Air VHF questions -- 125.575 received near Albany, NY

[KB2GOM]

That frequency is not on the list of Albany International Airport frequencies. Heard a lot of pilots we offshore accents, suggesting it might not be Albany. For some reason I can't really define, I thought it might be Boston brought to me through some ducting.

Another thread suggested it might be: 125.575 MHz Kingston Sector 20 (VHF) -- time to display my ignorance; what does that mean?

 

[ecps92]

Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That frequency is not on the list of Albany International Airport frequencies. Heard a lot of pilots we offshore accents, suggesting it might not be Albany. For some reason I can't really define, I thought it might be Boston brought to me through some ducting.

Another thread suggested it might be: 125.575 MHz Kingston Sector 20 (VHF) -- time to display my ignorance; what does that mean?

 

[ATCTech]

That is indeed a high altitude airspace sector of Boston ARTCC controlled airspace called the "Kingston High Sector". Because the frequency is used for aircraft in their en route phase of flight (commonly called cruise altitudes) you'll hear all kinds of callsigns as the flights pass through that particular area of airspace. Nothing new or unusual and the reception range will be quite wide because of the height above ground of the aircraft.

 

[KB2GOM]

That is indeed a high altitude airspace sector of Boston ARTCC controlled airspace called the "Kingston High Sector". Because the frequency is used for aircraft in their en route phase of flight (commonly called cruise altitudes) you'll hear all kinds of callsigns as the flights pass through that particular area of airspace. Nothing new or unusual.

Oh darn; here I thought I was being treated to some unusual atmospheric conditions.

So to play it back to you: these are flights either going into or out of Boston airspace, and I can hear them because of their altitude . . . correct?

 

[hill]

More than likely the FAA NY Center. These Air traffic centers control aircraft when flying between airports. They have many frequencies and sectors of airspace to control. Plus both low, high, and ultra high sectors.

Most of the time you can only receive the planes talking with the center and can't receive the ground side. Remember that with her planes flying at 30k plus attitude the VHF signals can cover hundreds miles of with the sectors using remote transmitters and receivers to conduct this sometimes you may be within the area where one is located. I can receive a few in this area.

 

[KB2GOM]

More than likely the FAA NY Center. These Air traffic centers control aircraft when flying between airports. They have many frequencies and sectors of airspace to control. Plus both low, high, and ultra high sectors.

Most of the time you can only receive the planes talking with the center and can't receive the ground side. Remember that with her planes flying at 30k plus miles attitude the VHF signals can cover hundreds ofWith the sectors using remote transmitters and receivers to conduct this sometimes you may be within the area where one is located. I can receive a few in this area.

What was interesting to me is that I picked it up by doing a "search and store" (ATS in CCrane lingo) with my CCrane Skywave SSB on its whip antenna.

 

[hill]

They may be going to an airport in Boston or could just passing through this airspace reroute to an airport in another part of the world.

In my area Washington Center (Located in Lessburg, VA) controls the airspace. I am near the area when NY Center takes over the control. I can aircraft working both centers depending on the frequency. All aircraft going North switch to NY Center one shortly.

 

[mass-man]

If your loading up your scanner with VHF AIr, don't forget 123.40 and 123.45! I recently popped those back in the dedicated air scanner and it's been quite interesting to hear pilot to pilot comms!!!!!

 

[alphazulu]

OP, by using an app or website like - Live Flight Tracker - FlightAware and https://planefinder.net/ and listening for the flights call-sign you can follow and track these flights. Along with; The flights airport of departure and arrival, A/C type, Altitude & Speed, etc. And here is The Radio Reference Boston Center ZBW ARTCC page - Boston (ZBW) Air Route Traffic Control Center Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

You can also use liveatc.net to search frequencies you aren't sure about

 

[KB2GOM]

I'm hearing a lot of activity on 135.3250 as well from my location in Troy, NY. I heard someone say, distinctly, "Boston Center."

 

[ATCTech]

The "Athens High" sector for Boston, Jock. For giggles try 134.575 (Toronto East High) and you'll hear eastbounds being handed off to Boston there too, plus a fair number of westbounds coming up from New York and Boston heading across our airspace. Most of the traffic you'll hear will be handed off to Montreal Center on 135.600, but some will be routing more southerly over Watertown (the ART VOR) towards Maine into Boston ARTCC airspace. As pointed out by others, the flight tracking sites are your "eyes" on where the aircraft is and where it's heading. Eastbound hand-offs between Toronto and Boston typically will be on 123.875 (High level) or 135.250 (Low Level).

Feel free to direct message me if you'd like more specifics...

 

[KB2GOM]

The "Athens High" sector for Boston, Jock. For giggles try 134.575 (Toronto East High) and you'll hear eastbounds being handed off to Boston there too, plus a fair number of westbounds coming up from New York and Boston heading across our airspace. Most of the traffic you'll hear will be handed off to Montreal Center on 135.600, but some will be routing more southerly over Watertown (the ART VOR) towards Maine into Boston ARTCC airspace. As pointed out by others, the flight tracking sites are your "eyes" on where the aircraft is and where it's heading. Eastbound hand-offs between Toronto and Boston typically will be on 123.875 (High level) or 135.250 (Low Level).

Feel free to direct message me if you'd like more specifics...

ATC,

I loaded those three frequencies into my 125AT and already got some hits on the 123.875 (which I have labeled East High).

A (perhaps) interesting aside: I have three scanners -- SDS200, 125AT, 396T. The SDS200 comes with a telescoping whip antenna that works pretty well, but, to see if I could boost reception, I purchased the Comet W100RX, which is a much longer telescoping whip antenna.

The Comet has markings on the side of the first section for various frequencies: V-air, U-air, etc. Using the local ATIS and the signal strength meter, I was fine tuning the Comet for U-air, and it turns out the magic length is 27 inches. And that, coincidentally, is exactly length of the stock antenna that comes with the SDS200.

So when I want to listen to Civ Air on the 125AT, I attach the stock antenna from the SDS200 to the 125AT, and it works even better than the Diamond 77.

 

[Omega-TI]

I wish I could have heard this ATC conversation as it happened. I love this story so much I've viewed it at least 5 times.

 

[chrismol1]

I'm hearing a lot of activity on 135.3250 as well from my location in Troy, NY. I heard someone say, distinctly, "Boston Center."

The High flight level freqs you can catch some really great accents coming from over the pond

Can you hear the controller on these frequencies from your location?

Lake George, NY RCAG

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
121.35000		BM		ZBW22 ALB-L	Sector 22 Albany Low 11,000-FL230	AM	Aircraft
128.32500		BM		ZBW39 CAM-H	Sector 39 Cambridge High FL240-600	AM	Aircraft
135.32500		BM		ZBW38 AHN-H	Sector 38 Athens High FL240-600	AM	Aircraft

Boston (ZBW) Air Route Traffic Control Center Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Boston (ZBW) Air Route Traffic Control Center

www.radioreference.com

 

[AirScan]

If it's any help here are my notes showing the high altitude sectors in that area.

 

[KB2GOM]

If it's any help here are my notes showing the high altitude sectors in that area.

Thanks for the file . . . time to display my ignorance once again: How do those notes related to the ground?

. . . wait. I think I located Albany next to ZBW38 . . . correct? If so, I think I am pretty well oriented.

But I haven't seen notes like this before, sooooo:

I see a alpha numeric code: SWB38
below that, a frequency, which I presume the main frequency for transitting that area
below that, another frequency, which means what?
or a number with an A following it, again, which means what?

 

[ATCTech]

Example for you here. ZBW53 denotes Boston Center sector #53 is the primary ATC sector for the frequency/airspace. 118.82(5) is the radio frequency, and 240A means it's used for Flight Level 240 (roughly 24,000 feet, but that's another topic) and Above.

For Boston ATC sector 52 (ZBW52) the frequency is 135.700 in that area and it's assigned to flights at FL230 and Below.

And yes, ALB is indeed Albany in sector 38.

A Cleveland (ZOB) example:



Sector 79 uses 132.92(5) and handles FL350 and above while their sector 77 uses 134.12(5) and handles flights BETWEEN FL280 and FL340. There will be another low-level sector under these ones on a different chart.

And before anybody jumps all over me, 25 kHz channel spacing in the ATC environment allows for the "implied" 3rd digit after the decimal point (always a "5") for frequencies where the 2nd digit after the decimal place is either 2 or 7. So for example publishing 128.27 is in reality 128.275 by default on any 25 kHz radio.

It's different but similar in areas of the world where 8.33 kHz spacing in active.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure the lower case xc is indicating the frequency may be cross-coupled with the other frequencie(s) when ATC sectors combine during quiet hours or special circumstances.

Hope that helps you Jock!

 

[KB2GOM]

View attachment 108573Example for you here. ZBW53 denotes Boston Center sector #53 is the primary ATC sector for the frequency/airspace. 118.82(5) is the radio frequency, and 240A means it's used for Flight Level 240 (roughly 24,000 feet, but that's another topic) and Above.

For Boston ATC sector 52 (ZBW52) the frequency is 135.700 in that area and it's assigned to flights at FL230 and Below.

And yes, ALB is indeed Albany in sector 38.

A Cleveland (ZOB) example:

View attachment 108574

Sector 79 uses 132.92(5) and handles FL350 and above while their sector 77 uses 134.12(5) and handles flights BETWEEN FL280 and FL340. There will be another low-level sector under these ones on a different chart.

And before anybody jumps all over me, 25 kHz channel spacing in the ATC environment allows for the "implied" 3rd digit after the decimal point (always a "5") for frequencies where the 2nd digit after the decimal place is either 2 or 7. So for example publishing 128.27 is in reality 128.275 by default on any 25 kHz radio.

It's different but similar in areas of the world where 8.33 kHz spacing in active.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure the lower case xc is indicating the frequency may be cross-coupled with the other frequencie(s) when ATC sectors combine during quiet hours or special circumstances.

Hope that helps you Jock!

Yes, very helpful.

Hardly a week goes by but that I say to myself that Radio Reference is a terrific resource where people are generous with their time and expertise.

 

[alphazulu]

Jock
(Respectfully) grab your portable scanner, program in the ZBW Lake George frequencies, and head for the hills; About a 30-40 minute ride to; John Boyd Thacher State Park overlook (1200'); Taconic Mountains (~2000'); Wilton, NY Ulysses S. Grants Cottage (1000'), and you should be able to hear the Air Traffic Control side of the conversations (Boston Center ARTCC ZBW at Lake George). Or better yet a one hour drive to beautiful Lake George, NY (on scenic Prospect Mountain) to see and hear the FAA RCAG transmitters. As you know with ham radio operations proximity and elevation are your friends. Others can articulate it better than me but in the right conditions (mostly your elevation and a good quality antenna) you can hear aircraft up to 230+/- miles away at ~35,0000 feet