San Antonio DEA P25...

[texasemt13]

Alright I'm gonna stick this out there without much info to go on except a few short transmissions...

I was listening in the office today and had my 2036 rolling through the federal band. At one point the scanner paused on DEA Ch4 (418.6750MHz). It came in as digital garbage so I reached for the Pro-96 (which only has a rubber duck and is about 3 ft lower in my office). I knew the Pro-96 wouldn't pause on it because my mode was in CT search. I quickly changed the mode to FM and the 96 decoded digital voice. The conversations were two gentlemen going back and forth (nothing of substance was said).

As I walked around to see a coworker he was able to obtain their NAC (156- he has a PSR-500). So I can't say that I've ever heard DEA in digital here in San Antonio. Haven't heard a thing after those transmissions (one said he was "switching back").

So if you're an avid fed-bander you might want to keep an ear out since these are some busy dudes...

 

[Russell]

That's a good catch. Since it is common for digitial users switching from analog to use the "P25 equivalent" of their CTCSS ... DEA used 156.7 CTCSS when they were analog, so 156 NAC seems the likely candidate for their P25 use. Keep up the monitoring of those channels and you might try the HIDTA channels, as well.

"Switching bacK' probably meant they were headed back to their primary channel (418.625 ??).

Russell

 

[texasemt13]

I would have imagined if they switched to anything it would be Ch. 3 (418.7500MHz) as those two channels (3 & 4) are the most active in San Antonio (99%) of traffic, however, they haven't been heard since then.

 

[Russell]

Yes, "primary" changes by city. Dallas is Ch 1 and Fort Worth is Ch 3.

Russell

 

[davidbond21]

Heck yeah, thats the first time I've got them on P25(and 2nd time for texasemt13, though he doesn't remember). Cool that I was able to nab their NAC.

So what are the SA folks hearing DEA on mostly? Me and txemt13 hear them mostly on Ch 3(418.75) and Ch 4(418.675), and have a couple times heard them on Ch 2(418.9) which is great cause that's a repeater output which will reach up to New Braunfels.

We often hear sporadic voice on their Ch 5(418.825) but only when driving up/down I-35 around the Judson Rd area, but we've yet to decode any tones with the voice.

Was just wondering if we're missing out on some of the action. DEA is pretty fun to listen to.

 

[tunnelmot]

Can I put in an app?

All I know is that I wanna work where y'all do. I would love to "bump" into other radio heads while they're grabbing NAC codes.

Never done Fed, what do ya'll suggest for Houston (Conroe)

Rich

 

[SCPD]

I was gonna say the same thing Russell said, DPS seems to use NAC: 162 on Statewide car-to-car whereas it used to be 162.2. Grayson Co SO use 179 NAC where it used to be 173.8. As I understand from people DEA is just P-25 in-the-clear. the only encryption would be on DOJ shared frequencies. I remember the first time I heard DEA, I was blown back, it was cool and after that day they didn't ever use any channels I had again till many months later. Busy one day, dead for six months.

 

[texasemt13]

Tunnelmot, I'd program in the DEA channel plan found in the wiki and also I believe I have seen some DEA talkgroups on the STARNET Moto and STARNET P25 system if you can monitor those (they're very likely encrypted on the P25 system).

Yeah, the first time I heard DEA I was pretty impressed also. They are a regular here in San Antonio now though, and it is unusual when I go more than 3 days without hearing them. More common than DEA is CBP (daily), and FPS is starting to become more regular. Other than that TSA is boring. Can't think of any other fed agencies I here too often right now...

I'd like to here some USMS (I mean they usually have so many houses for auction here in San Antonio I know they have to be busy here), and BATFE...

 

[davidbond21]

Can I put in an app?

All I know is that I wanna work where y'all do. I would love to "bump" into other radio heads while they're grabbing NAC codes.

Never done Fed, what do ya'll suggest for Houston (Conroe)

Rich

Our boss said we could even install an antenna on the roof of our building. Yeah, its a nice place.

In addition to what texasemt13 suggested, I would also try putting in the HIDTA frequencies, which I lifted from the MT Fed Files. I haven't listened to these much, but the times I have, I have heard some P25 traffic on one or two.

414.5500 – HIDTA Ch 1
414.5000 – HIDTA Ch 2
414.0250 – HIDTA Ch.3 simplex
414.0500 – HIDTA Ch.4 simplex
414.1500 – HIDTA Ch.5 simplex
412.0000 – HIDTA Ch 6
414.3500 – HIDTA Ch.7
414.4500 – HIDTA Ch.8
414.4750 – HIDTA Ch.9
412.1250 – HIDTA Ch.10

 

[SCPD]

That's just Hi-Density Drug Trafficking Area, they (DEA) have a whole other Repeater band plan for Both V & UHF including Air to Ground. Give me a few days to find it and I'll post it here or the Wiki. Incidently, DPS put a bolo out the other day on a Drug Trafficker out of SAT, and read the Signature as "DEA Task Force" and I want to say out of Blanco County, but can't be sure of that. Anyways it was a county local to SAT.

 

[SCPD]

ok, found My DEA list. if any of these hit and you get good traffic off them, please do advise. this is an Old list. I had several Fantastic hits in the D/FW area with this a few years ago. Some of the Operational channels were in fact Repeaters. good luck with this.

418.6250-DEA-01 OPERATIONS
418.9000-DEA-02 OPERATIONS
418.7500-DEA-03 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)
418.6750-DEA-04 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)
418.8250-DEA-05 OPERATIONS
418.9500-DEA-06 OPERATIONS (HARRIET TAC-2)
418.9750-DEA-07 OPERATIONS
418.9750-DEA-08 OPERATIONS
418.5750-DEA-09 ITINERANT (DALLAS, TX. OPERATIONS) <REPEATER>
418.0500-DEA-10 ITINERANT
418.0750-DEA-11 INTER-AGENCY
418.7750-DEA-12 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)
418.7000-DEA-13 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)
418.8750-DEA-14 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR) <SPECIAL OPERATIONS>
418.8000-DEA-16 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)
417.2750-DEA-17 SURVEILLANCE (CAR-TO-CAR)

419.9500-DEA (JOINT TASK FORCE)
416.0500-DEA (DEA/BATF)
418.9250-DEA (DOJ SPECIAL PROBLEMS)
418.6250-DEA (AMY - GROUND TEAM OPS)
416.4000-DEA (SPECIAL OPS GROUP)

120.3750-DEA VICTOR
120.7750-DEA VICTOR
123.7750-DEA VICTOR-1 (DRUG TASK FORCE)
132.9500-DEA VICTOR (AIR TAC-1)
133.2000-DEA VICTOR-2 (DRUG TASK FORCE)
134.4000-DEA VICTOR-4 (DRUG TASK FORCE)
135.5000-DEA VICTOR-5 (DRUG TASK FORCE)
139.7000-DEA VICTOR (AIR TAC-2)
243.6000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-05
254.2000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-04
260.8000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-02
281.4000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-10 (AIR OPS)
282.4250-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-01
283.4000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-07
303.8250-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-08
336.6000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-03
350.4500-DEA UNIFORM
353.9000-DEA UNIFORM (DRUG TASK FORCE)
355.9000-DEA UNIFORM
361.8000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-09
381.8000-DEA UNIFORM BLUE-06

418.5000-AVIATION DIV. (AIR-TO-GROUND-1)

171.4500-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
171.6250-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
172.0000-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
172.1000-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
172.2000-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
172.3000-ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE

418.6250-STRIKE FORCE-01
418.9000-STRIKE FORCE-02
418.7500-STRIKE FORCE-03
418.6750-STRIKE FORCE-04
418.8250-STRIKE FORCE-05
418.9500-STRIKE FORCE-06 (AIR-TO-GROUND-2)
418.9750-STRIKE FORCE-07
418.1750-STRIKE FORCE-08
419.2500-STRIKE FORCE-09
419.3000-STRIKE FORCE-11
419.3750-STRIKE FORCE-12

414.5500-HIDTA CH-01
414.5000-HIDTA CH-02
414.0250-HIDTA CH-03
414.0500-HIDTA CH-04
414.1500-HIDTA CH-05
412.0000-HITDA CH-06
414.3500-HIDTA CH-07
414.4500-HIDTA CH-08
414.4750-HIDTA CH-09
412.1250-HIDTA CH-10

163.1850-DEA VHF
163.5350-DEA VHF
164.8250-DEA VHF
165.2350-DEA VHF
165.2600-DEA VHF
165.2850-DEA VHF
165.3750-DEA VHF
172.0500-DEA VHF
167.3425-DEA (BODY MICS)
165.2875-DEA (FIELD OFFICES)

 

[Russell]

Yes, "primary" changes by city. Dallas is Ch 1 and Fort Worth is Ch 3.

Russell

Yes, I had to check my old lists, too. Ch 1 was Dallas Primary, Ch 3 was surveillance.

 

[texasemt13]

Max,
Thanks for posting these. I have a 2036 base in my office that stays on so I will program these in and check hit counts periodically to see of they are active. This is how I found the active FPS frequencies in SA.

As far as a scanner-friendly work environment, it is a perk. Working in a large city is very conducive to federal band scanning (and SA in particular is awesome for military listening as well). We really do need to put an antenna on our roof... that would be awesome.

Max, Russel and tunnel what federal agencies are ya'll able to hear? I occasionally take the time to do limit searches in the federal bands but being in an area with a lot of federal agencies it looks up on the usual USPS and military trunking systems so I loathe trying to do limit searches (or lock out those common freqs in a limit search- slows my scanners down). I'd like to know if anyone is hearing IRS, GSA, DOA, USPS, DOI agencies, etc. I wanna hear all the obscure ones...

Wish I had enough money for the SDR-14... that would make VHF fed scanning quite a bit easier.

 

[SCPD]

Max,
Thanks for posting these. I have a 2036 base in my office that stays on so I will program these in and check hit counts periodically to see of they are active. This is how I found the active FPS frequencies in SA.

As far as a scanner-friendly work environment, it is a perk. Working in a large city is very conducive to federal band scanning (and SA in particular is awesome for military listening as well). We really do need to put an antenna on our roof... that would be awesome.

Max, Russel and tunnel what federal agencies are ya'll able to hear? I occasionally take the time to do limit searches in the federal bands but being in an area with a lot of federal agencies it looks up on the usual USPS and military trunking systems so I loathe trying to do limit searches (or lock out those common freqs in a limit search- slows my scanners down). I'd like to know if anyone is hearing IRS, GSA, DOA, USPS, DOI agencies, etc. I wanna hear all the obscure ones...

Wish I had enough money for the SDR-14... that would make VHF fed scanning quite a bit easier.

USPS is big, Still analog but the D/FW Center is pretty busy with radio traffic. FPS downtown is active, I listen to an FBI repeater in Southern Oklahoma in the clear. I know Dallas has an IRS repeater and I used to hear them on a Fed Shared VHF tower called "Miller-Shiloh" along with DEA and FBI. I pick up some BIA traffic out of Southern Oklahoma also. Corp of Engineers is busy at Lake Texoma. No GSA activity, but I see GSA van's all the time up here. I also used to hear traffic on a FCC Assignment but havn't checked in some time.

I'll have to dig up My lost Federal stuff, I had a bunch of Active frequencies I seem to have misplaced that stuff. I believe USCS or CBP at D/FW Airport (Inspectors) is in the clear P25 also. Best of luck with those, I hope you hear a bunch of Stuff and we can update it for later reference.

Russell, feel free to Add that DEA stuff to the Wiki, I would but I find the Wiki hard to navigate.

 

[davidbond21]

Wow! Thanks a bunch for that list, an impressive one at that. I'm going to plug them in see what hits.

 

[davidbond21]

SA DEA Update

Was listening to these guys today, and towards the beginning of some operation, the leader was trying to get everyone together on the same frequency, and we(texasemt13) heard them basically roll through channels 1-4 in both analog and then in P25 trying to coordinate things. This was the first time I've ever heard them on channel 1 and also the first time I have heard channels 1-3 in P25. Analog was all 156.7 PL and the P25 was all 156 NAC.

 

[texasemt13]

Max,
I noticed one of your frequencies (418.5000) was listed as the aviation air-ground frequency. In this area, common practice is just to use the primary channel that the mobile units use (in SA this seems to switch between Chs. 3 & 4 arbitrarily). The air unit doesn't have any problem hearing the guys on the ground, unless they go under a huge concrete interchange.

 

[davidbond21]

Max,
I noticed one of your frequencies (418.5000) was listed as the aviation air-ground frequency. In this area, common practice is just to use the primary channel that the mobile units use (in SA this seems to switch between Chs. 3 & 4 arbitrarily). The air unit doesn't have any problem hearing the guys on the ground, unless they go under a huge concrete interchange.

Here maybe, elsewhere maybe not. Different strokes for different folks.