Federal NAC codes

[Gilligan]

Back when the Department of Homeland Security was created, the Transportation Security Administration was moved under their control and a standard channel plan was assigned to them for use nationwide.....

The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is a part of the the Department of Homeland Security.
The following is the channel plan from the radios and the descriptions from list on the front of the radios. As you can see some of the channels have the same frequencies (i.e. 1 thru 4), but use digital conventional talkgroups as the channels do not hear each other (i.e., transmit on Channel 3 is not heard on Channel 4, etc.), the exception to this is Channel 10 which can be heard on Channel 7.
Zone A, Output, Input, TX NAC, RX NAC, PERS, Modulation, Simplex/Repeater
CH 1, 172.1500, 172.1500, 1, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 2, 172.1500, 172.1500, 2, 2, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 3, 172.1500, 172.1500, 3, 3, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 4, 172.1500, 172.1500, 4, 4, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 5, 172.9000, 172.9000, 2, 2, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 6, 169.3000, 169.3000, 9, 9, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 7, 172.9000, 169.3000, 1, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Repeater
CH 8, 172.9000, 169.3000, 2, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Repeater
CH 9, 172.9000, 169.3000, 3, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Repeater
CH 10, 172.9000, 172.9000, 1, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 11, 172.9000, 172.9000, 3, 3, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex
CH 12, 166.4625, 166.4625, 1, 1, 2, Analog/103.5 PL, Simplex
CH 13, 166.4625, 166.4625, 1, 1, 1, ASTRO (APCO-25), Simplex

The RR Wiki has the standard TSA plan w/ NAC codes, but I've been wondering about it for a while. It's a little confusing because the page uses "input" and "output" but also "RX NAC" and "TX NAC". I'm pretty good about this kind of stuff normally, but I'm not sure if the RX/TX refers to the radio or to the repeaters. Specifically, I'm referring to channels 7-9. The page comments that ch 10 can be heard on 7, but is that because it goes through the repeater or because it can be heard as a talkaround channel? It is not specified. My real question would be this: Do you have to program NAC 1, 2, & 3 for the repeaters, or do the inputs (169.300) have different NAC codes w/ one common output (172.9, NAC 001)? Maybe someone can correct the Wiki on this issue.

 

[SOFA_KING]

Se Fl Usm Nac

SE FL USM freq 162.7875 NAC 293 heard today. Direct mobile to mobile.

It was a good day!

Phil

 

[Tidalwave]

Got a clear, unencrypted signal today on 165.7625 with a NAC of 301.

Not sure who this is as the freq is listed as multiple different agencies (doing a search) and I have yet to find a NAC of 301 used by any specific agency. The comms were short and quick with a voice asking the city (by name) for a radio check and a response saying "loud and clear" the original asking if the transmission was "in the clear" and a response of "affirmative".

 

[diskmonger]

Got a clear, unencrypted signal today on 165.7625 with a NAC of 301.

Not sure who this is as the freq is listed as multiple different agencies (doing a search) and I have yet to find a NAC of 301 used by any specific agency. The comms were short and quick with a voice asking the city (by name) for a radio check and a response saying "loud and clear" the original asking if the transmission was "in the clear" and a response of "affirmative".

Border Patrol repeater in Toledo, OH uses 165.6875 with a NAC of 301.

Also, 165.7625 is a known Border Patrol freq: http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2006/06/dhs-cbp-channel-lineup.html

 

[ecps92]

$301 seems to be [New England] the CBP

The other days Omaha was Airborne and was calling Surv Units.
Same Freq's [Different Alpha Tags] but heard on $001 and $301 NAC

Got a clear, unencrypted signal today on 165.7625 with a NAC of 301.

Not sure who this is as the freq is listed as multiple different agencies (doing a search) and I have yet to find a NAC of 301 used by any specific agency. The comms were short and quick with a voice asking the city (by name) for a radio check and a response saying "loud and clear" the original asking if the transmission was "in the clear" and a response of "affirmative".

 

[SOFA_KING]

Ocdetf

More paydirt!

On a whim, I put this freq into my scan list and BINGO, it lit up.

164.5500 OCDETF National simplex (and repeater?).

I'm hearing P25 ENC direct mobile traffic with NAC 167 on it.

In the past I have heard traffic in NYC with PL 167.9 on it. Here in FL I heard a repeater with OTAR and a PL of 156.7 some years ago. I have a couple of mystery freqs with that PL on the VHF band. But today we have P25! Cool!!!

So I bagged another important channel for S. Florida. What a rush!

Phil

 

[ecps92]

See what you hear at the same time on 168.8625

More paydirt!

On a whim, I put this freq into my scan list and BINGO, it lit up.

164.5500 OCDETF National simplex (and repeater?).

I'm hearing P25 ENC direct mobile traffic with NAC 167 on it.

In the past I have heard traffic in NYC with PL 167.9 on it. Here in FL I heard a repeater with OTAR and a PL of 156.7 some years ago. I have a couple of mystery freqs with that PL on the VHF band. But today we have P25! Cool!!!

So I bagged another important channel for S. Florida. What a rush!

Phil

 

[SOFA_KING]

See what you hear at the same time on 168.8625

I did search the band when it was active to look for an output. The band search came up clean after many sweeps. Is that freq an output or input, Bill?

Phil

 

[ecps92]

Both the OCDTF can be simplex on both or input/output on both.

I Have caught all 4 flavors in years Past.

I did search the band when it was active to look for an output. The band search came up clean after many sweeps. Is that freq an output or input, Bill?

Phil

 

[SOFA_KING]

Both the OCDTF can be simplex on both or input/output on both.

I Have caught all 4 flavors in years Past.

BONUS! Once again...You da man! Thanks, Bill.

I have no record of anything on that freq, but into the scan list it goes! Report to follow...

I have blasted my scanner so many times that I am starting to worry I might break it!

Phil :cool

 

[CqDx]

I can confirm CBP at JFK airport using NAC 301 for their operations, about 70% of time is encrypted, other 30% in the clear.

I have also heard 170.7375 using NAC 301 but it is 100% encrypted, but it isn't one of the "NET" channels of the CBP bandplan. Anyone else hear activity on 170.7375?

 

[2wayfreq]

Good Thread,
As far as Astro Sabers/XTS go, Having the Correct NAC brings up the ID of the radio transmitting. When its encrypted, I get a repeating double flash on the RX light with no audible encryption. Unencrypted digital displays a normal RX light. If you dont know the NAC, just set it for NAC 293 and "Digital CSQ" for the squelch.

 

[texasemt13]

This morning I've confirmed that FPS in Austin, Texas is using 410.8000MHz with NAC 715. I have not seen this NAC in use anywhere else. There has been mention of a Ch. 2 in Texas FPS (I've only confirmed that I'm hearing 3 cities, 2 of them identified as San Antonio and Austin). Please try to identify if this NAC is in use anywhere else.

 

[SOFA_KING]

Roger that ~

If and when S. FL goes P25, I'll post the NAC. I'm waiting!

Phil

 

[DonnieDog]

TVA Police is NAC 418 (encrypted)
Picking up NAC 167 on both 167.6375 and 171.1625
Also getting NAC 482 on 407.775

BTW - East Tennessee

 

[SCPD]

AM GETTING 173.150 heavy traffic nac 330 Encrypted.. I have this as FBI? .. Am in Central Alabama.
Paul
also 171.0125 DCS 565

 

[SCPD]

Seems CBP NorthTexas is still 100.0 analog, but I have heard a few 001 NAC's and 031 NAC's. BOP/FCI seems to really like 031 NAC as more and more of their operations are Digitalizing.

 

[RTrue]

nac decoders

I'v been trying KnacK to decode nac codes without any luck. I am using the baseband audio from mr Icom R8600
Is the another piece of softwar I should try.

Randy
W4RTT

 

[radioprescott]

I'v been trying KnacK to decode nac codes without any luck. I am using the baseband audio from mr Icom R8600
Is the another piece of softwar I should try.

Randy
W4RTT

I use both the tap and the speaker jack on my 895. I am getting better results using audio from the speaker jack.

 

[Audiodave1]

Knack is pretty fussy about the qudio level (and the signal to noise ratio of the signal) like Unitrunker. This may or may not be the problem.
Can you decode a TRS with UT?

AFAIK KnacK is the only stand alone decoder. With the increasing prevalence of NAC decoding in newer generation scanners I'm not sure there is much of a move to create software decoders.

Dave