, Rex

Check this out if you want to see how the high tension powerlines are worked on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQYDToVK6Z0

 

[guitarbrian30]

watertown WAPA

I suppose that I should enter those into my scan lists. Sounds exciting. I have a tension line just south of me a few miles.

How often do they inspect the power lines and grid?

 

[aprswatcher]

Usually checking on things about once a month, we see them once a month
at the Estes Powerplant switchyard to check out their equipment. Or more often when they are doing preventative maintenance on equipment.
This will change depending on "mother nature" ie. after an event such as high wind, ice/ heavy snow storm, wildland fire, etc they will be out more often.
73, Rex

 

[n0nhj]

Wapa

They used to have a very extensive system that was 4 channels repeated at numerous sites.
167.975, 167.925, 167.875, 167.825 Since they upgraded to the P25 system they added/swapped some frequencies, that I haven't mapped out. The system was all linked together from the Dam at Page, AZ up to Loveland. You occasionally still hear some analog traffic, though most is P25 now a days. They used to run a separate system from Bureau of Reclamation that used many of the same sites, unknown if that is still the case or if it got consolidated when they built the new system.

Bur of Rec responsible for the Dams / WAPA responsible for the power distribution.

Bur of Rec now has a bunch of TG's on the Colorado DTRS and I've seen some activity for the Frying pan project. Unknown how much they may move over there, but the WAPA stuff is likely to stay on their own VHF system since it's multi-state.

Chuck

 

[skipshark773]

Interesting info on the old system, Chuck. It looks like WAPA in South Dakota is still using some of those frequencies in your list, albeit in P25 now: South Dakota WAPA Frequencies.

[Edit]: It looks like the spreadsheet that I was keeping that information in got messed up and the columns shifted during a cut and paste. 166.250 may actually be a northwest CO channel like 163.375. I can't seem to find the correct Loveland assignment or determine if 166.250 is in the right spot. I'm going to run a search of the fed VHF band all tomorrow to see if I can't put my finger on it again. I'm interested to see if there is any kind of method to the assignment of NAC codes.

 

[poltergeisty]

Believe dispatch is located next door to KFNL.

On another note- Having the power company stored in the scanner has served me well as an irritated customer with no power. :lol: It's nice to know what the hell went out.

 

[RDCat]

how would i enter this into a pro 106????????
thanks ron
cause i was getting them daily up in basalt before with the pro 96

 

[skipshark773]

Create a new CONVENTIONAL object and enter the frequency (163.375) then set the squelch for NAC 777 or NAC Search.

 

[RDCat]

Create a new CONVENTIONAL object and enter the frequency (163.375) then set the squelch for NAC 777 or NAC Search.

newbie to this whats nac777 mean?

i used to pick 166.250 DG when entered into my pro 96
nothing else was needed.



but 106 u need to enter under convthen freq->nac then 777 ???

under the conv objects
thanks ron in aurora

 

[skipshark773]

newbie to this whats nac777 mean?

i used to pick 166.250 DG when entered into my pro 96
nothing else was needed.



but 106 u need to enter under convthen freq->nac then 777 ???

under the conv objects
thanks ron in aurora

Hi Ron,
A NAC (or network access code) is a digital squelch code which is used much in the same way as a CTCSS or DCS tone is. It is not necessary to input it along with the frequency although it might help to cut down on interference. You should just be able to enter the frequency as is and be able to receive it. Realize though that if you set the SQ MODE setting to CTCSS or DCS that it will force the radio into analog mode and you will miss all the digital traffic on the frequency.

You can find the SQ MODE at the following part of the screen:
(if you're in the CONV Channel screen)

> CONV Channel <
Scan Lists: 01
Freq: 166.250000
Tag: WAPA
Sq Mode: <-here is where you set the squelch type, set it to P25 or Search to decode or recieve NACs
Squelch Code: <-here is where you would enter the NAC

I don't have a NAC to go along with the 166.250 frequency and I'm not sure if that's even the right frequency anymore due to a spreadsheet snafu. I'm working on confirming that it's still in use and finding the NAC. Untill then its best to just leave the Sq Mode in SEARCH or P25 with no NAC entered.

Hope this helps.

 

[RDCat]

under squelch type i only have search and dtss and dcs and none???
i'm using the trial version right now
under MOD is set to auto............

> CONV Channel <
Scan Lists: 01
Freq: 166.250000
Tag: WAPA
Sq Mode: <-here is where you set the squelch type, set it to P25 or Search to decode or recieve NACs
Squelch Code: <-here is where you would enter the NAC

I don't have a NAC to go along with the 166.250 frequency and I'm not sure if that's even the right frequency anymore due to a spreadsheet snafu. I'm working on confirming that it's still in use and finding the NAC. Untill then its best to just leave the Sq Mode in SEARCH or P25 with no NAC entered.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

 

[skipshark773]

under squelch type i only have search and dtss and dcs and none???
i'm using the trial version right now
under MOD is set to auto............

Check your PM's.

 

[kd7ckq]

There is also a helo "7DE" which I think is probably N407DE, a Bell 407 belonging to the DOE. It checks in with Loveland on departure and arrival at various locations. One time he was flying from Vernal, UT to some remote location. Another time he was flying from Catherdral to Magnetic Mtn, and another time from Grouse Mtn to Blue Ridge.

Any ideas?

Try N617DE in your search. N619DE is in AZ, and N618DE crashed in NM.

 

[Halfpint]

I live just slightly outside of Platteville CO, 3 mi W & 2 mi S, and am using a PSR-600 on `base' and a PSR-500 for `mobiling around'. Since we live out on a farm it is nice to be able to keep tabs on assorted `utilities', mainly electric, so that we can get somewhat of an idea of what is going on when we have an `outage' and even possibly when we will get our service restored.

I found this thread quite by chance and figured I should probably add the freqs to the rest of my `utility' scanning.

OK... From what has been posted here it appears that, so far, we have 6 different frequencies?

163.3750
166.2500
167.8250
167.8750
167.9250
167.9750

Right?

I've entered them as:

BuRec WAPA #1 163.3750 AU NAC Srch
BuRec WAPA #2 166.2500 AU NAC Srch
BuRec WAPA #3 167.8250 AU NAC Srch
BuRec WAPA #4 167.8750 AU NAC Srch
BuRec WAPA #5 167.9250 AU NAC 555
BuRec WAPA #6 167.9750 AU NAC Srch

The numbering is basically arbitrary, just to help make identifing which one it is that is being heard, and the one, BuRec WAPA #5, has a NAC of 555 because that has been the `code' that seems to be the `norm' from my listening time so far. (BTW, for those who don't use the PSR-500/600 series the `AU' entry is just setting the radio to `automagically' choose the mode, AM/FM/NFM/P25, for reception.) While it seems that there have been other NACs noted *I* still haven't caught them or any other transmission on any of the other frequencies, yet. The WAPA #5 freq has been quite busy the last couple of weeks around here and all the chatter definitely has been electric power related.

I'm wondering if there aren't maybe more freqs in use around here that haven't yet been posted? It would seem that with good weather they would be at least out and about checking the `lines' for any winter damage and getting them back to `snuff' for the upcoming winter weather along with just doing some PMS type work. All of which `should?' be cause for a lot more chatter?

Oh, well... Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. {GRIN!}

 

[kmoe]

Decoded NAC888 on 167.825.

This was in the mountains of SW Colorado....transmission was so quick I didn't get good audio.

 

[ecps92]

Likely
Western Area Power Admin

Decoded NAC888 on 167.825.

This was in the mountains of SW Colorado....transmission was so quick I didn't get good audio.