RCMP and U.S. Border Patrol

[Jammin_Jay]

I am wondering if there is a frequency that the RCMP can communicate directly with US border patrol or vice versa. Is there a patch into a repeater and an option built into the radio. Or is this strictly done through dispatcher calling dispatcher. It most likely be encrypted.

For example: The RCMP in Langley Township, BC communicating with a US border patrol officer in Washington State.

I believe a system was to be implemented and have secured communications for IBET. That was the plan anyway.
One of the complaints a few years back, was the lack of RCMP and US border patrol being able to communicate directly with a situation on the border in the respective international juristiction.

 

[stuck22]

I know that the RCMP Chopper Air 1 has the ability to talk to Boarder Guards. I have heard them before. Although I cant remember if they were speaking with US or Can Guards.

Also E-Comm can Patch the Border patrol channels to a EDACS Channel. I believe its TG 41 which is the Can/Am Patch.

 

[Jay911]

That's British Columbia; I think I recall in my browsing of the TAFL one time that there are special channels in the Coutts area of southern Alberta that are specifically for interop, but more between CBSA and USBP than the RCMP themselves.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba are on trunk systems, so their interop would be interesting to discover as well.

 

[masonb]

Funny this was mentioned, I actually listened to a Border Patrol Agent chatting with the Cochrane RCMP yesterday. Repeated on Alpha-15, they could have used Bravo-10, Bravo-2 or Alpha-15 since they are all simulcasts' of each other. But none the less, I missed the most important part... how they linked up; but I'm pretty sure RCMP Control patched them in.

Perhaps someone else in the Calgary area was listening & could enlighten me.

 

[Jay911]

RCMP Telecoms (aka OCC) Red Deer has the ability to link RCMP repeaters and also telephone calls to any other RCMP repeaters in their center. I would presume this extends to any other frequencies they can bring into their center too, but I'm not sure they have any.

CBSA in the Calgary area is on 400MHz frequencies.

 

[jimlawrence]

Comms between RCMP in Quebec and 640 in Swanton, Vermont used to be on 640's main dispatch freq., 163.625. Of course, that was before 640 went to 100% encrypted voice so I can't tell if that's how it's done currently.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

I am familiar with the swanton sector in vermont/quebec border. But with the pilot project of the new Canadian Border Patrol in quebec as a starter project, with a joint co-operation between RCMP and the CBSA to create it, similar to the US border patrol. Most of the USBP frequencies have been encrypted or on their way for the very few that aren't as requested from their government.

With the start of this new canadian pilot project as a CAN border patrol, i am curious of the communications between RCMP, and the CBSA as well as the USBP, and with IBET, there will be an emphasis on inoperability issues between agencies.

But for the most part i can see a bunch of patching going on. Until a system is either upgraded or implemented by both Canadian and US governments. I guess its a wait and see issue.

But if there is going to be a Canadian Border patrol, there will be a need for communication directly with the US border patrol.

Here is a link to the related story for which i talk about

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Special+border+patrol/1250404/story.html

Also according to the National Post. There will be air drones patrolling the Canada/US border. With the grand opening
of a Station in North Dakota on Feb 16.

 

[KE7JFF]

I've heard several people tell me that US CBP at the US Pre-Clearence facilities has the ability to directly radio RCMP in terminal if they catch anyone RCMP or other Canadian agencies is looking for.

With IBET, my understanding is that they use US CBP frequencies but not 100% on that.

 

[Jay911]

I found the license that I recalled seeing in Alberta. It's not for the border patrol - it's for the DOT weigh station at Coutts, AB, where a joint Canada/US scale is in operation north of the border.

XMF316 is licensed for two (obsolete!) UHF Province of Alberta channels and one VHF repeater pair plus two VHF simplex channels for Montana DOT via license KNHD975.

Dissapointingly, the Canadian licensing bureau, Industry Canada, protects (hides) license/frequency data for police, military, and select federal agencies, so we can't find that data.

Alberta RCMP currently use VHF equipment operating between 138 and 159MHz, so it is possible that units working the border areas may have interop channels programmed in by the radio shop (if in fact USBP in Montana/Idaho is using VHF as I suspect).

 

[Jammin_Jay]

Well, with encrypted comms on the USPB repeaters. We will never be able to monitor. But like one person mentioned. If a patch to RCMP comms, is monitorable. But is this to the Canadian Customs , CBSA offices, or is that to USPB.

Anyways, with more security and border patrol implentations coming to the north border here. The patrolling activity will become more apparent, and may result in more air radio comms and ground radio comms being active. Some of the radio traffic may be more apparent.

But as indicated the Industry Canada Database, has these selective systems hidden from public use. I suppose the only other people that would know are the Radio Service Providers. But would be restricted from given information due to federal law.

But with these new air drones patrolling in western us/canada border this spring and summer of 2009. I suspect some vhf air frequencies
may be able to be monitored. Have to wait and see when this starts to take effect.

 

[KE7JFF]

Well, with encrypted comms on the USPB repeaters. We will never be able to monitor. But like one person mentioned. If a patch to RCMP comms, is monitorable. But is this to the Canadian Customs , CBSA offices, or is that to USPB.

Anyways, with more security and border patrol implentations coming to the north border here. The patrolling activity will become more apparent, and may result in more air radio comms and ground radio comms being active. Some of the radio traffic may be more apparent.

But as indicated the Industry Canada Database, has these selective systems hidden from public use. I suppose the only other people that would know are the Radio Service Providers. But would be restricted from given information due to federal law.

But with these new air drones patrolling in western us/canada border this spring and summer of 2009. I suspect some vhf air frequencies
may be able to be monitored. Have to wait and see when this starts to take effect.

Thinking about this some more, what does even US CBP operate at like Pre-Clearence stations at like YVR, YYZ etc? What does our (US) federal VHF band overlap with in Canada? (162-174 mhz) If there was nothing in danger if US CBP used them in Canada, I can imagine IC just allowing.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

I looked into this further. And in regards to Quebec/ Vermont. Jim Lawrence is correct. The RCMP have a channel that operates of a Swanton 640 sector repeaters. So industry canada must of allowed the radios to be implemented with a repeater access to a US repeater. Similar to the Lacolle Quebec fire dept, having access to the Adirondack Trunking Repeater for calls to Rouses Point, ny and area. I came across another article where a US border patrol officer was interviewed, and had mentioned about radio communication, with the RCMP and the SQ and how it was done on their frequency. If anyone is interested in that article i will private msg u it. The fed radio system was changed over to p25, and encrpyted. With some Oscar, Mike, Charlie Units operating in Frankin, Clinton County NY part of the swanton sector off of the chateaugay, ny repeater. Which brings the question.. does industry canada liscense a radio to be used on an FCC regulated repeater frequency for a user in canada. Or is it both FCC, and Industry Canada ?

 

[Jay911]

Which brings the question.. does industry canada liscense a radio to be used on an FCC regulated repeater frequency for a user in canada. Or is it both FCC, and Industry Canada ?

I found some licenses in the Yukon yesterday for VHF comms on US bandplans (12.5 kHz instead of 5 kHz) for US Customs Service. And, as I mentioned, IC has a license on file for the Alberta border for Alberta DOT types to operate on Montana DOT freqs.

Someone more versed in parsing the US FCC licenses would have to answer about whether or not the FCC has to grant specific permission for the Canadian use of their frequencies.

 

[125]

In Ontario (Niagara) Canada Customs use a MPT1327 radio system (422Mhz), The US customs and border patrol use P25 encrypted system (160Mhz) and the RCMP use a GE system encrypted(422Mhz) All the systems are linked via base and it is not uncommon to hear the shared comms on L7 RCMP sim or G5 when they forget to hit their encryption button and it's more common with marine patrols. The NRPS (Niagara regional police) marine unit has access to the system for joint opps but not the NRPS dispatch or mobiles. So I can't see why they would not have the same type of linking in BC. It is likely they are there but you have to look for them.