Air VHF questions -- 125.575 received near Albany, NY

[chrismol1]

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

View attachment 108582

I'm with you, I'd rather hear both sides of the conversation
If he's at any decent elevation he should be able to with a good antenna, possibly at his house. I'm just outside the Albany area with an external antenna receiving Lake George transmitters 3-4 / 5

 

[AirScan]

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

Keep in mind these are just my personal notes and not any type of official charts. One of these days I'll put together a legend that explains what some of the more obscure references mean. ATCTech provided a good explanation. Some of the more obscure stuff.

This is a High Altitude Chart so unless otherwise indicated all sectors extend from FL240 and above. For orientation select waypoints are displayed. See the High Altitude Chart at SkyVector for reference.

Sectors are identifed using the Centers 3 letter code and sector number. ZBW = Boston, ZNY = New York, ZOB = Cleveland, etc.

An asterix * beside a sector/frequency box indicates it's only used when required due traffic volume. For example ZBW53, 118.82, the * indicates 118.82(5) is only used when required, otherwise the airspace FL240 and above is combined into and controlled by the sector below using 135.70(0). Another example is ZNY34/ZNY49 where 121.32(5) is only used when required, otherwise the airspace is controlled by the adjacent sector/frequency 132.17(5) indicated by the small boxed plus sign. Note- primary/secondary frequencies are being used less as more sectors are combined using frequency cross-coupling (see xc below).

A frequency listed in a smaller font under a sector/frequency box indicates it's been observed being used as a backup frequency in that sector. For example 135.07(5) used as a backup for 125.57(5) in ZBW20.

For ZBW09/ZBW08, these sectors are almost always combined, indicated by hashed line between boxes, with 135.25 in lighter font indicating that frequency is generally used for low altitude traffic

The xc does indicate the frequencies have been observed to be cross-coupled. Meaning aircraft tuned to one of the frequencies will be able to hear aircraft transmitting on the other frequency. As far as I know ATC in the US still only have the capability to cross-couple 2 frequencies together, while in other parts of the World (Canada) multiple frequencies can be cross-coupled together.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but if you have any more question I'd be happy to answer.

 

[chrismol1]

ZBW 39 135.32 & ZBW 38 128.32 are combined these days. You can hear the controller transmitting on both frequencies day and night. Interestingly, I have a consistently little bit stronger signal on 135.32 than 128.32

 

[KB2GOM]

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

View attachment 108582

Great idea!

 

[AirScan]

ZBW 39 135.32 & ZBW 38 128.32 are combined these days.

Also last week ZBW was using 133.625 in place of 128.325 for awhile. 133.625 is not listed in the RR ARTCC Database but is a published ZBW AWACS frequency (also transmitting from Lake George). Although I've never heard it used as an "AWACS" frequency, I guess they can use it as a spare when required.

 

[Ishmole]

Thank you AirScan for the map! Here is a map I have been using. I am in Orange County NY and monitor 125.575 for the high altitude traffic just north of me. It seems the ground link transmitter is in Kingston, NY. I cannot receive it here in Orange, BUT, if I monitor 290.35 I can hear the controller as they simulcast. I have found that, in my case at least, the high frequency transmissions travel further. It might be worth a try!
Here also is the Boston Low Altitude map.

 

[alphazulu]

Hello Ishmole

I believe 125.575 / 290.35 ZBW transmits from the Shelton, Ct. (Kingston High Sector) site about 60 miles ESE from your area. According to RR 134.3 & 256.9 (Stewart Low Sector) transmits from the Kingston VOR. I certainly could be wrong. Perhaps on occasion the 290.35 UHF is cross-coupled between the Shelton & Kingston sites?

I must add The Hudson Valley very nice part of our state. A bonus; some free time, decent weather, and watching the Newark (KEWR) arrivals at ~10,000 feet

 

[Ishmole]

Yes Alphazulu, you are correct! After I posted I realized that I had switched locations. 256.9 is the frequency I receive at home. I don't hear anything on 290.35.
I too watch the Newark arrivals as they pass over my house, or slightly to the west at about 8500 feet. I can also see the JFK arrivals to the east at about 20,000 feet. All the flights at 33 to 38,000 feet seem to be going to Atlanta of Washington DC, or Charlotte NC. I use Planefinder as I am a contributor.
It is a fun hobby!