Active Hurricane Katrina Frequencies - HF

[blantonl]

Folks,

I've been spending some good time monitoring the following:

The USCG is very active with survey operations of the gulf, including the towns and locations south of New Orleans, and the City itself. In addition, the coordination of USCG assets coming into the New Orleans, MS, and Mobile areas is keeping comms active.

First place to start is the COTHEN Network, which is the Dept of Homeland Security / ICE ALE HF Network.

http://www.radioreference.com/wiki/index.php/COTHEN

The most active frequences on the network have been 5732, 7527, and 8912 due to most of the operations being at night. Expect the rest of the network to get active today with USCG assets working rescues and surveys.

Post your active frequencies that you are hearing here...

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I do not know if it is still active but 5696 KHz USB was an active USCG frequency between USCG aircraft and USCG COMSTAs for years.

I remember years ago during the San Francisco earthquake listening to a USCG helio during a search for a possible person in the water near the Bay Bridge on 5696 and I was on the east coast.

73 Eric

 

[n4voxgill]

At 9:40 AM CDT Coast Guard frequency 8983 is very active. Cutter Pamlico is trying to coordinate in the hurricane area but can't read the helicopters. Having to relay thru CAMSLANT. Constant communications on this frequency. Helicopter 2135 is having trouble hearing, they are trying to send it to check on flooding but can't hear. The copter is at 30.1 N. and 90.31 W.

 

[elk2370bruce]

I do heartily agree with the above. In addition, the Health and Welfare Amateur Radio Net on 14,265.00 MHz performed admirable service to the residents of the affected states. Monitoring the net gave true meaning of community service in time of emergency and disaster. My hat is off to these guys for a fantastic job; each time -- every time we need them.

 

[ka3jjz]

A good set of catches on the use of the COTHEN network, Lindsay - you'd hardly expect anyone to use these freqs for SAR work. Some of that has been showing up on the WUN server as well.

The digital 'squawking' that you hear on those frequencies is Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) - there's free software for decoding this mode, and the link - from the Utility Monitoring Central site from our ute Wiki - is ;

PC-ALE

If you need help setting this up, I'd suggest getting onto the WUN server, or jump to the HFLink Yahoo group (which is in the 'Links' page on the Utility Monitoring Central website).

73s Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

At this writing, 7527 is very busy here; it's still daytime, but I guess the propagation gods are having some pity on us, because there are plenty of ALE and USB comms here.

As one might guess, a lot of other agencies are involved in this massive disaster; the FAA (mentioned this afternoon), FEMA, SHARES, ect. The last list I know of for all these agencies - and more - comes from the Jan 05 WUN newsletter; specifically, the Military Lists Area. The list of freqs is HUGE and certainly more than I would want to put in a Wiki (even if I could....). Here's the specific link to that column in the newsletter...

WUN Jan 05 Military Lists Area

I'm sure Hugh has incorporated much of this into the Hurricane list, but in case he hasn't - there it is. 73s Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

8912 is real busy as well; and not just with COTHEN stuff. The digital squawks you are hearing - apart from the multi tone bursts that are ALE - is Riverhead NY Iding in HF ACARS (somewhat inaccurately referred to as HFDL). PC-HFDL handles this mode very easily, and the link is also available at the Utility Monitoring Central website, as mentioned earlier. 73s Mike

 

[racin06]

At 9:40 AM CDT Coast Guard frequency 8983 is very active. Cutter Pamlico is trying to coordinate in the hurricane area but can't read the helicopters. Having to relay thru CAMSLANT. Constant communications on this frequency. Helicopter 2135 is having trouble hearing, they are trying to send it to check on flooding but can't hear. The copter is at 30.1 N. and 90.31 W.

FYI - 8983 is the U.S. Coast Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC) day time frequency. CAMSPAC uses 5696 at night (which at this very moment is very busy). The U.S. Coast Guard maintains CAMSPAC in California. They maintain a 24 hour watch (415-669-2047 or 48) that monitor the Ships Coordinated Network. A duplex circuit that transmits on the 4426, 6501, 8764 and 13089 kilohertz HF frequencies and receives on 4134, 6200, 8240, and 12242 kilohertz HF frequencies.

In addition, CAMSPAC monitors an "Air to Ground" simplex frequency. The frequencies 5696 and 8983 kilohertz are monitored 24 hours a day.

If a vessel or aircraft can not reach the command center, they can hail CAMSPAC and ask for them to call (telephone) the command center and coordinate the frequency needed to establish communications.

Here is CAMSPAC's website (Interesting information): http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/camspac/index.htm

 

[Audiodave1]

Hi Folks,
First off, god bless and protect everyone affected or involved....

I'm getting plenty of activity up here in Delaware on COTHERN and standard USCG freqs including 5320, 5692 and 5815.5.

Little action on FEMA HF, I suspect SATCOM is much more convienent these days so there will be less traffic on those nets.

Dave

 

[mikeh]

this is going to be a long time New Orleansis fulling up like a soup bowl

14.265 is a good ham net good reports of damage reports USCG
SAC AIR IS MOVING ITS C-130
comm on 5696 on where to landed in New Orleans

 

[ka3jjz]

Both the WUN and Milcom servers on QTH net are being hit with LOTS of traffic re Katrina; many frequencies being used (almost wish I hadn't sold my FRG7 and Drake R7a) and reports of hospitals not being able to handle more patients. A horrible situation is rapidly turning into a human nightmare.

73s Mike

 

[kg4rgn]

Hf Hurricane Recovery Amateur Freq

14.300 Marine Net
14.265 Satern (savation Army Recovery)
All Upper Ssb


7.285 Hurricane Recovery
3.873 Hurricane Recovery
All Lower Ssb

Has Anyone Picked Up The Red Cross On Hf Yet???

Kg4rgn

 

[racin06]

Has Anyone Picked Up The Red Cross On Hf Yet???

Yes, last night I monitored the Red Cross Net on 14.270 USB.

 

[ka3jjz]

Just as a side note - the WUN website has a listing (dated July 05, so it will hopefully get updated soon) of Coast Guard aircraft and HF frequencies. 73s Mike

 

[Thunderbolt]

FEMA is on:

10.493
14.396.5

73's

Ron

 

[ropin4gold]

Try These:

Hurricane Katrina HF Response and Recovery Frequencies
>
> 02802.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-91) **
>
> 03171.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-92) **
>
> 05136.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-93) **
> 05141.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-94) **
> 05211.0 USB FEMA
> 05236.0 USB SHARES Coordination Network (nationwide HF voice
coordination)
>
> 06859.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-95) **
>
> 07507.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (pri)
>
> 07550.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-96 - primary) **
> 07698.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-97) **
>
> 09380.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (sec)
>
> 10493.0 USB FEMA
>
> 14396.5 USB SHARES Coordination Network (nationwide HF voice
coordination)
>

>
> AMATEUR HIGH-FREQUENCY GULF COAST HURRICANE NETS
>
> 03845.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
> 03862.5 LSB Mississippi Section Traffic
> 03873.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 03873.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (night)
> 03873.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (night)
> 03873.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
> 03910.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
> 03910.0 LSB Louisiana Traffic
> 03923.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
> 03925.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 03925.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
> 03935.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 03935.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health & welfare)
> 03935.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
> 03935.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)
> 03935.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
> 03940.0 LSB Southern Florida Emergency
> 03950.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
> 03955.0 LSB South Texas Emergency
> 03965.0 LSB Alabama Emergency (altn)
> 03967.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing traffic)
> 03975.0 LSB Texas RACES
> 03993.5 LSB Gulf Coast (health & welfare)
> 03995.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
>
> 07225.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 07235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
> 07235.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 07235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
> 07240.0 LSB American Red Cross US Gulf Coast Disaster
> 07240.0 LSB Texas Emergency
> 07243.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
> 07245.0 LSB Southern Louisiana
> 07248.0 LSB Texas RACES
> 07250.0 LSB Texas Emergency
> 07260.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
> 07264.0 LSB Gulf Coast (health & welfare)
> 07265.0 LSB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) (altn)
> 07273.0 LSB Texas ARES (altn)
> 07280.0 LSB NTS Region 5
> 07280.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
> 07283.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing only)
> 07285.0 LSB West Gulf ARES Emergency (day)
> 07285.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (day)
> 07285.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
> 07285.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (day)
> 07290.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
> 07290.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
> 07290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
> 07290.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health & welfare) (day)
> 07290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
> 07290.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)
>
> 14265.0 USB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN) (health &
> welfare) 14300.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic
> 14300.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service
> 14303.0 USB International Assistance & Traffic
> 14313.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic (altn)
> 14313.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service (altn)
> 14316.0 USB Health & Welfare
> 14320.0 USB Health & Welfare
> 14325.0 USB Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-National Hurricane Center)
> 14340.0 USB Louisiana (1900)

 

[racin06]

On 5696 I just monitored CAMSLANT communicating with a Coast Guard C-130 (Call Name - Coast Guard 2003). Coast Guard 2003 departed the air station in Elizabeth City, NC and indicated that he was enroute to Alexandria, LA with an ETA of 2340 local time.

 

[kb5udf]

Most Active HF Emergency and Priority (HAM)

The agencies I have been serving with (NWS, Red Cross, and MS Emergency Mgmt),
have been maintaing watch and engaging in comms on the West Gulf Coast Ares NET
7.285 LSB (day)
3.823 LSB (night)

Generally we switch over to the 80 meter band (3.823) at around 6 p.m. CDT.
But traffic generally slows down to a trickle by night. However, I suspect the various health and welfare nets will stay logjammed for some time.


As you might expect, the MEMA (MS Emerg. mgmtt) EOC is quite the beehive of activity.

As plug, I hope anyone who reads this considers donating their time and/or funds to the Red Cross and or Salvation Army. I am not a member of any of these organizations, just answered a radio call that help was needed.

Jean

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

Tip from another site. Incredible first hand reports and coverage from New Orleans' Clear Channel AM Station WWL on 870 AM. Can hear nationwide about a half-hour after dark, then all night long. Listen on any regular AM radio, General Coverage Ham Rig or Shortwave Receiver, even your car radio.
They're still managing 25kw down from their ususal 50kw regular clear channel power.