unknown edacs federal system

[Wayne]

During tropo skip conditions like this morning (Houston), I occasionally pick up an edacs trunk system on the following frequencies; 164.500, 163.5625 and 165.0875. Undoubtedly, there are others. I originally thought this user might be in South Texas but am beginning to think the signal is coming from Louisiana or points east...

I heard unit designators "whiskey 5", "whiskey 6" and "FOD".

Anyone know who the user is and point of origin?

 

[rfburns]

FOD would suggest airfield operations.

 

[ryangassxx]

FOD would suggest airfield operations.

FOD is just aviation speak for "garbage".. Just based on this and the fact that it's a trunked VHF high freq, I doubt it's airfield ops..

 

[Stavro35]

If you can lock on to the control channel,and with certain,radio's pull up the system i.d . You can do a search here to find out who that system belongs to and fill in the blanks. If it's new, you can submit information as you gather it,good luck!

 

[LEH]

As others have suggested, this probably has something to do with an airfield. True airfield operations, difficult to say.

FOD is an acronym for Foriegn Object Damage (or trash on the ramp, taxiways or runway that might get sucked into an engine).

Are there any miltary air fields near you? Air Force, Navy, active, reserve or guard? Whiskey call signs, coupled with the FOD, are (at least to me) indicative of some form of aircraft maintenance (air field ops would also be interested in keeping the airfield clear of FOD as well) activity.

The trunking systems for the bases near me cover the gamut of base operations, everything from building and road maintenance, supply, airfield support, vehicle and aircraft maintenance, security, fire (and crash) response, and some command and control.

 

[fmon]

FOD is an acronym for Foriegn Object Damage (or trash on the ramp, taxiways or runway that might get sucked into an engine).

Or flight deck!

 

[Wayne]

Are there any miltary air fields near you? Air Force, Navy, active, reserve or guard? Whiskey call signs, coupled with the FOD, are (at least to me) indicative of some form of aircraft maintenance (air field ops would also be interested in keeping the airfield clear of FOD as well) activity.

The trunking systems for the bases near me cover the gamut of base operations, everything from building and road maintenance, supply, airfield support, vehicle and aircraft maintenance, security, fire (and crash) response, and some command and control.

Yes, there are several bases that are possibilities in Texas. Corpus Christi and San Antonio come to mind and it is not unusual to pick up skip from these areas when conditions are right.

I will search for the control channel and sys id next time.....

Wayne

 

[LEH]

Or flight deck!

Frank,

What does the "O" stand for???

Wayne,

Sounds like you are right in the middle of the two. Good luck in finding out who they are.

 

[ryangassxx]

That'd be "Foreign Object Debris",... that's what FOD stands for,... Means trash on the airfield....

Lemme ask you a question.. In the radio coms, to they pronounce the acronym FOD as a word or do they say each letter individually? If they're not pronouncing it as a word then you can almost certainly eliminate airfield ops.. In aviation FOD is almost ALWAYS pronounced as a word.. Nobody says F.O.D...

 

[fmon]

That'd be "Foreign Object Debris",... that's what FOD stands for,... Means trash on the airfield....

Lemme ask you a question.. In the radio coms, to they pronounce the acronym FOD as a word or do they say each letter individually? If they're not pronouncing it as a word then you can almost certainly eliminate airfield ops.. In aviation FOD is almost ALWAYS pronounced as a word.. Nobody says F.O.D...

Both were used in my 23 years in the navy, though considerably more times as a word. On flight decks the walkdown was usually conducted at beginning of Flight Quarters...from then on jet blast or prop wash keep er cleaned.

I think Lynn may be referring to a pet name for the letter 'O'. Actually, there may be a few slang names for all three letters.

 

[mwjones]

Lemme ask you a question.. In the radio coms, to they pronounce the acronym FOD as a word or do they say each letter individually? If they're not pronouncing it as a word then you can almost certainly eliminate airfield ops.. In aviation FOD is almost ALWAYS pronounced as a word.. Nobody says F.O.D...

I don't know as much about Radio Comms (since the channels I monitor are more about aircraft ops instead of ground ops), but when I've gone through the process of getting a badge for various airports, the prerequisite airfield safety videos always uses it as a word.

 

[LEH]

Actually, FOD can have numerous meanings. Take a look at this site. When FOD is used in a sentence, it really means the debris found on all aircraft ramps. The Air Force has always defined it as Damage rather than Debris. And like Frank, I have made more than my fair share of morning FOD walks.

I've also seen what a small piece of saftey wire can do to an engine. Jet engines, especially the newer big fan jets, make real good vacum cleaners. So though it may look like a waste of time and manpower, the results could save an aircraft and maybe even a pilot and crew.

 

[sigint1]

In military speak it can also mean "Field Operations Division" - may fit in better ??

 

[10-95]

The Navy has used some VHF edacs stuff in the past on a few carriers, could this be what you might be hearing? Maybe a Carrier in the Gulf ?

 

[LEH]

I was thinking possibly Ellington ANGB at Houston/Hobby. Most AFB's are going to the 380 MHz area (and are Motorla), but it is not totaly unheard of to take existing frequencies and making them into a trunked system.

 

[ElroyJetson]

It doesn't work like that on EDACS systems. System IDs are usually 1, 2, or 3. Sometimes 4, 5, or 6, and maybe even 7 on a really big simulcast seven site system!

It's not like the Motorola unique system IDs at all.


Elroy

If you can lock on to the control channel,and with certain,radio's pull up the system i.d . You can do a search here to find out who that system belongs to and fill in the blanks. If it's new, you can submit information as you gather it,good luck!

 

[Wayne]

The Navy has used some VHF edacs stuff in the past on a few carriers, could this be what you might be hearing? Maybe a Carrier in the Gulf ?

A possibility I guess........ Odd though I only hear them active when there is significant skip. Significant skip as defined by receiving stations up and down the TX coast from Refugio county to Beaumont and beyond.

I was thinking possibly Ellington ANGB at Houston/Hobby. Most AFB's are going to the 380 MHz area (and are Motorla), but it is not totaly unheard of to take existing frequencies and making them into a trunked system.

No, it's not Ellington. They are using conventional P-25 frequencies.

 

[kd5dga]

It could be comming out of Ft. Polk La.

 

[Wayne]

It could be comming out of Ft. Polk La.

There is nothing in the DB for Vernon Parish (Ft Polk Army Base).

Do you know of a edacs system in use at Ft Polk?

Wayne

 

[kd5dga]

They may have one. Ft.Hood uses TXU Narrowband EDACS system.