ARTCC/RCAG & Where they're at?

[N4JNW]

Got a couple questions here for the aircraft monitors here..

I'm in the process of entering some frequencies for the Aircraft bank in one of my scanners, and I was sorta confused about some stuff. In the database, I was looking at the Indianapolis ARTCC frequency listings, and I'm finding multiple frequencies for each town. Now, that that's straight, time for some questions..

A - If Indy center is indeed in Indianapolis, why are there 40,000 frequencies listed for them, in several different towns?

B - What is the difference between an ARTCC and an RCAG? Is Indy center the main headquarters, and are there just other smaller "co-op" stations set up in these cities, which utilize the frequencies listed for them? If this is the case, I'm guessing Indy probably either microwaves the radar imagery to these other "co-op" stations, or does Indy just microwave their audio to a remote transmitter site which is located in these other cities?

C - Is there ANYWHERE I can go, that would show me a map of an area that shows the frequencies used in that area? I'm looking at the Indy ARTCC listings for Kentucky, and it's showing Winchester. Well, there is a Winchester, Kentucky, and a Winchester, Ohio, and probably a Winchester, Somewhere else. Is there anyway I can SEE what frequencies cover a specific area in the state?

D - Lastly, has anyone ever been TO an ARTCC place and seen it for themselves? What's it look like?

 

[zguy1243]

What would answer all your questions would be a Center ATC sector chart. They are hard to get and very rare to find a good. I have searched for them for awhile. There are a few online if you google it but no reliable sources. If anyone has some good sector charts please come foward.

 

[nd5y]

RCAG = Remote Communications Air to Ground
They are the remote base stations that the ARTCCs use.

 

[jerk]

Got a couple questions here for the aircraft monitors here..

I'm in the process of entering some frequencies for the Aircraft bank in one of my scanners, and I was sorta confused about some stuff. In the database, I was looking at the Indianapolis ARTCC frequency listings, and I'm finding multiple frequencies for each town. Now, that that's straight, time for some questions..

A - If Indy center is indeed in Indianapolis, why are there 40,000 frequencies listed for them, in several different towns?

B - What is the difference between an ARTCC and an RCAG? Is Indy center the main headquarters, and are there just other smaller "co-op" stations set up in these cities, which utilize the frequencies listed for them? If this is the case, I'm guessing Indy probably either microwaves the radar imagery to these other "co-op" stations, or does Indy just microwave their audio to a remote transmitter site which is located in these other cities?

C - Is there ANYWHERE I can go, that would show me a map of an area that shows the frequencies used in that area? I'm looking at the Indy ARTCC listings for Kentucky, and it's showing Winchester. Well, there is a Winchester, Kentucky, and a Winchester, Ohio, and probably a Winchester, Somewhere else. Is there anyway I can SEE what frequencies cover a specific area in the state?

D - Lastly, has anyone ever been TO an ARTCC place and seen it for themselves? What's it look like?

Check this link out, will give you visual and information but no frequencies. But it is a good place to start.
<http://sua.faa.gov/sua/Welcome.do>

AL

 

[akuter]

In the RR database, and click at the bottom of a state for the ARTCC freq section, click downloads, there is a sector chart for Indy center w/freqs. Hope this helps.

 

[KB4REA]

C - Is there ANYWHERE I can go, that would show me a map of an area that shows the frequencies used in that area? I'm looking at the Indy ARTCC listings for Kentucky, and it's showing Winchester. Well, there is a Winchester, Kentucky, and a Winchester, Ohio, and probably a Winchester, Somewhere else. Is there anyway I can SEE what frequencies cover a specific area in the state?

Here's another link that has a map with pins indicating RCAG locations. Just select your ARTCC Center and submit.
http://freqofnature.no-ip.com:8080/faa/index.php
BUT, I don't know how up-to-date the information is.

 

[KI8IK]

ZID Homepage: http://www.zidartcc.org/
ARTCC Locations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_Control_Center

Mike, KI8IK

 

[trainman111]

Just to clairfy, that's not ZID's official homepage. That's a site made by VATSIM. Here's VATSIM's homepage: http://www.vatsim.net/

 

[N4JNW]

Thanks for the information guys! I've been all over the websites, grabbing frequencies, and comparing them with the one's listed in the databse.

 

[KI8IK]

Ha! you're right. I just did a quick search and came across that, my mistake, sorry.

 

[trainman111]

No problem. They're still a great resource. The ZDC VATSIM page is pretty up-to-date. The charts etc. come in handy too.

 

[zz0468]

What would answer all your questions would be a Center ATC sector chart. They are hard to get and very rare to find a good. I have searched for them for awhile. There are a few online if you google it but no reliable sources. If anyone has some good sector charts please come foward.

They shouldn't be hard to find if you know where to look. Go to a local general aviation airport, find the pilot shop, and buy the sectional charts for the local areas you're interested in. They'll show not only the airport frequencies, but high and low altitude enroute frequencies, and the UHF military frequencies that ATC uses for those areas.

Not only that, it'll show where the navaids are, it'll show the Victor airways, intersections, vfr reporting points, and all kinds of great stuff.

The charts are available mail order if there's no where close to buy them.

 

[zguy1243]

yeah I have all the local sectional charts. They do show some center freqs scattered around, but what I have been looking for is a Sector chart that shows the boundaries of the sectors laid over a regional map. This is useful to give a clear idea of where exactly aircraft are when listening. I have charts like this for LA center and others but I have no luck finding one for Atlanta center or Memphis center.

They shouldn't be hard to find if you know where to look. Go to a local general aviation airport, find the pilot shop, and buy the sectional charts for the local areas you're interested in. They'll show not only the airport frequencies, but high and low altitude enroute frequencies, and the UHF military frequencies that ATC uses for those areas.

Not only that, it'll show where the navaids are, it'll show the Victor airways, intersections, vfr reporting points, and all kinds of great stuff.

The charts are available mail order if there's no where close to buy them.

 

[N4JNW]

Our airport has them... I just scored one!

 

[zguy1243]

Here is some good info for New York center:
http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/airspace/ZNY_LTA0601.pdf

can anybody come forward with Atlanta or Memphis center sector charts?

 

[w8jjr]

They shouldn't be hard to find if you know where to look. Go to a local general aviation airport, find the pilot shop, and buy the sectional charts for the local areas you're interested in. They'll show not only the airport frequencies, but high and low altitude enroute frequencies, and the UHF military frequencies that ATC uses for those areas.

Not only that, it'll show where the navaids are, it'll show the Victor airways, intersections, vfr reporting points, and all kinds of great stuff.

The charts are available mail order if there's no where close to buy them.

or go here for free

http://skyvector.com/#22-14-3-2030-1445

select charts on top
This is good for vec charts and freqs

 

[zz0468]

or go here for free

http://skyvector.com/#22-14-3-2030-1445

select charts on top
This is good for vec charts and freqs

Perfect! There is a section on the charts that has all the frequencies listed in one place. Since this is the information fed to pilots, it's pretty accurate.