Changes in BWI Frequencies

[wadeless28]

Thanks TinEar.

Another example of what we see in the sky over our house, was last evening. While grilling dinner I noticed what turned out to be a KC-10 tanker, with a single fighter in tow, just southwest of BWI flying NNW. It must have been above 20k foot the fighter in tow was just a speck. I threw the scanner on some DC CAP freqs but didn’t pick up anything. It continued NW until out of site so I don’t know if it was on CAP duty or transiting through. Still neat to see though.

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Thanks TinEar.

Another example of what we see in the sky over our house, was last evening. While grilling dinner I noticed what turned out to be a KC-10 tanker, with a single fighter in tow, just southwest of BWI flying NNW. It must have been above 20k foot the fighter in tow was just a speck. I threw the scanner on some DC CAP freqs but didn’t pick up anything. It continued NW until out of site so I don’t know if it was on CAP duty or transiting through. Still neat to see though.

Mike

I don't know if it was related, but there was a great deal of training going on 127.275; this is a popular DC ANG frequency. I heard them last nite with practice bombing runs; calls were 'scary 1' and 'scary 2' . Nothing on any other freq. 73s Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

I've had 123.75 up all day and haven't heard a peep. That would be interesting if it's now being used for Tipton. I should be able to hear them if they use it for that. I'll keep it up full time on one of my radios and see what happens.

For the last few days, 123.75 has been dead here; perhaps decommissioned or moved? Could be at Tipton, but don't know for sure.

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

I still have Tipton on 123.05 and have not heard anything from 123.75 either.

By the way Mike, I timed the CW on that .wav file you sent me. It was at 24-25 wpm. You guessed 30..I guessed 20...it split the difference.

 

[ka3jjz]

Yeah, I guess it's safe to drop 123.75 from the BWI list in the database. I'll send a note to get that done...

Some interesting developments on the UHF scene; 126.75, 125.525 and 291.625 were all tied together, as was 124.55, 133.75, 254.35 and 317.425.
Now 119.7 and 119.0 were tied together, as was 282.275 and 290.475. 257.8 is back as the tower milair side to 119.4

It's getting confusing....73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

Yeah, and then they go to the night time operation where they consolidate control stations. That's really a pain when you're scanning and the Clearance Delivery, Ground Control and Tower freqs are all combined under one controller and yet the aircraft are still using all three freqs. Same thing with the whole string of approach/departure frequencies - one controller's output on all freqs but pilots speaking on just one of them. So, the scanner stops on the first voice it hears from the controller but the reply from the aircraft will be on a different freq. It's not fun scanning BWI at night. And yet I can't seem to just turn that bank off...a sucker for punishment I guess.

 

[Spleen]

And tonight I accidentally hear traffic on 131.05, 132.125, and 129.75...nothing in this database, and nothing matching on the current Airnav listings for KDCA, KIAD, and KBWI....is tonight one of those really awesome ducting nights?

 

[ka3jjz]

And tonight I accidentally hear traffic on 131.05, 132.125, and 129.75...nothing in this database, and nothing matching on the current Airnav listings for KDCA, KIAD, and KBWI....is tonight one of those really awesome ducting nights?

That's because you're in the ARINC zone; this band goes from 128.825 thru 132.0 mhz and 136 thru 137 mhz. These are leased company frequencies - aircraft here can be heard for several hundred miles due to their height, depending on your antenna and setup.

Let's see, 129.75 is used by Air Shuttle Allegheny Chitaugua and Signature ops@LaGuardia. Notice that more than 1 company can and often does share a frequency.

I don't know who use the other 2, but T-storms allowing, perhaps I can
dig an ID out of these....73s Mike

 

[Spleen]

132.125 turns out to be Cleveland Center (Blue Knob, high altitude), which explains why those guys were blowing me out of the chair...

 

[TinEar]

123.75 is back in use in its original configuration at BWI as of last night. It's still being used as a backup tower freq. The only difference I've noticed is that it's not quite as strong as it used to be.

 

[ka3jjz]

123.75 is back in use in its original configuration at BWI as of last night. It's still being used as a backup tower freq. The only difference I've noticed is that it's not quite as strong as it used to be.

Didn't hear it at all here Al, but that means nothing; with indoor antennas, it might be iffy if they've moved the transmitter to a blind spot for me.

Be sure to get that back into the database.

73s Mike