Looking for federal frequencies in Western NY.

[Planeguysexploration]

Hello, I am looking for federal frequencies in WNY, primarily in the Buffalo/Batavia area. Looking for some with the most action. Thanks!

 

[RaleighGuy]

I would suggest the database,

Federal (Erie County) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Federal (Erie County)

www.radioreference.com

Common Federal (United States) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Common Federal (United States)

www.radioreference.com

the RR wiki

Federal VHF/UHF Channel Plans - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and this website below

The Fed Files Blog

THE FED FILES - Welcome to The Fed Files blog! This blog was originally built to support the "Fed Files" column in Monitoring Times magazine. Although the Fed Files, as well as Monitoring Times, ended with the December 2013 issue, this blog continues and is associated with the new federal...

mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com

Of course as @w2lie always says, the answers are in the search, so don't forget to search the fed bands. Remember most fed freqs are not active like your local police, some agencies use cell phones more than radios, Zello is also used, and when they are on the radio often times they are encrypted, so depending on your scanner you won't know they are there.

 

[RaleighGuy]

@Planeguysexploration see edited comment

 

[ecps92]

I've always found, in my travels to just spend time in SEARCH mode.
Relying on others work is good, for the final identification of the agencies found, but... alas
you may find something New vs putting in frequencies from an old list etc.

Spend a few weeks searching 162-174, 400-420 see what you find, make a nice list [with tones] and share back
here for feedback

Hello, I am looking for federal frequencies in WNY, primarily in the Buffalo/Batavia area. Looking for some with the most action. Thanks!

 

[Planeguysexploration]

I've always found, in my travels to just spend time in SEARCH mode.
Relying on others work is good, for the final identification of the agencies found, but... alas
you may find something New vs putting in frequencies from an old list etc.

Spend a few weeks searching 162-174, 400-420 see what you find, make a nice list [with tones] and share back
here for feedback

164.5625, heard in Batavia, not sure what it is, only theory is VA.

 

[RaleighGuy]

164.5625, heard in Batavia, not sure what it is, only theory is VA.

As agency may differ throughout the area, it really helps if you provide additional information such as signal type (DMR, P25, Analog), if P25 the NAC & talkgroups, if DMR Color Code and talkgroups, the radio IDs (RID or UID), and any callsigns or summary of traffic heard, or if it was encrypted.

A couple resources to help you identify them are Fed Files Blog for radio IDs and RR Wiki for NAC codes.

Federal P-25 Radio Identifications

I am currently starting to catalog the P-25 radio ID numbers that belong to federal agencies. Not all have been connected to a specific agen...

mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com

Federal NAC Codes - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Planeguysexploration]

As agency may differ throughout the area, it really helps if you provide additional information such as signal type (DMR, P25, Analog), if P25 the NAC & talkgroups, if DMR Color Code and talkgroups, the radio IDs (RID or UID), and any callsigns or summary of traffic heard, or if it was encrypted.

I honestly do not remember, I think it was analog, no data transmission, I only heard it for a few seconds and that was a couple weeks ago.

 

[RaleighGuy]

There are several Fed common freqs or an agency may be using a radio car to car as they travel from area to area, it's not unusual to hear a freq once and then never again or weeks later. That is the importance of logging and saving info for a correct identification.

I strongly agree with @ecps92 spend several weeks in search mode and use logging software or keep notes, compare what, when, who is heard and see if it is consistent or a one time hit.

 

[ecps92]

Need the NAC or Tone for positive comfirmation, but the likely answer is

United States Coast Guard - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

IF analog could be the VA, but more is still needed, such as Tone, and/or what the conversation was about

164.5625, heard in Batavia, not sure what it is, only theory is VA.

 

[west-pac]

....and when they are on the radio often times they are encrypted, so depending on your scanner you won't know they are there.

That's why I use an analog scanner to search frequency segments (for any service: public safety, federal, business, etc). As you know, but others may not, when an analog scanner finds a digital signal the scanner emits 'digital noise', regardless of which digital mode and/or if encryption is being used. Once my analog scanner gives me a frequency, I then monitor that frequency with my SDR to see if I can decode it and get any system information.

Spend a few weeks searching 162-174, 400-420 see what you find, make a nice list [with tones] and share back
here for feedback

Don't forget the Federal segments between 136-144Mhz, and 380-400Mhz. I have nearby military systems on 138Mhz, 173Mhz, 380Mhz, 381Mhz, and 406Mhz.

Also in that 136-144Mhz segment is some of Wisconsin's statewide public safety sites on 139Mhz, and a Canadian wide area system on 142Mhz. I believe West Virginia's SIRN system may have some sites in that 400-425Mhz Federal segment also. So, keep in mind, just because you find something within the "federal" segments doesn't mean it's necessarily a "federal" system.

 

[ecps92]

Generally when someone References [IMHO] Federal they are only interested in 162-174 and 400-420
The others generally are Military and MilAir

That's why I use an analog scanner to search frequency segments (for any service: public safety, federal, business, etc). As you know, but others may not, when an analog scanner finds a digital signal the scanner emits 'digital noise', regardless of which digital mode and/or if encryption is being used. Once my analog scanner gives me a frequency, I then monitor that frequency with my SDR to see if I can decode it and get any system information.



Don't forget the Federal segments between 136-144Mhz, and 380-400Mhz. I have nearby military systems on 138Mhz, 173Mhz, 380Mhz, 381Mhz, and 406Mhz.

Also in that 136-144Mhz segment is some of Wisconsin's statewide public safety sites on 139Mhz, and a Canadian wide area system on 142Mhz. I believe West Virginia's SIRN system may have some sites in that 400-425Mhz Federal segment also. So, keep in mind, just because you find something within the "federal" segments doesn't mean it's necessarily a "federal" system.

 

[Planeguysexploration]

Generally when someone References [IMHO] Federal they are only interested in 162-174 and 400-420
The others generally are Military and MilAir

Yeah, only really looking for 162-174 400-420. I have plugged in all of Niagara Falls airforce base frequency from RR, I have searched around those and haven't found much.

 

[Mike445]

Yeah, only really looking for 162-174 400-420. I have plugged in all of Niagara Falls airforce base frequency from RR, I have searched around those and haven't found much.

Pretty sure everything at NFARB is on the USAF P25 system and fully encrypted. I've never heard a peep out of any of the frequencies in the database listed for the base. Lots of action on the CBP frequencies listed for Niagara and Erie counties and also the DEA frequencies listed.
Mike

 

[ecps92]

Keep in mind, Federal monitoring is not like listening to your local PD/FD/EMS, activity can/does vary
it takes sometimes months of monitoring to even ID who the user is, or even narrow down where the Repeater might be.

Keep trying and do share what you find [not REAL Time tho, I hate to see Surv Ops posted IRT]

Yeah, only really looking for 162-174 400-420. I have plugged in all of Niagara Falls airforce base frequency from RR, I have searched around those and haven't found much.