Does anyone in the group know what frequencies the news media helicopters use for air to air and air to ground communications in the Houston area? Can’t seem to locate anything. Thanks!
News Media Helicopters
- Thread starter oscarg1971
- Start date
123.025am (I think) should be a good one.
Media (Harris County) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Media (Harris County)
www.radioreference.com
You can also hear them on Hobby's ATC tower channel. Occasionally ATC will ask "hey where yall goin?"
The 450Mhz might be good place to look for traffic reports, these are usually sent the news desk
They still have Traffic choppers down there? DFW hasn't had any for years. They are all in studio reports.
No.
It's been about 10 years, but 123.45 was used chopper to chopper in HOU and DFW! Now with multiple TXDOT cameras, most intersections in the metro area are covered. The DFW chopper only goes up for a BIG accident or out beyond cameras coverage.
Houston is 123.025. Has been forever.
prcguy
Member
123.450 is usually associated with fixed wing and is known as the aircraft CB frequency.
My bad...that many years ago I worked on some TV ads for local radio station in both Houston and DFW! I knew it was 123.45 in DFW, but thought the same was true for HOU! We spent a couple of long days flying with the morning radio traffic reporters and I tied into the intercom to record all the chatter.
I regularly hear fixed wing aircraft transiting the DFW area and talking to each other enroute. Caught what was obviously a photo shoot one time as one pilot cued the other to perform certain maneuvers
Fingers.
nd5y
Member
DFW area used 123.025 and 122.775 forever. I never heard them on 123.45 when I lived there.
I hear Dallas PD Air 1 and DPS 101 on 123.025 frequently. During a chase or major event they will all be on, including the news guys.
Was trying to remember 122.775 it was like their private little chat channel. Hollywood in the KEGL chopper and Dick Segal in WBAP Jet Copter. Loved it when they buzzed the lovers in Rectum Alley at Lake Arlington and checking out the topless sunbathers at the rooftop hotels in Dallas.
nd5y
Member
FAA publishes a DFW area helicopter route chart.
You can see it on skyvector.com or vrfmap.com.
Years ago it had 123.025 for Dallas and 122.775 for Ft Worth, or the other way around.
Now it says:
"ARINC Helo Traffic Monitoring Frequency" - 123.02
You can see it on skyvector.com or vrfmap.com.
Years ago it had 123.025 for Dallas and 122.775 for Ft Worth, or the other way around.
Now it says:
"ARINC Helo Traffic Monitoring Frequency" - 123.02
Myles
Member
Anyone know if particular Sky Helicopters in the D/FW area are used by particular stations?
Right now I see N801TV and N99TV both circling over a scene around 287/114. I think N4154C has also been used by news but their photo on FlightAware doesn't show a camera mounted on it. I was also wondering about N23EL possibly used for news.
In Houston, KTRK has it's own helicopter, and then there is News 3 which is shared by KHOU, KPRC and KRIV.
Looks like San Antonio has a couple. Those are the only ones I have found in Texas. Anyone know of any fixed-wing used for news?
Right now I see N801TV and N99TV both circling over a scene around 287/114. I think N4154C has also been used by news but their photo on FlightAware doesn't show a camera mounted on it. I was also wondering about N23EL possibly used for news.
In Houston, KTRK has it's own helicopter, and then there is News 3 which is shared by KHOU, KPRC and KRIV.
Looks like San Antonio has a couple. Those are the only ones I have found in Texas. Anyone know of any fixed-wing used for news?
nd5y
Member
I think WBAP/KSCS had a traffic reporting airplane once. I never heard if it was used for news or had cameras.
N801TV is NBC DFW and Telemundo, N99TV is WFAA 8, KTVT 11 and FOX 4. They are both leased from SKY Helicopters and every so often will have to use a backup helicopter,when the primary is being serviced (seems SKY has plenty) . At this time those are the only two News Media helicopters working in DFW. You can regularly hear them talking to their assignment editors on their assigned frequencies in the database. N99TV provides a Pooled Feed, you can hear them talking about "routing it out on the matrix", but each has the option to have exclusive time.
We call it "fingers"
